A NEW specialist bereavement service for families who are dealing with the grief of losing a child, is being launched at Tŷ Hafan.

The Sully-based children’s hospice in Wales will be able to provide the service thanks to a £20,000 grant from South Wales Freemasons.

Tŷ Hafan offers comfort, support and care to life limited children, young people and their families throughout Wales.

Hospice care focuses on making the most of the time families have together.

The charity provides support and care for many years, from admission to bereavement and beyond, and ensures the child’s siblings, parents, carers and extended family are considered.

The Masonic Charitable Foundation (MCF) funding will allow Tŷ Hafan to create a dedicated bereavement support service, which will be based in a specially designed summer house near the hospice’s memorial garden.

It will give families and individuals the support they need in their darkest hours, as they come to terms with the death of a child or with the knowledge that in the future, their child will die.

The funding will allow Tŷ Hafan to recruit a pool of bereavement therapists with specialist expertise who are the very best in their field.

The grant from South Wales Freemasons comes through the MCF which is funded by Freemasons, their families and friends, from across England and Wales.

Ty Hafan partnerships, projects and research lead, Hannah Williams said: “We’re very grateful to South Wales Freemasons for their generous grant.

“It will allow us to extend the care and support that families so desperately need, by creating an appropriate dedicated therapy space and recruiting a pool of experienced, specialist therapists to ensure we can offer a bespoke service based on individual need”.

Charity officer of South Wales Freemasons, Hannah Williams said: “We’re very pleased to be able to help Ty Hafan, who are doing wonderful work helping families cope with the grief of losing a child.

“This is a hugely important project that will support people at their most vulnerable time.”