Leigh-on-sea Art Trail gives local children the chance to express their feelings

August 1, 2024

The Leigh-on-sea Art Trail has given grieving children supported by Havens Hospices the chance to express their feelings through artwork.

On 6th and 7th July, displayed at The Living Room, Leigh Road, Leigh-on-sea the exhibition ‘Grief from a child’s eyes – let’s talk about the elephant in the room’, featured 20 creative pieces that explored the feelings of local young people who have experienced loss.

Young people between the ages of 5 to 18 completed the artwork during counselling sessions or wellbeing support groups, empowering them to explore the impact of their loss and to process their grief with others in similar ways.

Death can be a tricky subject to talk about, no matter your age but for children and young people, creativity can help them express things that are too hard to verbalise.

The exhibition was a great success and was attended by many in the local community, including the children and young people who created the artwork alongside their families and friends and members of the charity’s Wellbeing Team. The team, artists, and their families were also on hand to answer any questions about the works.

One of the artists Oliver said after the event, “I loved it! I felt proud of myself but also of all the other people who had taken part because we have all gotten through hard things. I felt less lonely seeing all the other work on the walls.”

Kat Barrett, Children’s and Young Person Counsellor at Havens Hospices said, “It was an amazing opportunity to showcase the amazing work of our young people and to raise awareness in the local community about the views and experiences of loss and grief for young people, which can often be overlooked. Many people took away leaflets and ideas of how to support young people in their professional roles too, it was incredibly positive.”

Havens Hospices provides specialist care and support across Essex for people of all ages living with incurable conditions and their families so they can get the most from life and continue to make every day count with the time they have together.

The charity’s Wellbeing Team offers a wide range of support and life-enhancing therapies, including help accessing benefits and local services, and emotional, mental health, social, and spiritual support.

Havens Hospices specialist care and support is absolutely free of charge thanks to the generosity of the community. To donate or find out more, visit havenshospices.org.uk