Children's counselling
Helping children cope with Trauma and Grief through tailored counselling, support and coping strategies.
We are the number one provider to many organisations for specialised bereavement counselling
Harry’s Story – finding hope after losing Bobby
After losing his little brother Bobby, 8-year-old Harry was overwhelmed by sadness no child should have to carry. With the gentle support of counselling, he found a way to talk, to heal—and to hold onto hope.
His story is a quiet reminder that even in the darkest moments, listening can light the way. Because every child deserves someone who hears them.
Our 'Take Care For Bobby' programme was born from Harry's story. We know with the right support at the right time children like Harry can survive trauma and have a successful life.
Bobby's Base
At the heart of the Take Care For Bobby programme is Bobby’s Base — a bright, welcoming, and carefully designed therapeutic space built with children in mind.
Named in memory of Bobby Colleran, this special place is more than just a room — it’s a safe, calming sanctuary where children can feel at ease from the moment they walk in.
Every detail of Bobby’s Base has been thoughtfully created to:
- Offer comfort, warmth, and security
- Encourage emotional expression and creativity
- Foster a sense of belonging and hope
Whether a child is attending a one-to-one counselling session, engaging in therapeutic play, or simply needing a quiet moment, Bobby’s Base offers them a refuge — a place where they can just be.
It reflects Bobby’s legacy of love, care, and protection for children everywhere.
Whether a child is attending a one-to-one counselling session, engaging in therapeutic play, or simply needing a quiet moment, Bobby’s Base offers them a refuge — a place where they can just be.
It reflects Bobby’s legacy of love, care, and protection for children everywhere.
🌟 Why This Matters
Too many children carry heavy emotional burdens in silence. Without the right support, these early experiences can affect their mental health, relationships, education, and self-worth for years to come.
Take Care For Bobby exists to change that — by making sure every child has someone to turn to, somewhere to go, and a chance to heal in a way that honours their experience and restores their sense of safety and hope.
We believe in the power of community, connection, and care — and through Healing Hearts, we offer just that.
Take Care for Bobby
Healing Hearts: Child and Youth Trauma Support
Every child deserves the chance to heal — to feel safe, supported, and truly understood when life turns upside down. Through our Take Care For Bobby programme, we stand beside children and young people who are facing the heartbreak of bereavement, the confusion of trauma, and the long-term effects of Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs).
Whether it’s the loss of a loved one or other deeply distressing experiences, these early wounds can shape a child’s world in profound ways. Our mission is to offer a safe haven — a place where they don’t have to carry it alone.
At the heart of this mission is Healing Hearts — a compassionate, trauma-informed counselling service designed to help young people feel seen, valued, and empowered. Together, with their community by their side, they can begin to rediscover their strength, rebuild their confidence, and move toward a brighter, more hopeful future.
We understand that a child’s healing doesn’t happen in isolation. That’s why we work closely with families, schools, and other professionals involved in the child’s life to ensure a truly holistic approach. By offering support and guidance to those around the child, we help create a consistent, nurturing environment that encourages lasting emotional wellbeing.
Compassionate support for grief and trauma
Our Healing Hearts service provides essential one-to-one counselling for children and young people aged 4 to 19 across the Liverpool City Region. We support those who are: Coping with the loss of a loved one Struggling with emotional distress due to past trauma Living with the effects of ACEs that disrupt their emotional development Our trauma-informed approach acknowledges that every experience is unique, and healing looks different for everyone. We meet children exactly where they are — walking with them at their own pace, with kindness and care at every step.
Personalised, one-to-one care
There’s no one-size-fits-all solution when it comes to emotional healing. That’s why our trained counsellors take time to understand each young person’s individual story — building trust and offering support tailored to their age, personality, experiences, and emotional needs.
This one-to-one relationship offers children a private, confidential space where they can:
- Talk openly without fear of judgement
- Explore difficult thoughts and emotions
- Learning healthy coping tools
- Build resilience and self-esteem
- It’s not just about managing pain — it’s about helping them grow stronger in the face of it.
