Thanks from Treetops

Bondholder Treetops has thanked BBC Children in Need for a booster grant and voluntary group Shelagh’s Sewing Circle for 500 hand-sewn face masks.

Thanks to the booster grant of £4,500, bereaved children will be receiving individual therapeutic packs so they can return to face-to-face counselling at the leading Derbyshire hospice. BBC Children in Need has helped fund the senior families counsellor post at Treetops Hospice Care for over three years and this additional grant means that children who have lost a loved one can bring their own packs with them to and from their weekly sessions at the hospice.

View fullsize

During the Coronavirus pandemic, whilst Treetops buildings have been closed to the public, the charity quickly adapted its services to offer online and telephone counselling for adults and teenagers. The news service was not practical for children under 11yrs old.

Jules Kirk, Therapeutic Services Manager and Head of Children’s Services, explained: “At the start of lockdown, we had to explain to all our young clients that we couldn’t hold their regular sessions here at Risley which was very hard for everyone – our clients, volunteer counsellors and staff members.

“Whilst we sought a solution, we’ve been making regular wellbeing phone calls to parents of the children affected and also hand-delivered therapeutic care packages.”

The packs will contain many of the therapeutic materials similar to those found in the bespoke children’s counselling rooms at Treetops, along with felt tip pens and creative activities used to help children process their grief.

Jules added: “We’re really grateful to BBC Children in Need for responding so quickly to our request. Without these packs, many children just wouldn’t be able to receive the valuable support they really need at this time. And it means we now have the facilities to take on new clients who require the face-to-face bereavement support.”

In addition, Shelagh’s Sewing Circle, a voluntary group based in Dronfield, has also jumped in to help the hospice. Concerned for essential key workers who would have to continue to work during the pandemic and vulnerable staff and residents in care homes, many of whom were struggling to procure basic PPE, founder Shelagh Cheetham, started the initiative earlier this year and has donated over 32,000 face masks ever since.

Cheryl Morris, Deputy Local Relationships Manager at Treetops, took delivery of the masks. He said: “We want to say a huge thanks from Treetops to everyone who’s made the beautiful face masks from Shelagh’s Sewing Circle as well as Steve and Volunteer Riders UK – without whom we wouldn’t have received them!”