The Latest
Published on November 15, 2010
BBC Children in Need
In the run-up to the annual Children In Need appeal, Jigsaw4u will appear on BBC Southeast to report back on the impact their funding has had on its work in the community.
Last year's hugely successful appeal raised a massive £39million and from this, Jigsaw4u was awarded a total of £53,000 to be channelled over a three year period.
During the past year, the first instalment has significantly boosted the charity's efforts to support children and young people across Sussex, Surrey and Kent who have experienced the death of a close family member through illness, accident, murder or suicide.
Three young people who sought the support of Jigsaw4u's services following the loss of a loved one were filmed by BBC Southeast in East Grinstead Library and Christ's Hospital School in Horsham to demonstrate the value of Jigsaw4u's work.
- Jade Hulbert, 13, is an only child and lives with her father in Epsom. They both attended Jigsaw4u's family grief support groups in June 2009 to remember Jade's mother who died in 2008.
- Kieran Brenchley, 12, is an only child and lives with his mother in East Grinstead. They both attended Jigsaw4u's family grief support groups in June 2008 to remember his father who died in 1999.
- Andrew Searle, 17, is an only child and when he is not at boarding school, he lives with his mother in Carshalton. They both attended Jigsaw4u's family grief support groups in 2000 to remember his father and grandmother.
Carol Bason, Jigsaw4u's Head of Service in East Grinstead, said: "The funding we received from Children In Need has allowed us to significantly develop our local services and continue to provide support to bereaved children and young people."
"Our team of trained professionals can continue to provide home and school visits to bereaved families in the local area and we have also been able to run a series of groups for families who have suffered the loss of a loved one to get together, share their experiences and try to come to terms with their grief."
"We do not receive any statutory funding at all and are entirely dependent upon organisations such as Children In Need as well as the generosity of the public. We simply couldn't exist without their valuable support."
Alastair Monk BBC Producer said: "We decided to approach Jigsaw4u as in all the years I have been producing Children in Need, I haven't come across an organisation like this before. What makes it even more interesting is the involvement of young people who've been helped by the organisation and who now help out themselves. It hasn't gone unnoticed what a generous and caring young man Andrew is, through the work that he's undertaken."
"The aims of the filming are to show how last year's money from Children in Need has made a difference to young people in the area who've suffered a bereavement – and how it's helped them to come to terms with their loss. Ultimately the idea is to encourage people watching the film to give money to THIS year's appeal."
Short programme will air on BBC Southeast on Wednesday 17th November 2010, at 1.30pm (short version) and 6.30pm (longer version). The feature will also be available through BBC iPlayer and Sky.- UPDATE: The programme is now available for view below.
Jigsaw4u - BBC ONE from Andrew Marshall on Vimeo.
