S2 #07 Finding Hope after Parental Loss with Phoebe and Ian Gilbert

A child loses a parent every twenty-two minutes in the UK. Childhood bereavement brings with it a whole series of challenges for the children involved - challenges they will deal with all their lives.

What to say to a bereaved child stumps many teachers. They are afraid of saying the wrong thing, and tend to say nothing.

Phoebe Gilbert was 9 when her Mum died. She is now 23, a University graduate starting her first job at www.nudgeeducation.co.uk which offers bespoke intervention for anyone, anywhere, chronically disengaged from education. Her Father, Ian Gilbert, founder of Independent Thinking, co-authored a book with his three children as a personal account of the way educational institutions tried and succeeded, tried and failed and sometimes didn't try at all to help William, Olivia and Phoebe come to terms with the death of their mother. The book lays bare the 'lessons' they have learnt, the hard way, from their Mum's death.

Phoebe and Ian join me for a conversation about their personal loss.

As Phoebe says, 'Remember that for young men and women, such as myself, our loss is part of us. It is part of who we were, who we are and who we are becoming.'

We talk about there being no one specific framework for loss, and how professionals must be prepared to adapt to whoever is in front of them.

A conversation full of hope.

Independent Thinking on Loss

Written by Independent Thinking founder Ian Gilbert together with his three children,  Independent Thinking on Loss is a personal account of the way educational institutions tried and succeeded, tried and failed and sometimes didn’t try at all to help William, Olivia and Phoebe come to terms with the death of their mother.

Ian, William, Olivia and Phoebe encourage educators to view death and bereavement as something that can be acknowledged and talked about in school, and offer clear guidelines that will make a difference as to how a school can support a bereaved child in their midst.

Purchase Independent Thinking on Loss  https://www.independentthinkingpress.com/books/teachingskills/independent-thinking-on-loss/

USE CODE ITL25 to get 25% off

Independent Thinking:
Twitter @ITLWorldwide
Instagram @independentthinkingworldwide
LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/thisiangilbert/
Web www.independentthinking.com

Nudge Education:
Instagram @nudgeeducation
Web https://www.nudgeeducation.co.uk/

Connect with Amanda Seyderhelm

Visit my website to download my free eBook 10 Simple Play Therapy Techniques You Can Use To Help Your Child With Grief, Loss and Change

If you are supporting a bereaved child, or know someone who is, you can purchase my books - Isaac and the Red Jumper (for 4-10 yr olds) and Helping Children Cope with Loss and Change

@TheKidDecoder on Twitter
@amandaseyderhelm on Instagram and Linked In