Until now, services for bereaved children have been limited in some areas, however a new network is hoping to change that.

The recently established Irish Childhood Bereavement Network (ICBN) acts as a hub for those working with bereaved children, young people and their families. Its aim is to ensure that all children in Ireland who have lost a loved one, have access to a choice of high quality information, guidance and support.

It is estimated that up to 60,000 Irish children have experienced a significant bereavement. While there are no official figures available, it is estimated that in 2011 alone, more than 3,300 16-year olds may have experienced the death of one or both parents and a similar number have experienced the loss of a sibling.

According to Brid Carroll, a bereavement counselor, who has just been appointed as chairperson to the ICBN's advisory panel, the issue of children's grief ‘has gained acknowledgement in recent years' and demand for services is increasing.

"Until now, support services have been diverse both in provision and geographical location. The setting up of the ICBN will create a central hub for joined up thinking in the area of childhood bereavement, and will maintain in time, the creation of a directory of service providers and information for supporting children.

"This will be beneficial to parents, family members and professionals such as teachers and health professionals, and others who work with bereaved children in their daily lives", she explained.

While the network was launched last summer, it is now fully operational and can accept requests from parents, guardians, teachers, youth workers and others who require information on how to support bereaved children in their lives.

"The network, alongside the expert advisory panel, hopes to transform the experience of death and bereavement for all children in Ireland. With the range of knowledge, experience and empathy, from both the voluntary and private sector, the panel will enable the network to add value to all childhood bereavement services and ultimately, provide a wider range of services and supports to bereaved children," explained ICBN coordinator, Nicola Jordan.

The network will be holding a number of events nationwide to support those working in the area of childhood bereavement. Details will be available on the ICBN blog here

The network is funded for a two-year period by the Family Support Agency and the Irish Hospice Foundation.