A programme for children growing through grief.It's a free programme of peer support groups for children who are experiencing loss or grief, perhaps due to the death of someone close to them, or through the separation or divorce of their parents, and all the changes these situations entail.
Seasons is entirely non-religious and people of different faiths attend as group participants AND as group facilitators. Seasons is part of a nation-wide network administered by the Waiapu Anglican Diocese and developed by the Catholic Diocese of Melbourne. We are proud to have JUDY BAILY as Patron of Seasons in New Zealand.
These groups run concurrent with the school term and are offered AFTER SCHOOL @ St Peters OR during school in nine local Primary and Intermediate schools in the vicinity of St Peter’s.
Using the image of the changes a tree undergoes during the Seasons of a year, children are helped to find ways to talk about and explore their feelings.
The aim is to provide those in the group with a safe time and place of their own, in which they can explore their issues and feelings about loss and change. Each small group (between 2-6 children only) is accompanied by one or two trained adult facilitator / companions who use a wide range of approaches to encourage the children in the exploration and sharing of their experiences. These may include music, stories, puppets, play dough, artwork, games and other activities suited to a particular child, group or age.
- Over 280 children and young people aged between 5 and 18 have attended “Seasons” programmes in the Auckland area in the last two years. Asked what they would tell other children about “Seasons”
- “I would say it is a great place to be. And it helps you with your grief. And that you feel safe about what you are talking about. Also that you meet really nice people. It is a lot of fun and really cool.” – 12 year old girl.
- “Its very cool and you learn a lot and it helps you with your problems.” – 9 year old girl.
- “I would tell them ‘join the group’!” – 11 year old boy.