A Grief Helpline for Social Animals launches

Launching as part of National Grief Awareness Week, this thoughtful installation will travel to different St Helens locations (see list of venues below), where visitors are invited to pick up a phone receiver and listen to children’s heartfelt advice on how to care for grieving animals.

Over a series of art workshops, games and crafts, the children worked with Jenny to learn about some of the ways that animals - including elephants, giraffes, whales and wolves - share their grief (inspired by the idea that some social animals change their behaviours when they lose a close companion - believed by many scientists to be a sign of grief).

The children donned safari hats and and took up notebooks to study how animals express grief in the wild, using their 'field notes' to create recordings as if they were guiding listeners on how to console grieving elephants, giraffes, whales, wolves, and other social animals.

The Grief Helpline for Social Animals provides a wealth of information on how social animals experience grief, how to look after ourselves, and each other too. Listeners will hear children’s perspectives on empathy, care, and support, shared in the warm, honest voices of young people. This installation opens up a compassionate way to consider grief and loss, inspired by the ways animals naturally support each other.

“The best thing about the sessions was making things, making friends and talking about Mummy” - young participant from the group

Four phone installations will be available for the public to experience the project at the following locations in St Helens from Thursday 5th December, including:

• Living Well Café – This location will house a permanent installation, creating a space for reflection and support.

• St Helens Libraries – touring St Helens Libraries from 5th December 2024 until November 2025. The phone will be at Haydock Library (December '24 –January '25); Newton-le-Willows Library (February – March '25); Moss Bank Library (April '25); Thatto Heath Library (May '25); Chester Lane Library (June –July '25); St Helens Library (August – September '25); Eccleston Library (October – November '25).

• St Helens Crematorium – This location will house a permanent installation, creating a space for reflection and support.

“It’s been a privilege for Heart of Glass and Wonder Arts to be a part of this project.

Jenny brings immeasurable compassion and magic to working with young people and the incredible team at Child Bereavement UK, creating a project which supports how grief can be discussed with insight and sensitivity. This project brings connection to an often isolating experience and our hope is that the public will pick up the phone and feel support through this gentle sharing of wisdom.” - Angy Williams, Head of Creative People and Places, Heart of Glass