A pair of young representatives from a Oxfordshire-based charitable organisation have urged the government to improve data collection and assistance for young people dealing with bereavement.
Aisha Campbell and Nettie Parish, acting as advocates for SeeSaw Grief Support, attended the House of Commons earlier this month to hold discussions with Thame and Henley MP Freddie van Mierlo.
During their visit, the pair recounted their own experiences of loss while calling for enhanced national statistics on children who have experienced bereavement.
At present, no official government figures exist regarding the number of grieving children in the UK, and there is no legal obligation to ensure such young people receive dedicated support.
Nettie, one of SeeSaw’s youth ambassadors, expressed how fortunate she felt to have the chance to convey the difference that SeeSaw and effective community-based grief services can make.
She noted that bereavement transforms lives at any stage and inevitably alters the path young people follow, though this does not necessarily have to result in a negative outcome.
She emphasized that gathering data on what children across the nation are experiencing must be fundamental to improving their circumstances and equipping both governmental bodies and charitable organisations with accurate information to best help young people.
The two ambassadors were accompanied by Liv Webster, SeeSaw’s communications manager, and completed a tour of the parliamentary estate prior to their meeting with Mr van Mierlo.
The Member of Parliament took time to hear their personal accounts and gain a deeper understanding of the difficulties encountered by children in mourning.
Mr van Mierlo stated that through direct accounts from local residents, he had become conscious of how indispensable these services are and how deeply families who receive assistance value them.
SeeSaw carries out exceptional work in assisting children to work through their grief and obtain both practical and emotional help.
Subsequently, he communicated with the Minister for Children and Families to raise the matter of gathering official figures on bereaved children.
A SeeSaw representative indicated that the organisation appreciated Mr van Mierlo’s backing and his efforts to bring attention to the experiences of grieving children and young people, alongside their families.
The charity provided assistance to 557 children and young people experiencing grief in Oxfordshire during the period spanning July 2025 to June 2026.
Its offerings consist of individual sessions, guidance and counsel for families, digital materials, and professional development for educational settings and practitioners.
Since its establishment more than 25 years ago, SeeSaw has helped over 9,000 children and young people.
The charity delivers no-cost grief assistance for children and young people residing in Oxfordshire following the death or terminal illness of someone important to them.
Its objective is to guarantee that every grieving child and young person in Oxfordshire can obtain prompt and suitable help to comprehend and cope with their loss.
Furthermore, the organisation seeks to enable children and young people to confront what lies ahead with optimism.