Ellie’s Volunteering Story

I’m Ellie and I have been a volunteer for Guy’s Gift since 2018.

After finishing university, I returned to volunteering for Guy’s Gift, helping at the in-person groups. My family was one of the first that used Guy’s Gift and I have loved seeing the charity grow and help hundreds of families after us.

My Dad passed away in 2010, which was an incredibly difficult time for us.

Guy’s Gift provided support and counselling for me, giving me a safe space to express and process my emotions after losing my dad.

Fifteen years later, that grief has stayed with me but has been easier to carry with time and support that Guy’s Gift provided. Having experienced Guy’s Gift support, I later began volunteering as a teeanger after school to aid with the support groups. I have seen Guy’s Gift grow over the years as the team and charity has expanded, being able to offer more help to those in need.

What I most enjoy about volunteering is seeing how different young people can do the same activities and answer the same prompts with a rich variety of responses. Every salt jar, memory box and group discussion brings something new that reflects their relationship to the person they have lost.

My favourite activity is the stones, taking an ordinary, jagged and special stone and connecting them to our memories. It provides a moment of self-reflection, allows for sharing and can be a great source of comfort. Even I find new memories to hold onto every time I reflect in this way.

I hope anyone who is considering whether to volunteer will find this helpful. Guy’s Gift is an incredibly important service, ran by a lovely team and the help I received at eight has helped me at twenty-three.

Ellie with her Dad, Neil.

From the team here at Guy’s Gift, we want to say a huge thank you to Ellie for her compassion, empathy and friendship she provides to the children and young people she works with. Ellie provides a supportive, listening ear for those who need it most, and she is wonderful at coming up with new ideas for both the younger children and the teenagers. Ellie has turned her personal experience of grief into a way of helping others, and this hugely reflects her kind nature and dedication to helping others. Thank you for being you!

Feeling inspired by Ellie’s story? Head over to our website to read about our volunteering opportunities, and complete an application form via the link below:

Navigating Grief During Ramadan and Eid: Finding Comfort in Faith

Ramadan is a time of reflection, devotion, and togetherness. It is a month where Muslims fast from food and drink, pray, and seek spiritual closeness to Allah. But for those grieving the loss of a loved one, this sacred time can also be a poignant reminder of their absence. The suhoor and iftar meals feel emptier, the tarawih prayers (night prayers) may bring tears, and the joy of Eid can instead feel bittersweet.

If you are mourning during Ramadan, know that grief is a deeply personal journey, and it’s okay to experience a mix of emotions. Islam acknowledges the pain of loss, and the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) himself grieved openly for his loved ones. Here are some ways to find comfort and strength during this time:

1. Seek Solace in Prayer

In Islam, no prayer is turned away or forgotten. Turning to Allah in times of sorrow is one of the most powerful ways to find peace. Make heartfelt prayer for your loved one, asking Allah to grant them mercy and Jannah (Heaven). Reciting Qur’an can bring peace to the heart, reminding us our loved ones are in Allah’s care.

“I respond to one’s prayer when they call upon Me." (Qur’an 2:186)

2. Honor Their Memory Through Acts of Charity

One of the most beautiful ways to remember a loved one is through sadaqah jariyah— which means ongoing charity in their name. Whether it’s donating to a cause they cared about, providing meals to those in need, or sponsoring a well, these acts can be a source of continuous reward for them.

"The example of those who spend their wealth in the cause of Allah is that of a grain that sprouts into seven ears, each bearing one hundred grains. And Allah multiplies ˹the reward even more˺ to whoever He wills. For Allah is All-Bountiful, All-Knowing. (Qur’an 2:261)

3. Lean on Your Community

Grief can feel isolating, but you don’t have to go through it alone. Ramadan is a time of community, and leaning on family, friends, and your local masjid for support can help ease the pain. Sharing memories, praying together, or simply being in the presence of others can bring comfort. Allow others to support you as Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon Him) teaches us

"The believers in their mutual kindness, compassion and sympathy are just like one body. When one of the limbs suffers, the whole body responds to it with wakefulness and fever".

4. Allow Yourself to Feel

Eid can be a difficult time when someone you love is no longer there to celebrate with you. Give yourself permission to feel joy, sadness, and everything in between. Islam does not ask us to suppress our emotions but encourages us to turn our grief into a means of spiritual growth

"I only complain of my suffering and my grief to Allah {…} (Qur’an 12:86)

5. Remember the Promise of Reunion

One of the greatest comforts in Islam is the promise of the Akhirah—the Hereafter. Our loved ones are not lost forever; they are simply waiting for us in a place where there is no pain, no separation, only eternal joy. Holding onto this hope can make the days a little lighter.

