Children in Need: The hospice staff helping children cope with loss

Nine-year-old Holly's world was turned upside down when her mum Jenny died two years ago this month.

She "couldn't sleep on her own, was having nightmares, couldn't even mention her mum's name", according to dad, Andy.

But with the support of St Richard's Hospice, in Worcester, which has included counselling and activity days, the nine-year-old is "happy to talk about her mum, is outgoing and bubbly".

The charity provides specialist support to about 200 children and young people each year, which is partly funded by BBC Children in Need.

Andy said he would have been lost without the support of the hospice.

"I think it's been invaluable because there's no way I could have got Holly to where she is today on my own."

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Jenny, who had an older son from a previous relationship, had longed for a second child.

When Holly was born in 2017 they formed a close mother and daughter bond.

"Holly was Jenny's little princess and mummy was very special", said Andy.

But in 2023 Jenny received the devastating news she had double negative breast cancer.

The following year she was told that it had spread to other parts of her body.

She spent eight days at St Richard's Hospice before she died in November 2024, at the age of just 51 years old.

Holly was seven and was "distraught for months".

Since Jenny's death Holly has received one-to-one support from the hospice's palliative care social worker Lucy Breen.

She was able to give Jenny the reassurance in person that she would be there for Holly, and they've formed a close bond.

"I've seen a huge change in Holly. At the beginning she would never talk to me about what had happened to mum, she was never able to say, 'my mum died'."

But after almost two years of fortnightly sessions, she said she could now recognise and acknowledge what had happened.

"I've watched her progress through a range of different emotions and she's now got to the point where actually she feels happy again, she's able to enjoy her life."

Andy said they both "still get teary eyed" when they talk about Jenny but they are both able to talk about her and "that's what the "family support unit have enabled".

As part of the sessions Holly is making a memory book about her mum.

"It's got loads of things about how mummy and daddy met, what mummy liked and things that mummy did, that I loved her for".

The hospice is now preparing for the sessions to end given the progress that Holly has made.

Children in Need awarded the hospice £43,377 over three years, to help fund Breen's role and two activity days for bereaved children each year.

Holly has also attended these activity days, which allow bereaved families to spend time together and meet other families who have similar experiences.

It currently cares for more than 3,000 patients, loved ones and bereaved people across Worcestershire.

It costs about £12m to keep the services running each year. Up to 20% comes from the NHS and the rest is raised by donations.

Breen said the CiN funding made a "massive difference" and said she wanted to pass on a "thank you to anyone who donates".