Penhaligon’s Friend’s weekly family bereavement sessions funded by a £1,600 grant from the Cornish Lithium Community.

Penhaligon’s Friends has been providing bereavement support to children, young people and their families throughout Cornwall for almost twenty years. 

Their work enables children to have a better understanding of their grief reactions and reduce isolation by enabling and facilitating groups for families. They improve communication within bereaved families, helping parents and caregivers to understand their child’s behaviours and providing tools and resources to support this. Access to Penhaligon’s Friends is available regardless of who and when the bereavement was.

Grant awarded & impact

In October 2023 the group was awarded £1,600 from The Cornish Lithium Community Benefit FundA sum of money made available for grant making, often with specific criteria/conditions. to deliver a monthly bereavement support group in Blackwater enabling many families to come together and spend time with others with a shared experience of bereavement.

51 people benefitted from the sessions and when asked they said they experienced improvements in emotional wellbeing, felt better able to talk about their grief, and had a reduced sense of isolation.

Those who attended this group were also much more likely to engage in other Penhaligon’s Friends support services including memory days and more targeted 1-2-1 sessions. Some families have also shared contact details and connected outside of the group, creating ongoing support networks for each other.

One Mum started attending the group with her two children, both under five. Her partner died in a road traffic collision, and she engaged with Penhaligon’s Friends shortly after her loss. <Call out>

After some initial 1-2-1 support she felt able to attend the group sessions and has now been to six.

She has meet two other parents who have experienced a similar loss and as well as emotional support she has been able to gain practical advice on inquests, processes and what to expect in the coming months and years.

She has expressed that the support group has been a lifeline for her and her two young children.

About the fund

The Cornish Lithium Community Fund has been running since 2022 and has awarded over £34,000 to 21 different community groups. The fund was set up by Cornish Lithium to support the work of local clubs, charities and activity groups that seek to make a positive difference in the company’s projectA piece of work that delivers an output. areas, which now include Blackwater, Carharrack, Chacewater, Gwennap, St Agnes, St Day, Twelveheads and China Clay Country around St Austell.

Funding location: The Cornish Lithium Community Fund has been established to support the work of community groups who seek to make a positive difference in the following geographical areas: Gwennap Parish Council, Chacewater Parish Council, St. Day Parish Council, Carharrack Parish Council, St Agnes Parish Council (Blackwater), Redruth North Parish Ward, Wheal Rose Parish Ward and Kea Baldhu Ward. China Clay Community Network area: Luxulyan, Roche, St Dennis, St Enoder, St Stephen in Brannel and Treverbyn. 

This is one of more than 12 Community Benefit Funds managed by Cornwall Community Foundation.

If you are a community group looking for funding, please view our available grants: Applying for a grant – Cornwall Community Foundation

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