A HOSPICE helping families to cope with the loss of a child is extending its services.

Although based in Boston Spa, around a third of the children Martin House currently cares for are from the Bradford area and the hospice has now extended its community bereavement service to enable more parents affected by the death of a child or young adult to receive counselling and support.

Martin House, which cares for children and young people with life-limiting conditions, has always offered bereavement support to families using its service, but the expansion of the service includes all child deaths enabling families whose child has died in sudden or unexpected circumstances, such as road traffic accidents, suicide or acute illness, to access support.

Diane Whitehead, bereavement counsellor at Martin House, said: “We set up the community bereavement service originally to work with families who had a child with a life-limiting condition who would have been eligible to access Martin House. But since then it’s become evident there was more need out there from families who’ve had a sudden bereavement.”

Martin House now accepts referrals from anyone whose child has died under the age of 25, apart from still birth or miscarriage, who is from West, North and East Yorkshire.

Referrals are considered on an individual basis, and can be made up to two years after a child or young adult’s death. The service is also free of charge to families.

For more information call the bereavement team 01937 845045; email: communitybereavement@martinhouse.org.uk or visit martinhouse.org.uk.