A crucial new pilot project is being launched by the Sandy Bear child bereavement charity to support children and young people in Carmarthenshire and Ceredigion who have been bereaved through suicide.

And joining the team as a new bereavement practitioner will be Jenna Swenson.

Jenna has worked within educational settings for the last ten years and her most recent post was working as a well-being and inclusion officer, within a Pembrokeshire school, supporting children with additional learning needs.

The new bereavement practitioner role has been funded by the Welsh Government following the launch of the National Framework for the Delivery of Bereavement Care in Wales.

In Pembrokeshire over a two-year period, Sandy Bear received 40 referrals for children and young people who were suffering following a death through suicide of a special person in their lives.

The pilot project will support up to 16 children and young people (aged 5-18) who live in Ceredigion and Carmarthenshire who have been affected by death through suicide.

This means that Sandy Bear will now be reaching more bereaved children and young people by working in new geographical areas.

“The well-being and happiness of children and young people is paramount to allowing them to live healthy lives,” said Jenna.

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“Following my role as a well-being and inclusion officer, I feel privileged to be able to support children further at Sandy Bear.”

Anita Hicks and Karen Codd who are the co-Founders and clinical leads at Sandy Bear said: “We’re delighted to have recruited Jenna into the Sandy Bear team and we’re sure that her skills and bubbly personality will help her to settle quickly into her role.

“We would also like to thank Welsh Government who have funded this post as they are allowing us to embark on an exciting new journey for our charity.”