Setting up a Support Group for Children, Adolescents and their Well Carers who have a Significant Adult with a Life-Threatening Illness

St Richard’s Hospice provides care and support for adults with a life-threatening illness and their families. As part of our work we often encounter children and adolescents who are facing the loss of a significant adult. Whereas in the past we have supported these children and young people primarily through one-to-one interactions after the adult has died, the expansion of our facilities has recently enabled us to provide an increasing degree of pre-death support, including the launch of a pre-death Child and Family Support Group. This article reflects on the benefits and challenges of setting up and running such a group and the journey we have gone through so far. It is our hope that by sharing our experiences we can demonstrate some of the benefits of group work for children and adolescents facing the loss of a significant adult and encourage others in the worldwide palliative care community who are considering running or are already providing such a service.