St Helena supports the families, friends and carers of local people who face incurable illness. Our goal is to be here every step of the way, helping life go on in the face of dying, death and bereavement.
The help we offer includes counselling, family support and social work. We can give advice, support and assistance in discussing illness and treatments, and in helping prepare family members for the death of a loved one. We offer this support across our Day Therapies centres, in the home and at The Hospice.
Our emotional support for adults and children who have a link with someone receiving care from St Helena can include one to one support, couple’s support, children and family sessions, and peer groups. We are only able to offer this support thanks to the generosity of our donors and fundraisers, you can make a donation here.
We aim to:
We can act as an advocate and liaise with employers and schools if needed. We can support children over 5 years of age and young people either individually or in a family group. Children under five will be supported via their parent/guardian or within their family unit and not individually.
We offer spiritual care, as well as physical and emotional care. The Chaplaincy team is here to listen, journey with, enable and equip people to fulfil their spiritual needs and find inner peace. People like to talk about hope, peace, sense of meaning and purpose, faith, belief, relationships and forgiveness.
We will accept self-referrals from family members and informal carers looking for support where the person with the advanced, progressive life-limiting or incurable illness is not currently receiving or wanting support from St Helena themselves. In these instances please telephone SinglePoint on 01206 890 360 to refer yourself and/or your children.
You can also contact our family support team by email to familysupport@sthelena.org.uk
Keeping in touch when you can't be with someone who is so ill that they might die leaflet
Our family support team has therefore put together some 'how to' videos for creative activities to do as a family; which also serve as a good way distraction, allowing your children to open up and share their feelings, worries, and questions etc.
This video provides families with tools to help children cope with their worries and questions through the use of a worry box; worry monster; and worry people.
If your child/ren are having trouble sleeping; having dreams or nightmares; or you're having trouble getting them to go to bed; this video could help you. Our family support team gives you instructions on how to make a dream catcher - as a fun activity for you and the children - as well as guidance on how to encourage your child to open up with you.