A charity which offers grief counselling for children says it will stop its work within months after losing its NHS funding.

The Lincolnshire Centre for Grief and Loss helps people who have experienced a death, divorce or terminal illness in their family.

The Lincolnshire Partnership NHS Foundation Trust has provided temporary funding for its work with children since 2022, but says it is unable to continue due to cost pressures.

Clare Reynolds, a clinical supervisor at the charity, fears that there won’t be any help available to children going through the toughest time of their lives.

Staff at the Lincolnshire Centre for Grief and Loss, which faces closure after their NHS funding was cut

placeholder image — Staff at the Lincolnshire Centre for Grief and Loss, which faces closure after their NHS funding was cut

She said: “The NHS says there are other options available, but that’s not what schools are telling us.

“They are devastated that we might have to stop. We are the only service that goes directly into schools, including after the death of a student or staff member.

“It doesn’t make sense financially either, as it will put more strain on the NHS’s services. We can do a lower-level intervention before grief has escalated into mental health problems.

“This work is something we are really passionate about and makes a real difference to children’s lives. We’re mortified it might be coming to an end.”

Clare is hoping that LPFT will reconsider, or that other funding could be found from businesses.

The charity, which is based at Lincoln’s Carlton Centre, employs nine qualified counsellors and offered over 1,000 free sessions with children last year.

Its work with adults would be unaffected by the change.

Conor Giles, a children’s and adult counsellor, said: “I didn’t have something like this when I went through a bereavement at eight years old, and it would have really helped. I didn’t get that support until much later.”

Joanne Whomsley, a children’s counsellor, described the charity as a “vital service”, saying: “The schools are devastated. We even go in after the death of a student or staff member.”

She says online services are unsuitable for many children with ADHD and autism, and not every family can travel long distances to other services.

LPFT says that it has a range of free emotional wellbeing and mental health support that will still be available.

Eve Baird, the chief operating officer at LPFT, said: “After previous funding from Lincolnshire County Council came to an end three years ago, LPFT was able to use some non-recurrent funding it had received to support the service on a temporary basis, as part of work to address an increase in demand following the pandemic.

“During this time, all parties have tried to secure more permanent funding to support the continuation of their service. Unfortunately, this has not been possible.

“Like all NHS trusts, LPFT is trying to address increasing financial pressures on services and look at how we can continue to work within the resources we have available to meet need and make best use of taxpayers’ money.

“The Trust has to prioritise the funding it receives to provide its statutory and mandated services, including supporting children and young people with their mental health.”

“When it is identified that someone requires additional support to process their grief and loss, LPFT has a broad range of free emotional wellbeing and mental health services for children and young people available, ranging from early intervention to crisis support.

“We also have a 24/7 advice and self-referral line through Here4You Lincolnshire that can offer advice and signposting to young people, their families and carers. People can call for free 24/7 on 0800 234 6342.”

Feedback on the decision can be left through a survey on the LPFT’s website until January 30.