Edward's Trust support children and families who are facing loss and surviving bereavement

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For 28 years Edward's Trust have been supporting bereaved families.

Edward’s Trust, set up in 1989 by Peter and Hilary Dent in memory of their son Edward, who died aged 7 of cancer at Birmingham Children’s Hospital. Over 25 years later the Trust still continues to provide much needed support to bereaved families.

Edward’s Trust provides holistic family bereavement services supporting children, young people and parents across the West Midlands. Our service extends to a full programme of bereavement support including; one-to-one counselling, support groups, specialist respite bereavement retreats, children’s social activities, a wellbeing service and supports over 600 families every year.

How we help

One to One Counselling
Wellbeing in Bereavement Therapy
Support Groups
Respite Bereavement Retreats
Remembrance Services
Social Activities

600

Families each year are supported through bereavement by Edward's Trust.

£600k

is needed each year to operate Edward's Trust

2610

Children are bereaved of a parent in the West Midlands every year

403

Children between the ages of 1-19 die each year in the West Midlands

5333

Counselling sessions took place in 2016

1300

Supports a bereaved parent through counselling

350

Supports one child through our Schools Outreach Programme

738

babies are stillborn or die before their 1st birthday each year

28 Years Helping Families

1988

Aged 7, Edward Dent puts his book down, turns out the light, and settles down to die.

1989

Edward’s parents, Peter and Hilary Dent, found Edward’s Trust in memory of their son.

1991

Edward House opens on Stirling Road, Edgbaston as a home from home to 6 families of children diagnosed with cancer and leukaemia.

1993

Diana, Princess of Wales, opens Sunrise – a counselling and support service for all those affected by the death of children.

1995

The first Remembrance time for both adults and children is held.

1998

Edward House moves to new premises adjacent to Birmingham Children’s Hospital and is officially opened by Julie Walters.

2003

Sunrise moves from Stirling Road to its present day premises on Calthorpe Road.

2006

Edward’s Trust hosted its first residential retreat for bereaved parents.

2008

Magic Jigsaw, a choral work based on a story written by Edward premieres at Birmingham Town Hall.

2009

Edward’s Trust offers families complementary therapies as part of a holistic approach to bereavement thanks to The Body Shop.

2010

Tree of Remembrance, ‘A Leaf for a Life’ opened at The National Memorial Arboretum, Staffordshire

2011

Edward’s Trust offers bereaved fathers their own unique residential retreat

2012

Edward’s Trust becomes the Guinness World Record holder for ‘Most faces painted in 4 hours’

2014

Edward’s Trust celebrate 25 years supporting bereaved families

2015

The West Brom nominate Edward’s Trust as their charity of the year and raise a whopping personal best of £28,000

2016

New Chief Executive, Yvonne Gilligan is appointed

2017

Edward’s Trust gets an update with a new website, new marketing material and new vigour to raise the profile and achieve our mission.

Who we are

Our Values

Our Vision

Our Patrons

Governance

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The Challenge We Face

Each year in the West Midlands alone, approximately...

738

Babies are stillborn or die before reaching their 1st birthday.

403

Children and young people die between the ages of 1 and 19 as a result of illness and accident.

2610

Children are bereaved of a parent.

At present, Edward's Trust offers and delivers around...

230

Children’s counselling appointments per month

200

One-to-one adult and couples counselling appointments per month

Wellbeing Therapy sessions per month

Respite Bereavement Retreats per year (each for 4-6 bereaved parents)

Times of Remembrance - one for adults and one for children.