Noah's Ark Trust is a local charity providing free support for young people, children and their families after the death of a mum, dad or someone close. There are many benefits for businesses who decide to support our work:

• having opportunities to make a real difference in the lives of bereaved children in a direct and immediate way
• developing a higher profile in the community
• enhancing the company image
• taking the opportunity to develop a corporate social responsiblity policy and a caring, conscientious business profile.
• enhancing staff morale, commitment and loyalty and facilitating team building.

"Why did Dad choose to die?"

"Did it hurt Mummy when the car hit her?"

"What did I do to make my sister hate us so much?"

For bereaved children the questions come thick and fast. When you have a complex mix of guilt, anger and confusion running riot in your head it can seem impossible to cope, let alone find answers. Facing the future can seem hopeless. The importance of offering support at this time cannot be overstated. Children who do not receive help often develop problems, such as:

• early pregnancy - 40% more likely in girls who have been bereaved
• drug and alcohol dependency - 47% of bereaved children have tried drugs and will sometimes go on to have drug and/or alcohol dependency problems
• anti-social behaviour - at least 41% of young offenders have been bereaved.

Other problems can include bullying, self-harm, guilt and feelings of isolation.

Every hour a child is bereaved in Herefordshire and Worcestershire. The causes of death of loved ones include suicide, road traffic accidents, heart failure, brain tumours, cancer, drug and/or alcohol abuse.

• in 2007 Noah’s Ark Trust helped 329 of these children
• in 2008 we were able to help 502
• and in 2009 we hope to help 700...along with their families

But during 2009 there will be around 11,500 deaths resulting in bereaved children in the two counties. We need ongoing help to support more children through the most difficult of times.

Noah's Ark Trust's trained staff and volunteers offer advice, support and guidance, helping children to come to terms with their bereavement.

Noah's Ark Trust provides:

• support tailored to individual need
• children and parent activity weekends
• the opportunity to share feelings with other children and parents
• continuing, ongoing support.

There are many ways in which businesses can help Noah’s Ark Trust:

• by organising events within your company
• by encouraging employees to participate in one of our events by offering ‘match funding’
• by making a direct donation
• by providing staff with the opportunity to carry out some voluntary work and to share their skills and expertise with us.

How much money will help?
Of course any amount is welcome, but you may wish to fund something specific:

• £200 will fund an activity weekend course for one child,
• £800 will fund a child through our support programme,
• £2,000 will enable 12 parents to attend one of our activity weekends at Malvern Hills Outdoor Centre, here parents have the opportunity to explore their feelings and grief,
• £6,000 will enable 30 children to attend one of our activity weekends at Malvern Hills Outdoor Centre,
• £27,000 will help us to provide individually tailored support to 80 children in your area for one year. Companies could use this figure as a target for their annual fund-raising activities.

 

• it costs £500,000 each year to run this most needed service,
• 179 schools, Childrens Services and the NHS refer bereaved children to us,
• knowing how vital our support is, we need to extend our service.

Some funding for our work has come from the Big Lottery Fund and BBC Children In Need, but we need ongoing revenue to provide our support. Please help us continue to help our region’s bereaved children. For more information contact Noah’s Ark Trust:

 

“Tuesday 20th April was the last time I saw my father. He was late home from work and didn’t answer his mobile. At 10.45pm the doorbell rang. Mummy showed two policemen into the lounge and they told us Daddy had been in a fatal accident on the motorway. One of the policemen asked me to make a cup of tea with him. After they left Mummy telephoned my brothers and sister who were at university. It was only when she told them Daddy had been killed that I realised what a fatal accident was. Richard, Harry and Elizabeth arrived home over the next few hours. The day after a policeman took us to the hospital to see Daddy and assured us he hadn’t been to blame for the accident. I went back to school two weeks later just before the summer exams. No one knew what to say to me. I used to smile a lot so that the teachers and my friends would think that I was alright but I used to go to my room and cry every night. I felt so lonely even when I was surrounded by people.”

 

Worcestershire - Tel: 01905 745735
Herefordshire - Tel: 01432 264555
Email: support@noahsarktrust.co.uk