Ramadan and Eid without a loved one may feel different, but through faith, remembrance, and community, their presence can still be felt in the love and kindness you share with others. May Allah grant peace to all those who are grieving and reunite us with our loved ones in Jannah (Heaven).

Guys Gift wish you Ramadan Mubarak! We hope these tips help bereaved Muslim families navigate Ramadan with greater ease and comfort. To access support, please complete a contact from through our website or phone us on 0845 467 3035.

 By Farida Haque (Bereavement Support Worker, Guy’s Gift)

Hospital Bereavement Support Packs - Project Update

Our story:

When a loved one sadly becomes end of life in hospital, their friends and family can find themselves spending a lot of time in hospital too. From our experience over the past 15 years of working with bereaved families, we know the importance of providing opportunities for children and young people to talk about their feelings and emotions during this difficult time.  

Whether a death is expected in hospital, or comes suddenly, having the right support in place helps children and young people to navigate what is happening, and the emotions this brings up.

Our idea for this project started forming in 2021, then conversations with some of the nurses on the McGregor Ward at Warwick Hospital brought our concept to life. It became clear that there was real need for resources available to healthcare professionals supporting a family through bereavement, and we knew we had the expertise to put something meaningful together.

Back in 2020, we launched our Educational Bereavement Resource Packs for schools. A project to ensure teaching and pastoral staff have access to a variety of books, activities and guidance. To date, we have delivered almost 250 packs to primary and secondary schools across Coventry and Warwickshire, transforming the advice and support we could offer in the educational sector. This got us thinking, could we create something bespoke for the healthcare sector too?

Our project:

With thanks to fundraising from the Royal Leamington Spa Rotary Club, we were able to bring our ideas into action. After a lot thought and consideration from the Guy’s Gift team, we developed our Bereavement Support Pack.

We decided that the packs were for the family to be given whilst on the hospital ward, and to have the opportunity to take them home with them. They are designed to ensure that no child or young person has to face grief alone, by encouraging conversations with family, friends and healthcare professionals around them.

We have created a careful balance between promoting education around death and dying, along with an age-appropriate awareness and understanding of the feelings that come with this. We are also mindful of how precious certain moments can be, so the packs ensure that the child or young person has opportunities to capture the memories of their loved ones.

Our first set of packs were delivered to the McGregor Ward at Warwick Hospital in March 2024 by our team of volunteers at Electronic Arts (EA), based in Southam. Over the last year, it has been heartwarming to hear of how they have transformed the bereavement offer of the hospital. The success has a real community-feel to it, with thanks to our local volunteers and fundraisers, along with inaspiring conversations with local nurses to ensure the packs were exactly what they children and young people needed.

Due to the initial success, we understood the importance of securing continued funding to reach other hospitals across Coventry and Warwickshire. We are delighted to share that Intercity Technology, who supported the new Sensory Garden at Warwick Hospital, were on-board when they heard about our project. They have decided to fund our desire to expand our Hospital Resource Pack project, both within Warwick Hospital and to other hospitals across Warwickshire.

Following a SWFT bereavement networking event, Guy’s Gift were able to develop connections with healthcare professionals based in University Hospital Coventry and Warwickshire (UHCW). After further conversations, it was decided that the next set of packs would be delivered to the children’s ward and the palliative care ward at UHCW. We are very much looking forward to seeing how this can continue to transform the bereavement support offer for children and young people visiting these wards.

Our future vision:

We are looking for donations to continue funding this incredibly important project. We know first-hand the difference this can make to bereaved children, young people and their families when they need our support most.

Our vision for our school based Bereavement Resource Pack is to ensure every single school across Coventry and Warwickshire receives a pack. So, why not shoot for the stars with this one too?

Could you be part of our story in ensuring all hospitals across Coventry and Warwickshire have access to a Bereavement Support Pack? Please get in touch below if you would like to discuss this further. 

How to support children when a prominent public figure dies suddenly

When a public figure dies suddenly, it can be hard to understand. There may be lots of different information in the media, some of which can be confusing or sometimes even inaccurate.  Or information may be updated and change quite quickly.   It can feel like you can’t get away from the news, with everyone talking about it. 

