After noting how many children in schools are struggling with a bereavement or parental separation we have decided to trial a new programme to York’s schools called ‘Lost and Found’. This is a seven week nationally run course consisting of seven 50-60 minute sessions delivered by trained YoYo workers. The course is suitable for both primary and secondary school pupils who have experienced loss through either divorce/separation or bereavement.  The sessions cover the following topics:

1. What is loss? A general introduction to loss, looking wider than just loss through death.
2. What is happening to me? Looking at denial and shock.
3. It makes me so mad! A look at anger related to loss and ways to cope with it.
4. I promise… How and why we bargain when we go through big changes.
5. No way out? Sadness and how it affects us when we have lost someone close.

6. I’m just used to it now and life’s OK! Acceptance, forgiveness and hope for the future.
7. Evaluation session, and considering longer term one-to-one sessions with some pupils.

Each session also contains ‘Take a Look at the Book’ - a Christian perspective on the topic for the students to consider.

While on the surface, pupils may appear to be coping, inside they may be angry or even feel guilty. School work may suffer and behavioural changes may cause inexplicable outbursts or tears. The aim of the course is to enable students to identify feelings behind loss experiences and provide strategies to deal with and grow through such emotions.

If the trial goes well then we hope to be able to offer the Lost & Found course to York's schools throughout the year.