COTTAGE LANE MISSION 

The grant will enable us to continue our work in the community: The establishment of the Trust was a direct response to the loss of Bobby, which profoundly affected his parents and brothers. Child ....more

The grant will enable us to continue our work in the community: The establishment of the Trust was a direct response to the loss of Bobby, which profoundly affected his parents and brothers. Child Bereavement Support Counselling was instrumental in helping the children understand and manage their grief, develop coping strategies, and find the ability to invest in home, school, friends, and football. As a result, the Trust established a Children's Bereavement Counselling Service, led by an experienced qualified children's counsellor, who provides therapy in creative ways, including art, music, role play, storytelling, and dance, in addition to talk therapy.?The Bobby Colleran Bereavement Support Counselling helps children and young people who have lost a parent, sibling, grandparent, friend, aunt, uncle, or other significant loved one. A high percentage of the children and young people in Liverpool and the surrounding areas suffer bereavement due to road traffic accidents, cancer, heart disease, illnesses related to alcohol and drug dependencies, or suicide. The Trust is committed to working with these children and young people in a way that brings about positive outcomes. On Bobby's birthday, March 13th, 2023, the Trust opened Bobby's Base, a state-of-the-art centre adjacent to Blackmoor Park Infant School, where Bobby attended. The centre aims to deliver road safety messages and provide bereavement support, with a focus on a therapeutic learning space that can be used throughout the year. The outdoor space provides an opportunity for children and families to release stress, relax, and inspire themselves to develop their inner qualities. This space includes a small football pitch, basketball nets, growing plants, and small relaxation shelters. The therapeutic outdoor space provides opportunities for children who are not academically inclined to uncover their talents and interests and express their strengths. The Trust works with many schools to support the most vulnerable children, especially during these challenging times when families are struggling more than usual. The Bobby Colleran Trust is already a successful charity, well-known and respected within Liverpool City Region.

Supporting children & families with mental health & bereavement support