This might bring up memories for children and young people about what it was like for them when someone important to them died. Some of the things being talked about in the media may be similar to their own experiences.  It’s important to try and talk with your children about what has happened, being as factual as you’re able to be.

We know that news like the death of a young pop star, for example, can trigger memories and emotions that can be hard to face. Here are some tips that can help you to support your child.

Following the death of anyone, children can become worried that the same is going to happen to other important people in their lives. It can be helpful to reassure children, where possible that this isn’t about to happen. It is important, however, not to make impossible promises.

We have guidance sheets on our website here, which share things to be considerate of in this situation. Use clear and concise language. Avoid using words or phrases like ‘loss’ or ‘gone away’. Although it can feel a bit clinical, using factual words like ‘death’ and ‘died’ can be a lot clearer and easier to understand for children.

Children may have lots of questions about what has happened.  Whilst a lot of questions might happen immediately, sometimes it can be a while after the event that more questions are asked. This is the same when anyone important to your child dies.  Everyone has their own ways of dealing with death, and we all work on different time frames when we process news which is hard to understand.  Children particularly can react to grief quite differently to adults, and might show outward signs of grief one minute and the next they are playing happily with a sibling again.

Children look to their parents, carers, teachers to help them understand what has happened. They need support to understand why they are feeling how they do. It’s important to share with children and young people that it’s okay to feel sad, angry, upset about the death of someone significant, and that it can be helpful to talk with an adult about how they’re feeling. It is equally helpful for children and young people to be told that everyone grieves in their own way, and that there’s no right or wrong about how they feel.

If you would like to talk with one of the team here at Guy’s Gift to find out how we can offer support for grieving children and young people, please get in touch by calling 0845 467 3035 or email info@guysgift.co.uk

Golden Moments for Team GB!

How inspiring are the team GB athletes taking home gold at the Paris 2024 Olympic games?

Guy’s Gift wanted to give a special mention to Lola Anderson and Sophie Capewell, who have both talked bravely about their experiences of grief on their journey to golden victory…

Lola Anderson (Team GB Olympic Rower)

Pictured on the right with her team: Sophie Capewell (Team GB Olympic cyclist)

Let this be a reminder of how your loved ones will always be a significant part of your special “golden” moments throughout life.

We hope you continue to enjoy the Olympics and feel inspired by the stories behind the medals.

Go team GB!

International Women's Day 2024 - #InspireInclusion

How do we #InspireInclusion here at Guy’s Gift?

Inclusion is at the heart of what we’re about at Guy’s Gift. We’re invested in supporting women and girls to achieve the best outcomes, and providing a safe space for them to explore their emotions. This empowers girls to make choices that encourage success.

Within our staff team, we celebrate the diversity of our employees and volunteers. We recognise that diversity brings strength. We learn from one another and promote sharing of ideas to grow and to know that we provide a top class support for those children and families who come to Guy’s Gift after a loved one has died.

I spoke with some of the team here about what resources they use with children and young people to celebrate inclusion. Many of the favourite books the team use, empower girls and help them to recognise what they can achieve. We’ve shared a few of these favourites below.

Others in the team spoke about recognising leaders in the field of childhood bereavement. Those who passionately campaign for support for children and young people, and those who share their personal stories of grief so that their story may help others who are experiencing similar things. We know that sharing their story with others can help children and young people to navigate their grief, and to recognise that they are not the only ones experiencing this. Historically, death and dying hasn’t been talked about enough. It has been a taboo, which has led to deeper isolation in difficult times.  Sharing your story can be tough! So we thank those who are able to speak out and share their story in a way that is supportive of others and enabling children and young people to see positive role models.

We’re proud of the women in our team here at Guy’s Gift, and those in leadership roles who guide the charity to achieve top class support for bereaved children and young people. 75% of our board of trustees are women; women who give their time, expertise and experience to Guy’s Gift.

Children's Grief Awareness Week 2023

It’s Children’s Grief Awareness Week this week (16th - 22nd November), and we’ve held ‘Sharing Shape’ activities in the run up to the week again.

The Sharing Shapes activity is hosted by the Childhood Bereavement Network, and it’s a national activity which brings together bereaved children and young people across the UK to create a shared piece of artwork. This year, the theme is ‘The Shape of Your Support’ and we asked children and young people to share with us who or what supports them with their grief. This has opened up conversations about what support can look like and how different people can offer different ways to support at different times.

