CHUMS has been commissioned by North Kent Mind to deliver services as part of the Medway Therapeutic Alliance. The Medway Therapeutic Alliance is commissioned by Medway Council and delivered by North Kent Mind as Lead Provider, working with partner organisations. As part of the Alliance, CHUMS will deliver specialist bereavement support for children, young people, and young adults aged 5-18 years (up to 25 years for those with special educational needs or who are care leavers) who live in Medway.
Our Offer will include
- Bereavement workshops and structured group programmes
- Individual bereavement‑focused therapeutic sessions
- Parent/carer psychoeducation and support groups
- Advice and guidance for parents, carers, and professionals supporting a bereaved child or young person
Medway Therapeutic Alliance officially launches on 1 April 2026.
Specialist support is needed when a child or young person is experiencing complicated grief or traumatic bereavement. This might mean that it is extra hard for them to manage the death and so it is having an enduring negative impact on everyday life. This might be because of the way the person died or because various other factors are disrupting their ability to grieve. Children and young people who need specialist support are likely to be experiencing difficulties such as:
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Prolonged periods of being low and withdrawn
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Anxiety that prevents them from doing things they would normally do
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High levels of frustration that impact on relationships and daily life
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Struggling with thoughts or images about the death
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Being unable to tolerate thinking or speaking about their bereavement.
This Specialist Bereavement Service is established from a wide range of experienced, trained professionals and volunteers. Support will be tailored to provide evidence-based interventions to children and young people through 1:1, group and drop-in sessions.
PLEASE NOTE: OUR DELIVERY MAY BE VIRTUAL, EITHER BY PHONE OR ONLINE VIA MICROSOFT TEAMS, OR FACE TO FACE IN A SUITABLE COMMUNITY VENUE. THIS INCLUDES 1:1 SUPPORT AND THERAPEUTIC GROUPS FOR BOTH CHILDREN, YOUNG PEOPLE, AND PARENTS/CARERS.
Referrals Criteria
- Resident of Medway, registered with a GP in Medway or attending an education provider in Medway
- For those aged between 5-18 years (up to 25 for CYP with additional needs or who are care leavers)
- The most recent bereavement has occurred no less than 3 months ago
- For those whose main presenting need is related to grief, having experience one or multiple bereavements
- Professionals must have first obtained consent to refer a child, young person or young adult into the service. A referral cannot proceed without either the parent or young person consenting.
We are unable to work with:
- Children/young people who are currently receiving support from other bereavement counselling services
- Children/young people who are receiving mental health intervention from another agency or service. We would advise that any mental health intervention required is completed before making a referral to our service
- Where a Children/young people is presenting with complex or high levels of need associated with mental health presentations, we would advise a referral to an appropriate mental health service
- Where there are any ongoing legal proceedings or social care assessments being undertaken, we would recommend any legal or social care issues are resolved before making a referral to our service. This is to ensure the service users has sufficient current stability in their daily lives to undertaken a bereavement focused intervention
- Children/young people who are experiencing high levels of mental distress and/or engaging in behaviours which place themselves or others at significant risk of harm. CHUMS is not a Crisis service and we do not provide emergency support
- Where a child or young person is affected by social or environmental complexities which require stabilisation before a bereavement-focused piece of work would be deemed appropriate. In such cases, we may recommend a re-referral at a later time, when they may be more ready to engage.
Referrals can be made online from the North Kent Mind Website
Additional Bereavement Service Providers
Amparo
Amparo is a free and confidential service and offers practical and emotional support for anyone bereaved by suicide in Kent and Medway.
Cruse Bereavement Care
Leading national charity for bereaved people in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.
Holding On Letting Go
Provides support across Kent and Medway to children and young people up to the age of 18
who have experienced a significant bereavement or where a family member has a terminal diagnosis.
Slide Away
Pre and post bereavement service for children and young people in Kent.
Service User Testimonial
“I was lucky to have been offered a place in the bereavement group, I really enjoyed the group and came away with lots of great advice and book recommendations. J was a great host and made sure everyone was involved and answered any questions we had very well. The group helped me with my grief too as well as offering invaluable advice for my Son. I’m so grateful.”
Service User Testimonial
“Just taking a few minutes to pass on my thoughts regarding the support given by CHUMS to my son J. Having suffered multiple family bereavements, issues at school contributed to J becoming withdrawn and feeling rather isolated. The sessions in my opinion benefitted J greatly and allowed him to discuss matters he may not want to discuss with me.”
Service User Testimonial
“It was helpful to understand that it’s not just my child going through it and it helped in understanding my child’s behaviour. And, for me that how I am feeling is not out of the ordinary, there is no time limit and that it is not unusual for my feelings to keep cropping up years later”
Service User Testimonial
“I enjoyed the fun things we did and the clay throwing”
Service User Testimonial
“Russ took the time to explain ways to help; very thoughtful. I can’t thank Russ enough, how he helped through a very hard time. Thank you again for the fantastic support that you have given ******. You have helped me approach things in a way that I wouldn’t have thought of before and I certainly wouldn’t have been able to give ********** the understanding before this. It’s been a tough time and I can’t imagine how much harder it would have been if ********* felt misunderstood and I couldn’t support her in the new approach”
Service User Testimonial
“They listened to us”
Service User Testimonial
“Very good service. Children have really enjoyed being here and have felt in a safe environment to talk about things. Also gives them confidence to know they are not alone, and others are also experiencing loss”
Service User Testimonial
“Doing the memory jar and the painting”
Service User Testimonial
“I believe it has helped me for the first time I felt understood and got to meet other people going through the same thing that I was facing at the moment”
Service User Testimonial
“Making the memory jar”