Press Release from RIBI

April 2004

New CD ROM Coping When Someone Has Died for primary and secondary school children, parents and teacher

Paul Daniels Launches Bereavement CD-ROM

Coping When Someone Has Died is the focus of a new CD-ROM in the Rotary ‘Coping with Life’ series, a Rotary International in Great Britain and Ireland initiative, launched by Paul Daniels at the annual Rotary conference in Bournemouth.

Death is the one certain thing for us all yet it is a great mystery to children and a taboo. A death in the family, the death of a friend, of a teacher or even a pet can have a traumatic effect on children. On average 40 children per day lose a parent through bereavement. This programme offers help and advice on how to cope. Many children have been involved with the production, offering their experiences as a help to others. Guidance is also available for teachers and families so that they can help children through the difficult times following a death.

The programme aims to remove some of the mysteries surrounding death, the one certain thing for us all yet often a taboo subject. It offers help and advice on how to cope with a death in the family, the death of a friend, of a teacher or even a pet and the traumatic effect these can have on children. Many activities are included designed to help children through the grieving period. It includes the true stories of many children offering their experiences as a help to others. It provides guidance for teachers and families to help children through these difficult times.

The interactive CD-ROM has been backed by many organisations which advise on this issue. These include, The Association of Children’s Hospices, Bereavement Care Standards UK, Acorns Children’s Hospice (Birmingham), Richard House Childrens Hospice (London), Cruse Bereavement Care (Manchester), Marie Curie Cancer Care (Scarborough), The Candle Project (Sydenham), Sunrise - Edwards Trust (Birmingham), National Children’s Bureau (London), Notre Dame Centre (Glasgow), Childhood Bereavement Network (Nottingham), Barnardos Child Bereavement Services (Belfast and Newcastle upon Tyne), Winston’s Wish (Gloucester), Seasons for Growth (Greenford), Scottish Council for Research in Education (Edinburgh}, Rainbows (Sheffield), Children’s Hospice South West, National Association of Funeral Directors, The Pet Bereavement Support Service, Compassionate Friends.

The aim of the Rotary ‘Coping with Life’ series is to provide a Rotary Library of multimedia resources for every school in the United Kingdom and Ireland. Each programme tackles a different social issue with the aim of supporting children, parents and schools by providing information and advice on each subject area.

The bereavement CD-ROM is the fourth in the ‘Coping with Life’ series. The other three award winning CD-ROMs focus on bullying, family change, and citizenship. Rotary Clubs have distributed more than 75,000 CDs so far, and these are now available to over nine million students, their parents and teachers.

The project is the initiative of Rotary District 1030, which covers Cleveland, Co Durham, Northumberland and Tyne & Wear, and development work has been the responsibility of local Rotarian, Colin Sawyer.

Review copies of the CD ROM on Coping when someone has died and photographs are available on request. For further information contact: Judith Diment 01628 672965/ 07860 162313 or Colin Sawyer Tel/Fax 01670 813470/ Mobile 07774 499388 email colin@sawyer.demon.co.uk

Notes to Editors:

1. Coping when Someone has Died is a national initiative. Local Rotary clubs across Great Britain and Ireland will provide Coping when Someone has Died CD-ROMs to schools in their area. The cost of the CDs is met by the local Rotary Clubs. If schools or parents require additional CDs, they can be ordered directly from Colin Sawyer on 01670 813470.For more information on Rotary Coping with Life see www. coping-with-life.org

2. Rotary is an organisation of business and professional persons united world-wide, who provide humanitarian service, encourage high ethical standards in all vocations and help to build goodwill and peace in the world. www.rotary-ribi.org

3.The Coping with Life CD’s are available for both secondary and primary schools, with sections for students, teachers and parents.

4.For general information on your local Rotary Club involvement with the Coping with Life project in your area, contact Colin Sawyer Tel/Fax 01670 813470/ Mobile 07774 499388 email colin@sawyer.demon.co.uk