Archie’s Child Bereavement Service provides support to bereaved children and young people throughout Grampian. Highlands and Tayside.
We believe that if children and young people are provided with the appropriate support, information and guidance then they will better manage their grief.
Grampian Child Bereavement Network (GCBN) was formed in 2009 by a group of professionals who identified an unmet need for support for bereaved children and young people in Grampian. In 2019, GCBN joined The Archie Foundation and is now known as Archie’s Child Bereavement Service (ACBS).
Archie’s Child Bereavement Service is delivered by professionals, who are skilled and highly experienced in supporting children and families. Our volunteer responders are recruited, trained and mentored so they can offer effective support to bereaved families.
The Services
- A telephone service to give advice and support either in the immediate aftermath or at a later date as issues arise.
- Our home visiting responder service in Grampian (to be rolled out in Highland and Tayside in the near future), offers direct support and guidance to children and their families.
- A book gifting service which provides over 100 specialist titles covering all situations and which assists families in understanding bereavement together – arming families with the words and opportunity to discuss what has happened.
- Activity Days so bereaved children can meet others, build confidence, have fun and remember their loved one. Parents also meet with others over a cuppa. Activity days are currently offered in Grampian and will be introduced in Highland and Tayside very soon.
- Free training to health, childcare, and education professionals, to build confidence and skills on how best to support a bereaved child.
- Bespoke training for schools to assist them in responding when a death impacts on a school community.
- Mentoring and offering ongoing advice and consultation to professionals who are working with a bereaved child, enabling the child to have support from someone they already know.
- Whats App group for parents who have lost a partner or parent so they can interact and get advice from others who are going through a similar experience.