TV’s Helen Skelton is officially opening Child Bereavement UK’s new office in Penrith on 1 May. The charity, which offers a peripatetic bereavement service across Cumbria, has recently created an administration and resource base which will also provide a space for bereavement support practitioners to see children, young people and families.
Child Bereavement UK supports families and educates professionals both when a baby or child of any age dies or is dying, and when a child is facing bereavement.
The charity is delighted to welcome Helen Skelton, who has been a supporter in the past, to their new premises. Helen is a television and radio presenter who works for BBC, ITV and Channel 5, having presented programmes including Blue Peter and Countryfile. She has just written her second children’s book and is currently taking a career break to look after her two young boys.
The Open Day at Child Bereavement UK’s new base will take place between 2-6pm at The Bridge, 71 Wordsworth Street, Penrith. Staff will be on hand to tell people more about the charity and its work, and to offer refreshments. They hope to meet not only families, but also education and health professionals interested in finding out more about the training available to those working with bereaved parents, children and young people.
For anyone interested in volunteering, there will also be information about ways to get involved, whether they want to fundraise or offer their skills to the charity.
Seb Farrell, Child Bereavement’s Fundraising Manager (North) said: “To have Helen Skelton come along to our Open Day and support our services in Cumbria is wonderful. We have a great team supporting families across the county and we’ll now also be able to support children, young people and families from our new base in Penrith. We are delighted to finally find a home for the charity here in Cumbria.”