JACKIE Potter has seen her fair share of tragedy - she has lost both her parents, her sister and a four-year-old son. However, it is just these experiences that make her the right person for her job at Worcester's Noah's Ark Trust.

Jackie is a bereavement support co-ordinator for the charity that supports children, young people and families who have had to face up to similar tragedies.

Jackie knows the impact of bereavement can be even more difficult when the person left behind is a child or young person.

"We have got to know how to listen to children and understand their needs," she says.

"Our training is to understand bereavement and adapt it to how children perceive it, which is where the development training comes into it. A five-year-old child is a lot different to a teenager and we need to adapt to this."

As a teacher for 30 years, Jackie is used to working with children and has been able to use this experience at Noah's Ark. She has also had specialist training in children and bereavement issues.

"It's about being there for people and honing the skills I already have. The work is challenging both emotionally and physically but the rewards are tremendous. To witness a young person coming to terms with their heartfelt grief and moving on, realising again that it is okay to have fun, is fantastic.

"We support families who have been bereaved for a wide variety of reasons.

"It is a great privilege to share time with children and their families. They show such courage and determination and, with a little friendship and support from the Noah's Ark team, they are able to build hope for the future."

Jackie says her most vital role is to spend time with children and give them an opportunity to talk, give them permission' to grieve and also to be angry about the situation.

"At the residential weekend, children meet up with others and have a lot of fun, as well as honouring the person who has died. It gives them a chance to meet others in a similar situation - it really is a good experience for them," she says.

"As a bereavement co-ordinator it is all about building a relationship and making people comfortable to talk, knowing they can trust us. Sometimes that takes a long time, sometimes not. I do stress to them they can say things that won't go out of the room, but sometimes when I have opened the gates of communication with them, they find they can talk to more people about it."

Following the death of a loved one, a child can feel a variety of different emotions and display introverted or extroverted behaviour. This may be the first indication that the child needs support in working through their grief.

Very often, a death can be in tragic or unexpected circumstances, leaving family and friends with no option but to pick up the pieces and get on with their lives.

Which is, of course, where Noah's Ark comes in.

Gabby Beddows, the charity's head of operations, says: "The demand for our services is on the increase as more people across the community become aware of Noah's Ark Trust and the support we can actually offer.

"We would love to hear from individuals or anyone in the business community who would like to support our work and help us to make a difference."

Each year, the team offers support to more than 200 children and young people. The reputation and professionalism of the bereavement team is growing daily and Noah's Ark Trust now provides training for other groups working in this area.

The charity holds several weekends throughout the year at the Malvern Hills Outdoor Centre where the children and their families can meet and mix with others who are in a similar position and share feelings and experiences or just relax together and let off steam.

NOAH'S ARK TRUST

Noah's Ark Trust is a charity founded in 1998 to provide grief support to bereaved children and young people in Worcestershire. Until then, there had been no such support available to families in the county. The trust now covers Herefordshire as well.

Referrals come to the trust from schools, GPs, health visitors, youth officers and other professionals directly involved with children within the county. Families can also contact the charity directly.

All services are provided to families free of charge. However, the support of the community is vital to enable the charity to continue to do so.

The charity benefits from the support of Children in Need, Comic Relief, the Big Lottery Fund and others, including Worcestershire County Council.

Each residential weekend costs in the region of £5,000 to run, and the trust currently runs three weekends a year. Wages are kept to a minimum and the organisation calls on more than 60 volunteers who have all completed the Noah's Ark in-house training programme.

Anybody wishing to become a volunteer or find out more about Noah's Ark Trust can telephone 01905 745735. Or visit the website www.info@noahsarktrust.co.uk