SEASONS FOR GROWTH CELEBRATES 20 YEARS

Seasons for Growth Taranaki is a grief and loss education programme for children, young people and adults who are struggling through a significant loss in their lives. Part of the Bishops Action Foundation (BAF), the programme is run by three district coordinators together with a team of volunteer adult companions. 

“It’s about supporting children and young people around their grief process, giving them the tools and self-belief that they can get through and be a really positive part of our community in the future,” said Andrew Brock, BAF Manager Projects and Innovation. 

“Every child has a journal which they work through interactively throughout the eight-week programme,” said Judy Wood, New Plymouth Coordinator. 

“Each week we cover a different topic, relating different emotions and feelings to the seasons of the year, and set the tone with a seasonal table. It’s a strengthening metaphor that is familiar and everybody can relate to it.”

Sessions include activities and stories, discussions, time for quiet reflection and writing or drawing in their journals.

“At the end of the programme, we have a little celebration. We share some food, then each child gets a teddy bear and a really lovely certificate to take home with their journal. It doesn’t matter how old the students are, when the teddy bears come out, they still want one,” said Heather Ternough, Central Coordinator.   

“We’re hugely proud of the fact that we’ve been going for 20 years as an organisation,” said Andrew. 

“For me, it always comes back to the children. The fact that we can help up to 200 children a year and, hopefully, ensure that they have a far healthier ability to approach grief and loss. That makes a lifelong difference for them. 

“Grief is a part of life, so the more that people have some resources and skills to deal with it, the better they’re going to be for everybody.”