Your reputation is our reputation. Newly released videos and resources aim to help young people during their grief journey

As four young people experience the death of a parent every day in Northern Ireland, a partnership between Funeral Partners NI and grief charity Cruse Bereavement Support NI, with assistance from the National Lottery Community Fund, is supporting young people navigating the loss of a loved one.

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The Teenage Youth Bereavement Project is a video support resource that has been created by members of Cruse Bereavement Support’s, Youth Advisory Group - ‘Somewhere For Us’. The short films include testimonies from young people about their own grief journey, discussion of personal experience following loss, and guidance on how to address grief, in a bid to support their peers who find themselves facing the death of someone they loved.

From discussing the individuality of each bereavement journey to the feelings young people have surrounding death, the videos aim to bring a level of understanding to a journey that has been presented so prematurely to many young people across the Province. Entitled ‘Coping Immediately After a Death’, ‘Birthdays and Anniversaries’, ‘Coping at School or College’ and ‘How to be a Grief Ally’, they offer guidance to help prevent isolation but equally promote self-care and time alone to process the huge life event that is death. The young people also discuss milestones, including anniversaries and birthdays, in the aftermath of a loss and how to cope with and mark the occasions.

Speaking about the new resources, Beverley Brown, Community Relations and Marketing for Funeral Partners NI, said: “Grieving is individual to every single person. Dealing with death is a challenging life event but when it happens to young people, it can be an even more complex event that can be extremely isolating.

“We hope that these resources, created through Funeral Partners’ collaboration with Cruse Bereavement NI, are a positive step in supporting young people and those who work with them to help them understand, and live with loss.

Emma Moore, Business Development Manager and Andrew Neale from James Brown & Sons

“It is important for us to be part of an initiative that reaches out to young people and their peers at a time when they need it most. We hope this support material will prove valuable for all who find themselves facing bereavement.”

Thelma Abernethy, Head of Cruse in NI, said: “We were delighted to be asked by James Brown & Sons to help with this project. Whilst four young people a day experience the death of a parent, many more are bereaved of siblings, grandparents, friends and other family members, so the statistics are a lot higher.

“Support for bereaved children and young people

Peter Mulholland, a wellknown retired Funeral Director from Carrickfergus, battled tricky weather conditions and a mammoth hill climb during a tough cycling challenge, to raise £3,000 for a charity that provides vital respite for cancer patients.

thank Funeral Partners for providing the cycling jerseys we wore with pride during the challenge.” when they need it is vital and we know that these videos will be of great value to them. The Youth Advisory Group at Cruse decided on the topics for the videos and developed the content. They felt it was important to include some guidance for teachers and for other young people who may be supporting their friend who has been bereaved.

“They are an amazing group of bereaved young people who want to ensure that other bereaved young people know they are not alone.”

To find out more about the project or to request a pack, please visit: www. jamesbrownfuneraldirectors. com/cruse-bereavement/

FUNERAL PARTNERS NI BUSINESSES INVOLVED IN THIS PROJECT INCLUDE:

Adair & Neely, Derry~Londonderry; Bairds of Antrim; Houston & Williamson, Belfast; James Brown & Sons, Belfast, Dunmurry, Newtownabbey and Whiteabbey; John Gray & Co, Bangor, Holywood and Newtownards; Joseph Poots & Son, Portadown; Mulhollands Funeral Directors, Carrickfergus and Larne; Shields of Donaghadee.

Funeral Partners is the UK’s third largest funeral business, with more than 230 funeral homes staffed by over 1000 dedicated funeral professionals serving communities across England, Scotland and Northern Ireland.

Chief Executive Sam Kershaw has over 40 years’ experience in the funeral profession, joining the business back in 2016 as Chief Operating Officer. Funeral Partners, which celebrated its 15-year anniversary in 2022, has grown rapidly, building a strong reputation as a well-run, high-quality funeral services business overseeing more than 25,000 funerals each year.

It now includes more than 130 family businesses, which have entrusted their reputation and heritage to Funeral Partners.

For more information about Funeral Partners or if you are considering selling your business visit: www.funeralpartnersnorthernireland.com

Peter, 70, and his friend Jim Adams, were two of the 6,000 participants who took part in the gruelling Etape Loch Ness event - a 66-mile closed road route around the famous Scottish loch. The pair were cycling to raise money for Hope House Ireland - a charity that provides cancer patients and their carers with a place to stay for rest and recuperation during, or after their treatment.

Peter, who now works as a consultant at Mulhollands Funeral Directors, which was founded by his father in 1966, voiced his thanks to the many clients, friends and family who pledged their support. He also thanked Mulhollands’ parent company, Funeral Partners, who boosted the donations already received by contributing £1,000 - bringing the total amount raised to just under £3,000.

“Jim and I would like to thank people for being so incredibly generous. The facilities Hope House provides are just fantastic, so it’s a very worthwhile cause. I hope the money makes a real difference,” Peter said. He added: “I’d also like to

The event features a daunting hill climb, which Peter said was one of the most demanding parts of the ride, especially combined with the sleet and mist, which had rolled into Scotland on the morning of the ride.

“We were told before we started that a piper would be playing at the top of the hill, and when you could hear him, you were close to the finish line,” Peter said.

“It was such a relief when we heard him playing because my legs were really hurting but despite the pain, I can honestly say that it was a fabulous experience, and I felt an amazing sense of achievement when we finished.”

“We would like to thank our Hope champions Peter and Jim for this amazing support and we are overwhelmed by the fantastic amount of money that was raised for Hope House

‘We’re so grateful to them, and to each and every person who gave donations to offer people the chance to rest and recuperate away from the pressures of hospital treatments and appointments. “For people and their carers who are living with cancer, time is so precious, and the money raised will go towards helping us continue to provide our complimentary breaks that enable them to get much needed quality time together in a beautiful tranquil setting at the beach in Browns Bay.”