Wendy Widdrington, a Jo & Mya Practitioner/Counsellor said,
“Our role is to compile and deliver the training, drawing on relevant research and also our experience as bereavement counsellors here at the Hospice.  Participants in the course are often understandably nervous about looking at such a sensitive topic and carry concerns about saying or doing the wrong thing around a bereaved child; a large part of our role is to provide a safe and relaxed environment for them to explore the area of grief and loss.  We have also worked hard to make the course engaging, fun and creative, as one participant said ‘there are no nodding dog moments!’”

Wendy continued
“The role of a Jo & Mya practitioner is immensely satisfying, as we are able to help banish the ‘elephant in the room’ and facilitate discussion around the taboo topic of death.  Very precious to us is the thought that, with every course we run, bereaved children are less likely to be alone in their grief.”

The courses have been very well received and the Hospice are excited to be on course to have trained over 100 school staff by July 2017.