The Loss Of Someone Special

An innovative approach to loss and death.

“Not many of us prepare well for death, least of all when it is unexpected. Death and bereavement in school is not expected, but of course it does happen. Sometimes in especially tragic circumstances as when a child is killed in a car accident or drowned on holiday; children also become terminally ill. But children also lose parents or close relatives. Sometimes a teacher or member of staff dies suddenly or after a long illness. When these things happen, there is an expectation that the school will cope and knows what to say, how to care for the child or children. But this is not always the case, which is why I welcome “The Loss of Someone Special”. It will help schools help children cope with death and bereavement.”
Tom Peryer, Director of Education for the Diocese of London

The Loss of Someone Special is designed for primary school pupils to explore and respond to the wider issues associated with loss. This can be from the death of a family pet, a best friend moving away, the perceived loss of family life through divorce or separation to the deeper issues of the death of a close family member or the frightening episodes in today’s society.

Our aim is to help schoolchildren learn to face loss in a healthy way as early as possible in their lives. Through this project children will learn invaluable life skills to build on as they develop into responsible and secure citizens.

cre8.ed is approaching this sensitive area to develop teacher resources in an informed and educated manner by working in association with the Child Bereavement Trust and other health, education and bereavement specialists.

Curriculum-linked workshops are offered for Key Stages 1 and 2 (ages 4-11) pupils by cre8.ed visual artists for pupils to explore and respond to issues surrounding loss, basing their work on the delightful book Waterbugs and Dragonflies by Doris Stickney. Schools will receive follow-up materials for use in the classroom.

“Meeting the needs of children and their families experiencing the death or loss of someone important in their lives is not easy. Schools have a key role to play.

Anything that encourages open and honest communication surrounding this difficult and challenging task is to be welcomed. I am therefore delighted to endorse “The Loss of Someone Special” project. This vital initiative will bring to schools a fresh and stimulating opportunity to open the door on a subject that many of us struggle with. Importantly, the creative workshops will be backed up with resources for school staff following each performance providing long term support.

I wish the cre8.ed team every success with this very worthwhile venture.”
Jenni Thomas, OBE – Chief Executive, The Child Bereavement Trust

For all enquiries and to make a booking, contact the cre8.ed office on 01494 682220 or admin@cre8ed.com 

In partnership with cre8.ed, Springs Dance Company have devised an exciting schools assembly dance presentation, followed by dance (and optional visual art) workshops for teachers and pupils to explore and respond to issues surrounding loss, through the use of the arts.

Permission has been granted to base the dance presentation on the story of Waterbugs and Dragonflies by Doris Stickney. By using the analogy of the water bugs’ short life under the water and their emergence as dragonflies into the bright sunlit world above the water, it sensitively provides many basic truths surrounding loss and death.

This powerful and professional dance presentation lasts about 20 minutes, is light, friendly and fun, whilst designed to draw awareness into the different responses children may experience when bereaved, as well to think about how they can support each other in difficult times.

 The performance is part of the child bereavement project that includes:

• Guidelines offered for teachers to prepare pupils prior to the dance presentation
• Discussion materials for use by classroom teachers immediately after the performance
• Dance and art workshops with Springs Dance Company members and cre8.ed visual artists
• Follow-up resources that include visual art-based lessons for teachers to use in the classroom, as appropriate.

“That is probably the most delightful and moving piece of dance I’ve ever seen - and I’ve seen quite a few! Totally brilliant.”
Audience member referring to Waterbugs and Dragonflies

The project was launched in May 2004 and is supported by Awards for All, The Christian Arts Trust, The Samuel Storey Family Charitable Trust, and The Westminster Experiment & Research in Evangelism Trust.

N.B. Artists taking part in the project have been trained by The Child Bereavement Trust.