A charity that supports bereaved children has launched a major fundraising appeal so it can continue offering its services.

Mosaic – Supporting Bereaved Children was founded in 2007 to help families deal with the impact of a death. The charity provides qualified counsellors who meet and talk with the child or young person, helping them understand and deal with feelings of grief and anxiety.

Demand for the service is now reportedly outstripping Mosaic’s ability to provide the free access to counsellors, and members are hoping to raise £100,000 this year to continue to provide care, advice and support.

Jo Revill, the charity’s CEO, said: “This is the crunch point for us now. We’ve had a 47 per cent increase in the number of children and young people being referred to us for help, compared with the same period in 2023.

“We want to continue to exist for Dorset, and for Dorset’s children.  The services we offer can transform a child’s life and their life chances, but we cannot be sure of meeting that need if we can’t raise the money.”

Teachers in primary and secondary schools from across the county refer children into Mosaic for counselling support and advice.  Last year, Mosaic provided counselling to 412 children and young people.  This year, the figure is likely to be substantially higher, with extra help also going into school in peer support.

The charity helps young people between the ages of five and 18 who have lost a parent, grandparent, sibling or friend.  In just under half of the referrals, the charity is helping children or young people where a parent has died.

To meet the new demand, the charity will need to raise an extra £100,000 in 2024 to continue its work.  It costs £350 to help a child or young person by providing wrap-around counselling for them at school or home, including support for the family over several months.

Karen Parnell, Chair of Trustees, said: “I’m incredibly grateful for the comprehensive and compassionate support our family received from Mosaic when my husband died.  It had a profound impact on my children during a very difficult time. 

"The specialised counselling and peer support activities provided my daughters with a safe space to express their feelings, share their experiences and connect with others who understood their loss.”

She added: “We hope that our communities can really get behind us in this challenging financial period to help us raise funds so that all the children and young people who need our help can receive it.  There is so much more for us to do as a charity and we’re lucky to have very dedicated individuals – staff, volunteers, trustees and counsellors – who make all the difference.”

For more information about this Mosaic appeal, please visit www.mosaicfamilysupport.org