Bereavement charity receives proceeds of crime grant

Families in Grief helps bereaved children and their families

A north Devon bereavement charity has benefitted from a Proceeds of Crime Act Community Fund donation.

Families in Grief, which helps bereaved children and their families, successfully bid for £2,380.

The bid was submitted by Barnstaple Sector Inspector Andy Wills on behalf of the local charity.

The money is set to be used to produce a children's illustrated book, along with assembly packs for school teachers.

Insp Wills said: "Families in Grief are a wonderful small charity supporting bereaved children, young people and families in north Devon and Torridge.

"They work closely with representatives from schools to develop awareness of how best to support bereaved children and to give school staff more skills in that area."

Proceeds of Crime Act funding is available due to cash and assets being confiscated from convicted criminals.

Naomi Jefferies, chief executive officer of Families in Grief, said: "This money will be put to very good use by supporting the production of a pastoral support resource including an illustrated story book with follow up activities.

"This will be shared during assemblies and lessons and distributed to support school staff to use with bereaved children in all primary schools across North Devon and Torridge.

"The resources can also be used annually in primary schools during national Grief Awareness Week - so will be revisited and built upon during children's progression through primary school."