For over 20 years, Winston’s Wish has represented and supported the children and young people of the UK. Upon return to the country in 1992, Julie Stokes, a clinical psychologist, set up the Gloucestershire-based charity after being inspired by child support services in the USA and Canada whilst on a Winston Churchill Travelling Fellowship. The image of Winston transformed into a bear mascot with the wish that every bereaved child would receive support after the death of someone important in their lives.

The charity identified six objectives of focus for its work. Winston’s Wish endeavours to provide support, information and education, understanding and expressing grief, ways of remembering, ways to communicate and also the environment to meet others in similar situations.

Winston’s Wish offers a group work session which includes therapeutic and social weekends for children affected by bereavement. The charity offers weekends that focuses specifically on children affected by suicide, children affected by murder and manslaughter, and specialised weekends for pre-school children. These few days with Winston’s Wish give the children opportunities to share stories in a safe, well-supported and welcoming environment and can allow an exploration of the more challenging feelings.

The charity also provides individual sessions with aims to develop understanding with the child, to help build self-esteem, to express and address feelings, and to act as support between the child, the parent and other family members or in school or work life.

In addition, Winston’s Wish offers support to children struggling with adjusting to the news that a family member has a life threatening illness. At the current moment, face-to-face support can only be offered to families living within the Gloucestershire area, however the helpline is accessible to all in the UK.

The Winston’s Wish National Helpline supports over 3,000 families and is estimated at providing help to 7,000 children per year. The helpline is available to all in the UK and is open from 09:00 – 17:00 every Monday – Friday. Statistics show that the average call only lasts around 20 minutes, but that phone-call can provide a much needed relief and support.

Winston’s Wish is supported and represented by Professor Lord Winston, Barones Fritchie and Julie Stokes, the founder patron. Together with a board of trustees, Winston’s Wish supports important research and publishes books and leaflets that are available to buy in the Winston’s Wish online shop.

The website acts as a resource centre with access to free advice for children and parents affected by life-threatening illnesses and a close family loss. Information is available providing suggestions on how to talk about death and how to express grief, as well as an adult-free website with child-friendly activities and support.

The Winston’s Wish drop-in was started in January 2013. The service, that is held in the upstairs cafe area at Leisure @ Cheltenham, Tommy Taylors Lane, runs on the last Wednesday of every month from 15.30 – 18.30. It provides a confidential and welcoming method of finding out more about Winston’s Wish as well as offering an informal social space to meet other parents and children.

There are various ways to donate to Winston’s Wish. Donations can be made online, by form, in celebration of an occasion, regular contributions, payroll donations and more. More information on supporting the charity can be found online or by contacting the fundraising team on 01242 515157.