SeeSaw Grief Support Young Ambassadors met with MP Freddie van Mierlo in the House of Commons to advocate for bereaved children and young people across the UK.
Earlier this month, two of SeeSaw Grief Support’s Young Ambassadors were invited to the House of Commons to raise awareness of the need for better data on child bereavement and improved access to support for bereaved children and young people in the UK.
Accompanied by SeeSaw’s Communications Manager, Liv Webster, Young Ambassadors Aisha Campbell and Nettie Parish met with Freddie van Mierlo, MP for Thame and Henley, to share their personal experiences of grief and discuss why it is vital that the UK Government records statistics on child bereavement.
Currently, there is no national government data recording how many children and young people are bereaved each year in the UK, and there is no statutory requirement to provide bereavement support. The Young Ambassadors highlighted how access to reliable data would help organisations such as SeeSaw Grief Support better understand local need, plan services and ensure bereaved children and young people can access support if and when they need it.
Young Ambassador Nettie said: “I feel so lucky to have had the opportunity to express the impact that SeeSaw and effective, local grief support overall can have. Grief is life-changing at any age and undoubtedly changes the trajectory for young people’s lives, but this doesn’t have to mean something detrimental. Having the data to understand what children across the country are dealing with has to be an essential step in improving the outcomes for children and giving government and charity the right information to best support young people. “
The visit included a tour of the House of Commons before the meeting with Freddie van Mierlo, who took time to listen to the experiences of the Young Ambassadors and learn more about the complex challenges facing bereaved children and young people.