Giving Tuesday for bereaved children

Winston’s Wish is asking anyone who has spent the past few days trawling the shops to take five minutes to put their feet up, log onto www.winstonswish.org.uk/tribute-tree/ and check out the specially created Tribute Tree.

#GivingTuesday is a global day of giving. After the sales of Black Friday and the online shopping boom on Cyber Monday, #GivingTuesday is an opportunity to come together to show the world why it’s good to give.

Families can sponsor a bauble which hangs on the tree in honour of loved ones who will be missed this Christmas. It’s simple to create a message – and even upload a favourite photograph – to feature on the bauble.

The online tree follows the success of Winston’s Wish’s annual Wish Upon a Star campaign, which encourages supporters to sponsor stars which are hung on Christmas trees in classrooms, offices and shopping centres across the country.

Fergus Crow, Chief Executive at Winston’s Wish, said: “If you’ve hit the shops over the weekend, now is the time to sit down, log on, and give something back.

“We would love to see our Tribute Tree glittering with beautiful baubles. It’s such a poignant way of remembering a special person this Christmas”.

The festive season can be particularly hard for families going through, and facing, bereavement.

Approximately two children under 16 are bereaved of a parent every hour of every day in the UK – and that includes Christmas Day.

Each year, Winston’s Wish reaches more than 40,000 bereaved children and young people through an array of dedicated services. These specialist support programmes include support following death as a result of accident, illness, homicide, suicide and military service.

The Winston’s Wish Helpline, staffed by qualified clinical practitioners, provides guidance and information for anyone supporting a bereaved child - 08452 03 04 05, 9am-5pm Monday – Friday and 7pm-9.30pm on Wednesday