Amiee & Millie's story

Our dad, Stuart, was an amazing, selfless “girl dad” who truly understood and embraced our experiences. He loved hearing our gossip and always supported us. Dad died in May 2024 after a couple of months of illness, suffering a heart attack while playing cricket.

After Dad passed, we kept busy with GCSEs and walks with friends to distract ourselves from the sadness at home.  We discovered Children’s Bereavement support at the hospice through friends who had recently experienced a loss.  We were nervous about coming to Dove House at first, unsure if we wanted to talk to someone outside the family but eventually realised it might help to get an outside perspective.

Initially we were hesitant, but we quickly appreciated the privacy and confidentiality of the sessions. It felt like a safe space where we could say anything, and it helped us a lot. We could bring both our emotions into a safe space, talk to someone who was ready to listen, and truly understood what we were going through. It felt really special.

Coming to Dove House made us realise that our feelings are valid. It’s comforting to know that others in the group are also experiencing grief and having someone remind us that it’s normal really helps. After sharing our thoughts, we always felt a bit lighter walking out.

Millie: “My first session with Jill, the hospice’s Children’s Bereavement Coordinator, was comforting. Whether I needed to cry, sit in silence, or talk, she was always there to listen and offer advice. The weekly check-ins created an open, safe space where we never felt afraid to share our grief. We did activities like rock painting and making memory cards, which helped, and connecting with other young people going through similar experiences reminded us we weren’t alone.

Jill is amazing, she makes it easy to talk about anything. If a young person didn't know how to handle their grief, I'd recommend Dove House. The environment is welcoming, and the conversations are at your own pace, allowing you to express whatever you're feeling. I knew I could always turn to her, which was really important.”

“At first, accepting that someone had passed away and talking about it felt scary, especially so soon after. But after talking to others going through the same thing, all that nervousness faded. The space is supportive and non-judgmental, everything you say is valid. When I leave, I always feel better, having been able to share everything on my mind.”

"Dove House means a lot to me. With their help, I've come to terms with my dad’s death and accepted it, which has been really important."

Aimee: “Walking through the doors no longer feels scary; it feels like talking to a friend., when I leave, I feel like a bit like a weight lifted off my shoulders. Obviously, grief will never go away but it can get lighter. It can feel a bit heavy, but after being with Jill, it's just a lot simpler and I feel like I've gotten a lot off my chest. When I'm feeling a bit down I know she'll listen to and try and help me out with it.

"'I'd 100% recommend Dove House to anyone struggling with grief. It's a judgement free space where you can express your feelings, and they truly understand. Both of us have become more open about our grief, which is a positive thing.

To me, Dove House is a safe space where I can talk about my dad and feel connected to him, even though he's not here anymore.