Hunter youth dealing with the death of a loved one will have access to vital support, helping them face, feel and heal with their grief.
Feel the Magic is an NSW based not-for-profit charity providing early intervention grief education programs and other resources for kids aged seven to 17 following the death of a parent, guardian or sibling.
The charity is hosting its first regional Camp Magic in Lake Macquarie from June 17 to 19.
Over the three-day camping experience, kids will work with an adult mentor specifically matched for them and participate in psychoeducational sessions and fun physical activities.
Feel the Magic co-founder, Kristy Thomas, said they saw a need for grieving kids to come together and meet others in their situation.
“We were sending families on Disneyland adventures and saw they were creating their own community,” Thomas said.
“So we wanted to touch more kids’ lives by bringing them into camp, and just by meeting one other person who may have been through the same thing as them, it just changes their world.
“Camp Magic provides a place for them to reshape their future and grow from their grief instead of suffering.”
Through Newcastle Permanent’s Community Assist program, employees have donated $15,000 to enable 15 local kids to attend the camp.
Feel the Magic CEO, Adam Blatch, said the Community Assist program helped them bring the much-needed program to the Hunter.
“Childhood bereavement causes disruptions in relational, academic and occupational functioning later in life, and is associated with greater risk of maladaptive coping, mental health disorders, substance abuse, suicide and early mortality,” Blatch said.
“Grieving children can feel isolated and alone.
“They require ongoing support to develop strategies to cope and move forward with their lives.”
Blatch said more than 300,000 Australian children lose a parent before they turn 18.
“Our evidence-based programs have been developed by a clinical psychologist and are delivered by mental health trained professionals,” he said.
“We go beyond traditional young people’s grief support groups by offering free camps, programs and resources plus support for parents to create a community of families to support each other.”
He said an independent evaluation of Feel the Magic’s programs for kids aged seven to 11 showed a 12 per cent increase in their ability to cope through challenging times.
Additionally, there was an 11 per cent growth in their ability to manage emotions when feeling overwhelmed and a 9 per cent shift in mental wellness and belief in the ability to get through tough times.
Newcastle Permanent business manager, Sabina Andersson, nominated Feel the Magic to her colleagues as a charity worthy of support.
She said losing an immediate family member would have a devastating impact on a child’s wellbeing and potential.
“Feel the Magic is helping individuals deal with their grief and supporting them towards a positive future which benefits the community as a whole,” Andersson said.
“I also like the whole family approach. There is support for parents and carers to simultaneously navigate their grief and their child’s grief to move forward as a family.
“The other great thing about Feel the Magic is that it brings families in similar situations together to support each other and create a community rather than feelings of isolation.”
The charity’s annual fundraising bike ride will run in the Hunter Valley from June 16 to 19 and finish at the Lake Macquarie camp.
To find out more about Feel the Magic’s programs, to volunteer or donate, visit feelthemagic.org.au.
Hayley McMahon
Beautiful story