Below, you’ll see the shapes which have been shared with us so far (and shared for the national mural too). If you’d like to complete this activity with your child, or a child in your care then we’d love to see what they come up with too!

Volunteers Week 2023

It’s Volunteers Week 2023 and we’re taking the opportunity to say thank you and well done to our fantastic team of volunteers.  

Over the last year, our volunteers have collectively given over 500 hours towards supporting bereaved children and their families locally. This is HUGE! We’re so proud of them all!   

We’re a small charity making a big impact. We’ve supported over 3000 young people since we started 15 years ago. In the early days most of the team at Guys Gift were volunteers. As we’ve grown, we’ve gone on to employ a small staff team, but volunteers have always been essential to our success. We simply couldn’t achieve all that we do without them.  

We currently have volunteers who work directly with families, volunteers who fundraise for us, volunteers who build and deliver school resource packs and volunteers who act as trustees of the charity. All our volunteers make a difference, all of them are amazing - and they make us who we are. 

At Guy’s Gift we don’t need large numbers of volunteers, but we’re always looking for very special people who can help us make a difference to the lives of children and young people who have experienced the death of someone special to them. 

We’re currently looking for volunteers to help us with: 

• Our Bereavement Support Day in Kenilworth on 1st August 2023,

• Group sessions in Kenilworth and Nuneaton during the autumn term (there will be other locations and dates throughout the year too), 

• Fundraising at a time to suit you,

• Building and delivering Bereavement Resource Packs to local schools,

• Support with social media and website content,

• ...and we’re open to ideas for new volunteering opportunities.  

If you’re feeling inspired to join our volunteer team, please get in touch at volunteering@guysgift.co.uk

Top Tips for Successful Fundraising

We know how exciting it can be to get your fundraising ideas into action. So, how can you make the most of your online fundraising page and get your friends and family engaged to support you, and Guy’s Gift?

Guy’s Gift fundraiser, Brian Taylor, shares his top tips for helping make your fundraising a HUGE success when using Just Giving.

1. Write a story.
   Tell your supporters about why you’re fundraising, and why you’re fundraising for Guy’s Gift.
   Why is it important to you?

2. Include some eye-catching photos.
   A picture tells a thousand words, after all!

3. Set a target.
   If you set a target, your supporters will want to help you achieve it. You could link this target to what it will mean for Guy’s Gift too.

4. Share the news of your fundraising event as widely as you can.
   Use social media, emails, conversations with others. The more you share, the more people will know what you’re doing and be able to show their support!
   Don’t forget to tag Guy’s Gift on your social posts too.

5. Update those who have donated, or are thinking about donating with your progress.
   Bring your supporters on the journey with you.

6. Say thanks!
   Once you have completed your fundraising event, share how you got on.  Everyone loves a success story.

We’re on hand to help you set up fundraising pages, and we like sharing your fundraising endeavours with others too. Tell us what you’re doing, and how we can support you as you go.

Don’t forget, this year Guy’s Gift will celebrate 15 years of providing bereavement support and counselling for children and young people across Coventry and Warwickshire. We can’t wait to see what ‘15’ theme fundraising you come up with this year.

For more tips and ideas to start you on your fundraising adventure, you can email Brian on fundraising@guysgift.co.uk

Guy's Gift: 15th Anniversary

At the end of 2023, Guy’s Gift will have been providing bereavement support and counselling across Coventry and Warwickshire for 15 years.  During this time, we have supported over 3000 children and young people who have experienced the death of someone important to them.

As we head towards this milestone, we would like to invite you to come up with fundraising ideas around the theme ‘15’. Here are a few ideas to get you started:

1. Set up a regular donation of £15 to Guy’s Gift. By heading over to our Just Giving Campaign

2. Complete a 15km run or walk

3. Give something you love up for 15 days (chocolate, favourite takeaway,…) and aim to raise £150 in the process.

4. Get a group of 15 friends together to compete in an event. This could be a garden sports day in the summer.

5. Hold a sponsored static bike event with a groups of friends, and take it in shifts to keep cycling for 15 hours.

We can’t wait to see what wonderful ideas you come up with, and don’t forget to let us know what you’re up to so we can ‘shout out’ about it too.

All fundraising pages can be set up and linked to our special 15th Anniversary campaign page here: https://www.justgiving.com/campaign/15thAnniversary

For more information, help setting up a Just Giving page, or to let us know what fundraising you’re up to, get in touch with us at fundraising@guysgift.co.uk