Daisy's Dream

About Us

Daisy’s Dream is a professional service which responds to the needs of children and families affected by life threatening illness or bereavement, in Berkshire and the surrounding areas. 

Every 30 minutes in the UK a child is bereaved of a parent

We offer a flexible service which we tailor to meet the needs of each child and their family. Support may include:

• Telephone support and advice for parents/carers/professionals 
• Home and school visits
• Group events
• Training for associated professionals

Children's understanding
It can be devasting when a parent or close family member is diagnosed with a life threatening illness. It is inevitable that there will be changes to family life and even if children are not told about the illness, they are likely to notice that something is wrong. 

Parents maybe unsure whether to tell their children about the seriousness of the illness, when to tell them and how to explain it in an age-appropriate way.  

The death of a significant person in a child's life whether sudden or anticipated, can also be devastating and difficult for children to understand. 

Adults may try to protect children from the facts of the death, believing that they are too young to understand, or that it will be too upsetting for them.

Our experience shows that when children are given age-appropriate information and have the opportunity to express their grief and concerns, it enables them to adapt to their changing situations and to find positive ways to move forward with their lives.            

Working together
Daisy's Dream supports parents and carers of children who are affected by life-threatening illness or bereavement. We also provide training and advice for professionals who work with children in schools and other settings.    

Getting in contact

Families can contact us directly to request support or advice. Referrals may also be made on their behalf by schools, health professionals, social services and any other professionals involved with them.

A referral is usually taken during an initial phone call. This involves taking basic contact  details and information about the children and their situation. A family worker will then contact the referrer to discuss how best to help the children. This may involve giving support by telephone, or arranging an appointment to meet the children at their home or school. The family worker will then plan subsequent support with the family. Children and families maybe invited to attend group events, giving them the opportunity to meet others in a similar situation.

Families can come back to us for further support at anytime in the future. The service is free.