MSSL funds 100 bereavement sessions for grieving families

Michael Smith Switchgear has funded 100 bereavement counselling sessions for families who have lost children.

The sessions will be delivered through the Bodie Hodges Foundation, the Braunstone-based charity which funds bereavement support for families in Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland.

The foundation offers a safe space for family members to openly discuss their grief and child, sometimes serving as the only place where relatives and siblings can feel heard.

The 100 counselling sessions will provide care for three grieving family members, supporting each with two years of counselling.

MSSL’s contributions will enable the Bodie Hodges Foundation to create safe spaces for family members to process their grief.

Sean Smith, MSSL Managing Director said: "These counselling sessions are a small way for us to honour the memories of those who have been lost and help families during their most difficult moments.

"The Bodie Hodges Foundation provides an essential service, allowing families to talk openly and be heard.”

The Bodie Hodges Foundation was established in 2013 by Nick and Donna Hodges following the death of their 10-month-old son Bodie.

It provides comprehensive bereavement support to families following the death of a child aged 18 and under.

Donna Hodges said: “We're deeply grateful to MSSL for understanding our mission to ensure no family grieves alone.

“Their support means the world to us, especially as we receive no Government funding and it's wonderful to work with a business that truly cares about the community.

“By doing so, MSSL is helping families learn to grieve, live, and find hope in a future that looks different from the one they had imagined.”

Families report that the foundation's support has enabled them to communicate openly about their child's death and their grief with others, facilitating their return to work and helping children and young people cope at school.