Helping Emily and Sophie to recover from a tragic loss

Young sisters Emily and Sophie* were absolutely devastated when they lost their dad in 2021 in a tragic accident. At just seven and nine years old they struggled to understand what had happened and felt overwhelmed by the sudden and shocking loss.

Even though their mum was there for them they needed extra support to recover from the trauma of their dad’s death. The sisters had become withdrawn after what they had been through. They did not want to go to school, see friends or socialise.

Jess from Children First worked with the girls both individually and jointly to provide the support they needed. She helped Emily and Sophie to feel safe, open up and explore their thoughts, feelings and worries. She encouraged them to express their emotions using art, journaling and through play.

Over time, and with the expert support Jess provided, the sisters began to come to terms with the trauma of what they had been through so they could start to heal.

Although the family will always carry their grief with them, Emily and Sophie are in a much better place now and feeling more positive about the future.

Emily recently went to a sleepover at a friend’s house, something she never could have managed not long ago. Sophie has been crafting gifts and selling them to raise funds for Children First to help other children who are struggling.

Sophie said she wanted to fundraise for Children First because: “Children First help children in a different way. They help people when they’re going through difficult things.”

Sophie’s mum, Lara, said: “Jess will always hold a very special place in all our hearts. I honestly can’t ever thank her or Children First enough for everything they have done for my daughters.

“Both the girls are a lot more confident than they were and are now able to enjoy time with friends and activities again. That didn’t even feel possible back when we first met Jess.

“The change in my girls is all down to Jess helping them to build resilience during a really difficult time. Knowing she was there to support the girls when I was struggling so much myself just meant so much.”

If your family needs support, we’re here for you. You can get in touch with our friendly support line team today on 08000 28 22 33.

*Names have been anonymised to protect the identity of the family.