A pioneering project to help bereaved children overcome the loss of a loved one is facing an uncertain future as its funds are expected to run dry by April 2006.

|TOP|Richmond’s Hope at Craigmillar Church in Edinburgh, has provided hundreds of children with support after suffering a traumatic bereavement since it was set up three years ago with grant funding, reports The Scotsman.

The only purpose-built facility of its kind in Scotland was set up with grants from organisations including Children in Need and the National Lottery which will run dry by March 2006.

Liz Henderson, minister of Richmond Craigmillar Church and the brainchild behind the project said the centre urgently needs investment of around £150,000 per year for the next three years in order for it to keep up its work with the bereaved children.

In a bid to gather the necessary funds to save the project, Richmond’s Hope has turned to the city council’s children and families department for funding and has re-applied to the National Lottery for more funding.

|QUOTE|The plea to Edinburgh city council comes at a time of great uncertainty over social services funding in the city, with city leader Councillor Donald Anderson saying just last month that huge cut backs would be inevitable following a financial blow from the Scottish Executive over its funding for 2006.

Richmond’s Hope was founded three years ago to support children in Craigmillar, but has since expanded its support to cover young people aged between four and 16 from the rest of Edinburgh and the Lothians.

“We are very unique in that we are the only project in Scotland that is open every single day working with bereaved children,” said Ms. Henderson. “There’s a huge support amongst lots of people, who realise that there is a need for this service in Edinburgh.

“It just depends whether there is the money for it. It’s pretty touch-and-go, though, because the project’s money runs out in April but we won’t hear back from the council until March,” she said.

|AD|Children on the project can receive counselling, or take part in play therapy and activities to help them express their feelings in order to help them overcome the loss of a parent or sibling.

Ms. Henderson said the fact that children were now coming to the centre from the Capital and beyond was evidence of the vital role Richmond’s Hope was playing in the community.

“These children are dealing with things that even adults would have difficulty talking about,” said Ms. Henderson. “The outcomes we see are huge. We see children who came in not talking about the person they have lost leave being able to talk about them.

“But we are not curing anything here – grief goes on forever. We are giving them the opportunity to talk about what’s happening. It’s about acknowledging the sadness and the loss, helping families to communicate and say ‘We are all feeling this’.”

Susan Deacon, the Labour MSP for Edinburgh East and Musselburgh, said: "It is vitally important that this service is not lost. Richmond's Hope provides an invaluable support service to children who have experienced bereavement, often in very difficult circumstances. I have been tremendously impressed by the work that they have done."

Craigmillar councillor Jack O'Donnell said: "As the local councillor I am very supportive of the outstanding work the Richmond's Hope project has done to help children in Craigmillar, and now across the city."

One grateful mother, whose child was helped by Richmond's Hope, said: "I hope they realise this place saves lives. The difference that it made to my child and myself is indescribable."

A council spokeswoman said Thursday: "We can confirm they have applied for a revenue grant."