Registered charity number - 1207785
CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE EMOTIONAL SUPPORT - school based
Children and young people deserve support when life changes suddenly. Our school-based emotional support service provides free, specialist therapy to help pupils navigate grief and trauma in a safe and familiar environment - their school.
When a child experiences the sudden death of someone they love, the impact ripples through every part of their life — including school.
Grief doesn’t wait until the end of the day. It walks into classrooms, sits at desks, and shows up in behaviour, concentration, friendships, and learning.
Sudden death is not just painful, it’s disorienting. There’s no time to prepare, no chance to say goodbye, and no warning. The shock can leave children feeling unsafe, confused, angry, or numb. It can affect their emotional regulation, relationships, and overall wellbeing for months or even years.
Please see a link below for our referral form.
The support a child receives after the death of a close loved one can help define the rest of their life. The better that support is, the better the change they can find a way to cope.
Fergus Crow, Chief Executive of Winston’s Wish.
why do we offer support in schools?
Schools are Central to Recovery
Schools are Central to Recovery
Schools are Central to Recovery
For many children, school is their most stable environment after a bereavement. Trusted adults, familiar routines, and peer connections offer vital anchors. But teachers aren’t therapists — and the support grieving children need often goes beyond what a school can realistically provide on its own. That’s where Sudden Sam comes in.
Early Support Matters
Schools are Central to Recovery
Schools are Central to Recovery
Research shows that early intervention reduces long-term emotional and mental health problems. Without it, children may internalise trauma or develop difficulties later in life. By offering timely, targeted support where children already feel safe — in school — we can help prevent that.
Impact of Unprocessed Grief
Schools are Central to Recovery
Impact of Unprocessed Grief
Unprocessed grief shows up as behaviour, anxiety, withdrawal, anger or poor attendance - not always tears.
Joined Up Support
Removal of Barriers
Impact of Unprocessed Grief
All stakeholders in the child's education and life can work together for a joined up approach - this includes teachers, safeguarding leads, parents/carers, and Sudden Sam therapists.
Removal of Barriers
Removal of Barriers
Removal of Barriers
School-based support provided by Sudden Sam means that barriers to children receiving the support they deserve are reduced - this includes financial barriers from the school budget or family balance sheet, as well as the removal of transport barriers due to the support being in the school building.
Frequently Asked Questions
Please reach us at admin@suddensam.org.uk if you cannot find an answer to your question.
Any child who has been impacted by a sudden death and is enrolled in a school within the Liverpool City Region - it does not matter where the child lives.
This means that, unfortunately, they do not qualify for Sudden Sam support. This is because we are governed by strict stipulations within our charitable constitution. We will, however, always signpost the school/family to appropriate support.
The referral form is on our website and has been designed with ease in mind. The parent/carer or the school can refer, but both parties need to be in agreement.
We provide art therapy, play therapy, and talk therapy.
Sudden Sam therapists. Our therapists are specialised, qualified, and experienced. Each therapist has an enhanced DBS check and has received safeguarding training.
This type of support is ‘school-based’. This means that the therapy takes place in the child’s school during their normal school hours. Our therapist travels to the child’s school.
Each session is between 45 minutes to 1 hour, depending on what the therapist thinks best during the session. We offer blocks of 8, with 1 session weekly.
Absolutely not. Sudden Sam pays the therapists directly.
Yes — to a point. We explain to children that what they share is private, unless the therapist is worried about their safety or someone else’s. In those cases, information will be shared with the school’s safeguarding lead, and parents/carers may be informed.
The therapist completes a brief summary sheet (nothing
confidential) to state how the child engaged. At the end of the block of sessions, the therapist completes a report on the child’s counselling journey.
School-Based Support Booklet
Below you will find a booklet all about our school-based service. If you would like this in paper-form, please do let us know.
school-based emotional support referral form
Please see below for our referral form for school-based emotional support.
Once the referral form has been completed, a member of the team will be in touch.