In my down time I love taking on and training for a challenge, with the London Marathon 23 being a highlight! I am a member of my local running club where I am currently a buddy runner for our new Couch to 5k intake, and if I'm not out with them running then you can find me with my dog in the local fields enjoying the fresh air. I also have two boys who both swim competitively, play football and cricket and eat everything in sight on a daily basis! We are very grateful to everyone who supports Jigsaw, be it through a monthly donation, a fundraising event in your local community such as a bake sale or raffle, or a daredevil challenge, maybe taking on a skydive or cycling for miles around the south coast, every penny really does make a difference. If you feel you want to run a fundraising event or take on a challenge or have an idea you want to discuss in support of Jigsaw please get in touch with me, I am happy to support you every step of the way.

In the financial year 2022/23 we received 176 new referrals from families and supported 600 children and young people as a result of a direct referral. We also received over 250 helpline contacts, providing guidance, support and information to families and professionals.

Online information sessions for professionals and parents
We are developing our online information sessions for parents/carers and are looking to provide more topic-based sessions to meet the identified needs of families. The next session titled Managing Anxiety and Transitions after a Bereavement will be delivered in June. 

Family Grief Groups

Over the past few months, we have been piloting some new family bereavement sessions for families referred into the service. The sessions delivered and evaluated to date have been well received and all parents who responded were able to reflect and recognise favourable outcomes from the sessions for themselves and their children.

Outcomes for parent/carers included:

• Helping them to better understand young children’s grief and development.

• Helping them to communicate to their child about the person close to them who has died.

• Helping them to better understand and feel more confident in how to support their child’s grief

• Enabling them to emotionally connect with their child.

• Feeling less alone and more connected with other parents who are supporting a bereaved child.

Outcomes for children included:

• Giving them ways to communicate about their loved one who has died.

• Allowing them to express themselves about a loved one’s death in an age-appropriate way.

• Enjoyment in meeting other similar aged, bereaved children.
  

As a Jigsaw supporter you may well be familiar with these lovely, smiley faces. In the past few months we have sadly said goodbye to our wonderful Business Development Manager Carolyn after 8 years of service and our fantastic Fundraising Co-ordinator Sophie after almost 6 years of service. We can't thank them enough for their incredible contribution to Jigsaw over the years, always going above and beyond.

Both Carolyn and Sophie will very much be missed by the team and we wish them well with their next adventures. 

If you're not already following us on social media, we'd love you to! Here's a few recent posts you might have missed on facebook.

We would like to thank the following Trusts, Foundations and grant-giving organisations for their recent grants and donations: