WYRE Forest charity Kemp Hospice is celebrating a five-year milestone for their children’s bereavement support service.

Kemp for Kids started in 2013 to help youngsters with people close to them that have died or are suffering from life-limiting illness. The hospice offers free of charge counselling and therapeutic work for children affected by bereavement.

The service also offers special creative activities and events, including the festive Lantern Walk through Wyre Forest memorial event held in December, and the annual residential weekend, Kemp for Kids Camp.

Family Support Head and leader of Kemp for Kids Jackie Turner said: “We’re a small but dedicated team and myself and my teammates Sue Raymond and Basia Sheeran feel so blessed to be able to help young people right here in the Wyre Forest district.

“We are privileged to be able to help children and their families work through their grief using therapeutic work and allowing children to explore their experiences and emotions.

“We do this by talking with them, using arts based creative activities and memory activities such as making memory boxes and memory jars with them, or a combination of all of these."

She added: “Over the last five years we know that we’ve helped so many children and young people and it’s great to be celebrating our birthday in the same year that Prince Harry gets married.

“The Prince has spoken openly about the benefits of bereavement support and how it has helped him in the years since losing his mother Princess Diana.”

The hospice relies on donations and support from the community to raise the £1,000,000 needed to provide their free specialist care each year.

People wanting bereavement advice from Kemp for kids or the adult team can contact their helpline on 01562 756060.