How to Look After a Grieving Elephant (and other social animals)

How to Look After a Grieving Elephant (and other social animals) is a children’s participatory art project about grief, by artist Jenny Gaskell. The aim for this project is to get children and adults talking about grief, how we might care for each other, and of course, to have fun along the way.

Working with children aged 5-10, Jenny is researching how some animals act differently when an animal close to them dies. Over a series of art workshops, games and crafts, our collaborators are learning about some of the ways that animals - including elephants, giraffes, whales and wolves - share their grief, and how we can look after ourselves as humans too.

The Grief Helpline for Social Animals

The thoughts, findings and feelings shared during our workshops have inspired an audio art project: The Grief Helpline for Social Animals. Starting on National Grief Awareness Week 2024, this thoughtful installation will travel to different St Helens locations, where visitors are invited to pick up a phone receiver and listen to children’s heartfelt advice on how to care for grieving 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.

Locations

You can experience the project in St Helens from Thursday 5th December 2024 - December 2025:

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

• St Helens Libraries – touring St Helens Libraries from 5th Decemver 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.

• One other location tbc

Support

Child Bereavement UK help children, young people, parents, and families to rebuild their lives when a child grieves or when a child dies.