At Living On Bereavement Service, our dedicated team is here to support children, young people, and families navigating the journey of grief. With compassion, experience, and a deep understanding of loss, we provide a safe space where emotions can be shared, and support can be found. Each member of our team brings unique skills and heartfelt dedication to helping those in need.
Get to know the team behind Living On below:
When you first contact Living On, one of our FSWs will be there to take your call and walk along side you, guiding you to the intervention or service that you need.
I always wanted to work with children, for as long as I can remember. I have a Social Psychology degree, and worked with children and adolescents with mental health needs, as well as teaching English as a foreign language in Poland. I then trained to become a primary school teacher. I loved teaching and enjoyed helping children reach their potential, but left when I had my daughter – another job I had always wanted to do!
When the time came for me to return to work, I realised I wanted to support children and young people in a different way. Having experienced bereavements of my own, the path led me to Living On and the wonderful work they do. I love my role as Lead Family Support Worker and am passionate about advocating and supporting bereaved children and young people – I also love being part of a team of such lovely people all working together to support families locally coming to term with loss and finding a way to live on.
Prior to working at Living On I worked for 18 years part-time at a local theatre in their marketing department along with studying to be counsellor.
After qualifying as a counsellor and volunteering at a local hospice for 3 years as a bereavement counsellor, I felt it was time to move on and I was delighted when the position of Family Support Worker became available at Living On.
I have always been curious, passionate about helping others, a good listener and although the path to becoming a counsellor was a long one, once I started I knew I had found my calling.
Working with children, giving them the time and space to explore their thoughts and feelings, walking alongside them on their journey, does I hope in some small way show them they are not alone.
Following a career in Human Resources, in-house recruitment and career coaching, I decided to pursue my interest in working with children and young people. Becoming a Mentor for Bromley Mentoring Initiative allowed me to help primary and secondary aged children to develop their social and academic skills, enabling them to become more motivated about learning, school and their future.
My experience of mentoring young people and my own personal experience of bereavement led me to the opportunity at Living On. Initially as a volunteer and then as a Family Support Worker, I now work in partnership with children and their families to support them in their bereavement journey. I believe that listening carefully, being curious and asking the right questions, helps to encourage a bereaved child to communicate their feelings and thoughts about the death of their loved one.
I find my work at Living On to be compelling, rewarding and inspiring. I feel very proud to be part of a charity that guides children to discover ways to deal with their loss and the complex emotions that come with this.
Our service relies on the dedication, skill and experience of our highly trained volunteers who support the work we do with children, young people and their families.
Angela is a fantastic volunteer who loves supporting children. She loves spending time with her grandchildren, walking her dog, knitting and listening to music. She loves all animals.
Ceri is one of our incredible volunteers. She is a SEND teacher and loves working with children. She also loves holidays, sunshine, spending time with friends and family and most of all baking!
Clare enjoys walking in the countryside and visiting places of interest. She also loves painting, drawing and making things.
Zoe feels very proud to be a volunteer at Living On. She loves working with the children and her fabulous colleagues! She also enjoys dog walks, being a bit creative and anything heart shaped!
Gaynor is a regular volunteer at our Help Point offering a compassionate listening ear to adults. She loves the arts, particularly the theatre, and all things creative especially cooking and repairing jewellery. Gaynor loves spending time with friends too.
Volunteering for Living On is one of Ria’s greatest joys in life! Along with pizza, painting and going to the pictures!
Tricia is a great asset to the Living On team and volunteers usually at our Help Point and family events. She loves to spend time with her family, travelling and spending time in the countryside.
Sara is very proud to represent Living On when needed. She enjoys making memories with her family and friends. She also loves reading Kerry Barnes books.
Sue enjoys baking, sewing and crochet. She loves going to the theatre to see mostly musicals. Her favourite this year is Starlight Express!
Our trustees are dedicated and passionate about ensuring bereaved children and young people have access to the support that they need. We not only keep a careful eye on the governance of the charity but we listen closely to the families and young people who have used or are accessing our support. Their voices help us to shape the service we provide.
Dramatherapist and EMDR Practitioner
Heather has been a fully qualified HCPC registered Drama psychotherapist for the last 18 years. She was team lead at Jigsaw Southeast/Macmillan team where they supported children when a parent or sibling was dying. She went on to develop a children’s Psychology service in a large London Hospital supporting children through a terminal illness or condition and providing therapy interventions for them and their siblings. This work included supporting families and staff when a child died.
Heather undertook training in childhood bereavement at St Christopher’s Hospice with Middlesex University in 2015 and now lectures regularly on the course.
Heather facilitates Living On’s Group and has a private practice specialising in bereavement and trauma.
I have seen and heard our team’s passion for Living On and it was infectious! I therefore decided to volunteer to help deliver the charity’s fantastic vision to support ordinary families in our area, just like my own, that have suffered a bereavement. I have been a PA for twenty years and currently work part time for the managing director of a media company, so provide administrative and organisation support.
Having experienced first hand the devastating effect that a death has on a family, I am only too aware of the need for easy access to good quality support and guidance in the early days of the grieving process. I am the mother of a young family myself, and realised that through our small family alone we knew several families who could have benefited from a service such as this. That is why I am excited to be part of such a worthwhile charity, providing much needed support to local families.
Living On is an amazing charity which I have been aware of since it was founded. Having assisted with some of their events, I was incredibly impressed and moved by the work they do, with both bereaved children and their families as well as the commitment of the volunteers. I am proud to be part of a movement which enables families in my area to access this much needed support at such a difficult time in their lives.
My favourite thing to do is spend time with my family. Normally enjoying walks by the beach, watching my son compete in swimming galas or my daughter beaming whilst horse riding. I love to read, watch films and always enjoy a lovely meal out.
Having worked as a Community Children’s Nurse I am very aware of the impact of the loss of a close family member on children and young people and the need for appropriate and timely support.
Part of my role involved setting up and managing a bereavement service for children so when I retired from the NHS I was pleased to be invited to become a Trustee for Living On. I am very proud of the amazing support that is given to families suffering a loss by our wonderful FamilySupport Workers and Volunteers.
Having experienced loss at a young age, I deeply understand the vital support that a charity like Living On provides. My journey with the organization began as a 1:1 volunteer, and now I have the privilege of supporting group sessions and help points. This first-hand involvement has given me a real appreciation of the impact of our work.
Now, as a trustee, I’m proud to contribute to the day-to-day running of the charity, working alongside an inspiring team.
All our therapy groups are facilitated by fully qualified and experienced psychotherapists or counsellors. Registered with HCPC or BACP.
I am extremely proud of Living On and all that the Charity has achieved since we began in 2016. I have over 30 years’ experience of working with Children and Young people and have dedicated the last 15 years to specialising in bereavement and trauma.
I am a Dramatherapist, EMDR practitioner and Clinical Supervisor and believe that ALL children and young people should have access to the right support for them. I also love a boogie (in my kitchen) and going to the theatre when I can.
Paul has gained specialised knowledge in clinically assessing and supporting the needs of parents and children since 2004. He was employed as the Adult Bereavement Service Co-ordinator at a Hospice in London for more than 10 years and more recently became Head of Clinical Services for a National Children’s Bereavement Charity.
Paul is an accomplished trainer and supervisor in private practice in Kent. He has an interest in trauma informed work, gaining a Level 7 Diploma in Trauma and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) in 2017. During the pandemic he additionally ran a response team of counsellors for three London Hospitals.
He has over 20 years of management skills to back up his counselling training and is a member of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy.
If you are interested in becoming part of the Living On Bereavement Service team in any capacity, then please contact us below: