Holding Hearts Therapeutic Services CIC

We are a not-for-profit community interest company providing high quality therapeutic services within our local communities and through online support. Holding Hearts offers a variety of different support services but we specialise in Play Therapy for children 4-12 years who are facing challenges that are impacting on their Mental Health and Emotional Well-being and Bereavement support for Families. We accept referrals from across the North East of England, with services mainly running within Northumberland, North Tyneside and Newcastle upon Tyne, but will obviously include Sunderland and SouthTyneside.

The two projects that we have funding in place for are:

1. Always and Forever - Thanks to the National Lottery Community Fund, we are able to offer our therapeutic groups free to children and young people experiencing bereavement in the North East.These groups provide a unique opportunity for children to heal and grow within a meaningful social environment. They will also provide opportunities to develop friendships based on deep empathy and understanding from peers; thus, children can begin to feel they are not alone in their experience and feelings surrounding their loss. The aim of these groups is to create a safe, supportive and creative environment, where children can connect and build friendships with peers who "get it". Children will be free to express themselves, their thoughts, feelings, ideas and experiences creatively, without the need for lots of words and explanations. Owing to the impact of CV 19 we are able to take referrals for this project but are not able to offer group therapy sessions. This project will be open to the Family & Friends of Police Federation members.

2. Covid 19 Bereavement Support - Thanks to the National Lottery Community Fund, we are able to offer our therapeutic support to children suffering bereavement who would usually find comfort in continuing with their regular routines, such as attending school, other activities or simply playing with their friends. We offer :

• An initial chat with one of our therapists to talk through the refers needs
• a bereavement support pack in the post
• We will guide you through the programme over a period of 6-weeks
• Receive up to 4 support sessions via telephone or video link
• Stay connected with us via email/text throughout the programme
• We will support and guide you with next steps for supporting your child when the programme ends;
• (you may want your child to access our therapeutic groups or 1:1 therapy when safe to do so);
• Access to a private facebook community for bereaved parents.

Both of these projects are funded and specific in their scope but we can also offer play therapy for a wide range behavioural and emotional problems.

Our ultimate aim would be to work in collaboration with you for the good of your members and within the remit of your welfare budget.

For more information please visit our website: www.holdingheartsne.co.uk