Anna Riley research 2013 published

From groups of young people in England & Wales:

How did coming to a Seasons for Growth group help you?

• It was very helpful I enjoyed it a lot it made me less sad when thinking about family members that passed away
• It made me feel like I wasn’t alone
• The group was helpful because I got to do fun stuff. I learnt that change is sometimes ok.
• It made me know that I am not the only one that bad things had happened to
• I now know that you don’t have to be in pain you can just think or do something that will help overcome it
• It helped that I could talk and no one would tell others

From parents/carers:

Why did you want you child to attend a Seasons for Growth Group?

• Talking about things and her emotions. Also good for her to do it in school with other children that have also suffered a loss of a loved one so that she can see she is not the only one it has happened to in school.
• To help her overcome the loss of her sister and for her to be able speak about her feeling and for her to understand why she was feeling the way she was.
• I think it is important for children to express their feelings and experiences together. I think that being with some of their peers will help them to cope and become more resilient. They may also speak more openly than sometimes in the home environment.
• To understand change that covid has bought to our lives and the loss it has created

How did the group help your child?

• Helpful to talk about her loss in a familiar and supportive environment
• Learning about emotionally how to communicate with others over grief and changes at home. Has opened a new door for him to see what effects the changes have on himself and others around him.
• He has worked so hard, and you can see the effects the course has made to him.
• He understands what just not himself that has this change but others around him. He more aware now

From Companions/Teachers:

• They got the opportunity to talk to someone (the companion) about their feelings, openly and without judgement, but also a fantastic opportunity for them to support their peers. The lovely activities were also a reason.
• I was very apprehensive about running the seasons groups as I work in a SEN school, I was worried about how I could adapt to their needs, I did manage and thoroughly enjoyed it.
• The creative side of the sessions. While being busy with their creativity the chat flowed unknowingly sometimes.
• Seeing how Seasons for Growth encourages young people to identify loss and help understand their feelings and support their peers is very rewarding

Endorsements for Seasons for Growth

“The manuals and journals are thorough and very comprehensive but in an easy to use format. So many children and young people experience loss through family breakdown and will require very similar support to those who journey through the grief of bereavement. I think this is an excellent idea to combine these two areas and to normalise these experiences in a focused way that is aimed at life enriching learning and development.”

Rosie Midson, End of Life Care Manager, Great Ormond Street Hospital

“Seasons for Growth is an integral part of our work at our school. The Ofsted inspectors also endorsed this by saying ‘Faith in action is found in the Seasons for Growth programme and also the care and support provided for sick and bereaved members of the school through the Seasons for Growth project is outstanding’.”

Paul Patrick, Headteacher, The Cardinal Wiseman School

“The Seasons for Growth initiative has now been successfully implemented in our school for two years and forms an integral part of our emotional support programme.”

Phil Gallagher, Headteacher, Ysgol Bryn Hedydd

“Despite their many privileges compared with earlier generations our children and young people face many and grave problems. Seasons for Growth offers sensible, practical and tested solutions. It provides help for children and young people when they need it, where they need it and in a fashion which they can adopt and use as their own.”

Prof. David Marsland, Emeritus Professor, Brunel University