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CruzKids’ annual activity weekend for bereaved young people

THANKS to emergency funding from Wooden Spoon, Cruse Bereavement Care Isle of Man are delighted to be able to host their 14th annual residential weekend for bereaved children and young people.

Wooden Spoon recently donated £246,000 to local children’s charities, across 32 regions in the UK & Ireland that were struggling to run essential services due a reduction in funding caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Due to this emergency support, Cruse Bereavent Care received a £1,000 donation from Wooden Spoon Isle of Man which was put towards their CruzKids annual residential weekend at The Venture Centre in Maughold.

Cruse Bereavement Care exists to promote the well-being of bereaved people, and to enable anyone bereaved by death to understand their grief and cope with their loss. CruzKids is a unique project that provides social opportunities for bereaved children and young people to meet with others who have also experienced a significant death.

Young Persons’ Bereavement Specialist, Gill Skinner said “The weekend provides an opportunity for over 25 of our CruzKids to meet with others who have also had a significant bereavement (generally the loss of a parent or sibling) in an informal setting where they can challenge themselves in a variety of outward bound type activities all in a therapeutic and supportive environment.”

Some comments from the young people attending the weekend include:

I was really nervous before I came, but I have had such a great time and made so many friends that I don’t want to go home”

“It’s really important to be with a group of other people who just get it”

“I never thought that there was anyone else around who knew what it was like to miss someone who has died every day and to know that what I felt was normal”  

There are lots of ways you can help Wooden Spoon support more vulnerable families during these challenging times.  You can donate, join our membership scheme or take part in a virtual challenge