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Barnardos Bereavement Counselling for Children is a service for children and young people who have lost someone close to them – like a parent or a sibling - through death. We can’t shield children from the reality of death and the pain of loss. What we can do is to help them to understand, to grieve and to cope a little better.

It may take some time for a child to talk about death, but getting support and being listened to helps the healing. Barnardos Bereavement Counselling for Children is there to help. We work with families to help them support their child through the grieving process.

Barnardos Bereavement Counselling for Children is supported by the Family Support Agency and the Commission for the Support of Victims of Crime. 

Our services

There are a number of different services that we provide:

Helpline

Our helpline is open every Monday to Friday from 10am to 12 noon. We are there to listen, give information where we can and support members of the public concerned about childhood bereavement. Our helpline number is 01 473 2110.

Counselling

Counsellors are based in Cork and Dublin but work with children from across the country. We welcome referrals to our counselling services from a number of different avenues:

• Referrals will be accepted from any source with the consent of parents/carers.
• Parents and carers are welcome to contact us directly.
• Referrals can be made through the helpline or by contacting our service in Cork and Dublin.
• Other agencies can make referrals on the Barnardos Bereavement referral form. This is available on request.

The service offered is based on the individual needs of each child and their family.  Our service takes into consideration the developmental stage of the child, the child's relationship with the deceased, the nature of the death and particular circumstances of the family.

Training and consultancy 

Barnardos also provides training and consultancy for groups and organisations whose work brings them into contact with bereaved children.

Research

We undertake research on issues relating to childhood bereavement.

Information

Barnardos has developed information and resource materials on bereavement:

Barnardos' Parenting Postively booklet - Coping with Death
Booklet for Adults
Booklet for Children

Barnardos Guide - Death
Helping Children Understand 
Helping Teenagers Understand

Contacting Us

Referrals are accepted from parents and families and from other sources with the consent of the family in question. Referrals can be made by contacting the national Helpline or our offices in Dublin and Cork.

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