AnglicareSA’s free Star Bear and Star Bound camps have supported close to 1,000 grieving children and young people through the debilitating fear and loss they experience after losing a sibling, parent or other significant person in their lives.
Grief can be very isolating, even within the closest families. Parents and carers often tell us they don’t know how to deal with their own grief let alone how to help their children grieve.
That’s why we have decided to expand our service to now offer Star Bound Family Camps. These camps see families come to camp together and learn as individuals and as a family group how to manage their own grief and how to help each other.
Please donate today and help support children and families grieving the loss of their loved ones.
Sandra Williams – Star Bear Volunteer
I previously worked at AnglicareSA for 18 years managing the Cathedral Fashions Op Shop, until I retired in 2018. During my time at AnglicareSA I was introduced to the Star Bear program and have now volunteered for 15 years.
I remember sitting at a camp and listening to the stories the children were sharing and just crying and crying. I felt so emotional but I realised it wasn’t just about what I was hearing, I recognised that I had a deeper sadness within me.
I had lost my dad at just four years old. Back then we didn’t have any form of support service and we didn’t really talk about death.
My mum just got on with looking after myself and my siblings and that was that. I think looking back, I had never grieved my loss and so sitting in this camp brought all those suppressed feelings flooding back.
Even after all these years, if you’re unable to release it, your grief can stay with you. That’s why I believe the Star Bear camp is so beneficial.
It provides an outlet to release your grief and express your feelings, whilst giving you the tools to cope. It is amazing what the children will tell their mentor that they will not discuss with their parents, because they don’t want to make their parents cry.
Star Bear camps can be very sad and the tears will flow, but there are many happy times too.
I continue to volunteer for Star Bear because I believe in the good it does for these young people and their families, whose worlds have been turned upside down.
I believe with the right support they can go on living with happy and positive memories of their loved ones.