A PEMBROKESHIRE charity with a long history in helping children cope with bereavement has relaunched following a troubled few years.

Sandy Bear Children’s Bereavement Charity relaunched Thursday, October 18 at the Green Shed, Merlin’s Bridge.

“This is an exciting time for us,” said the charity’s chair, Isobel Hall. “We are on the cusp of delivering services again, which is the ultimate aim for us.”

The charity was established more than 20 years ago, and helped hundreds of children and young people between 0 and 17 years old.

But in 2016, the specialist grief service was closed down after funding from PCC and Hywel Dda University Health Board dried up.

After a passionate 17-month fundraising campaign, the service was revived in November last year as an independent charity.

Now, the charity has moved into a new home at the offices of furniture company FRAME in Merlin’s Bridge, and has built a dedicated team of volunteers and staff.

“We have come a very long way in a short period of time. Especially being able to get a base here at FRAME has been a brilliant platform for us to get going,” said Isobel.

Sandy Bear’s two clinical leads, Anita Hicks and Karen Codd, who worked for the charity before its closure, told the launch audience what plans they had to support children living with bereavement.

Karen Codd and Anita Hicks cut the cake to commemorate the relaunch of Sandy Bear.

An important part of Sandy Bear’s work, according to the pair, is making sure children have a clear explanation and understanding what has happened to their dead loved one, something adult family members might not be able to give if they are also grieving.

“Most of it is our worry as parents they cannot cope. But they can. Always use the word dead,” said Karen.

“It helps that they know that special person has died and they cannot come back.”

There are plans to hold blocks of six group support sessions, where children and adults are split up and encouraged to share how they feel about having lost a loved one.

Janine Lewis, a Sandy Bear volunteer, with some of the toys, games, books and other materials the charity uses in group sessions.

A new service Sandy Bear plans to offer is a cubs group for babies to five-year-olds.

There are also plans to hold therapeutic days, where families can come together to remember someone they have lost.

Sandy Bear’s latest therapeutic day on June 10 at Scolton Manor had an unexpectedly large turnout, according to Anita and Karen, which they said shows there is a bereavement gap which the charity can fill.

If you want to help Sandy Bear, email the team at sandybearco-ordinators@hotmail.co.uk