Creative approaches
Children often express what they feel through play, imagination, and creativity — especially when words fall short. That’s why we integrate a range of creative, child-friendly techniques into our work, including:
- Art and drawing to explore emotions visually
- Storytelling and role play to safely process experiences
- Games and movements to release tension and build connection
- These creative methods help children express their inner world in a way that feels safe, fun, and natural — encouraging healing through their own language of play.
One-on-one counselling
Trained counsellors provide individualised support, allowing children to express their feelings and work through their grief in a safe and understanding environment.
Group sessions
Facilitated group activities enable young people to connect with peers facing similar experiences, fostering a sense of community and shared understanding.
Family support
Recognising that trauma and bereavement affects the entire family, the Trust offers sessions aimed at helping families cope collectively and support each other.
School-based programmes
Collaborations with local schools allow counsellors to provide on-site support, ensuring minimal disruption to the child's daily routine.
Take Care for Bobby Impact
Take Care for Bobby has become a vital resource for many families in the Liverpool City Region, providing a safe space for children to explore their emotions and heal.
Moving forward, the programme aims to expand its reach by establishing additional partnerships with schools and community organisations, ensuring that more children can benefit from these essential services.
Each year on average we deliver
Counselling Sessions
Sessions delivered at schools and at Bobby's Base
Schools Cared For
Where we have helped at least one pupil
Bereavement Training Sessions
Parent/school drop-in bereavement training sessions
Crisis Sessions
Number of crisis sessions
Feedback
The Bobby Colleran Charity are the only bereavement organisation we as a school use to support our students, and we are very grateful for the therapists who we have worked with over the years. We pride ourselves in having built an excellent relationship and rapour with yourselves, enabling us to ensure that all our students are supported in the best possible way.
The therapists who we have worked with over the years are really friendly and approachable. Their support is invaluable, as if we did not have their support we do not know how we could support our students as well as we do.
Our students who have received bereavement counselling support from The Bobby Colleran have all said how much they have enjoyed their sessions and found it beneficial in helping them to grieve and cope. They feel listened to, valued and that their feelings are very much validated, is feedback from some of our students.
We are thrilled that The Bobby Colleran have continued to help support our students and we will continue to help tirelessly, in any way we can to make your time at Alsop High School a pleasurable place for you to come and work.
We thank you for all you do for us.
Thank you so much for the work you have completed with one of our young people recently. She has excelled so much since your interventions and I both know herself and her Mum have been delighted, both by your expertise and about how lovely you are. I'm delighted to say she's fully engaged in school now, and attendance has increased hugely now thanks to your support in providing healing and new coping strategies.
We have a lot of engagement with The Bobby Colleran Trust, and value your counsellors and their input into helping our young people lots.
We can't thank you enough, particularly after one child loss, we feel as a school we could not have coped as effectively without your help and guidance.
Keep doing the amazing work that you do,
Liverpool needs your trust.
We have always benefited hugely from your support at The Bobby Colleran Trust for our children who need bereavement counselling. We have had a variety of your counsellors in school over the years and the impact this has had not only on the children but on the staff too is immense.
You personally go above and beyond in the support you give and dedicate lots of extra time via multi agency meetings and delivering training sessions to support our whole school as a collective.
One of your counsellors is currently working with one of our children and she has been brilliant, and the child has made huge strides with her support. I wanted to feed that back to you and thank you once again.
I look forward to seeing you soon
Dear The Team at The Bobby Colleran Trust,
We are writing to thank you for all your support with our recent Honeysuckle Children's Support Group.
The families who attended thoroughly enjoyed their time with you- please know how much the day helped them.
Our team organise an annual baby remembrance service and we would be keen for The Bobby Colleran Trust to have a stand to highlight the amazing work that you do.
We are also really keen to work with you more to strengthen our links within the local community.
Sadly since meeting our guardian angel, Joan, this is not the only time we have called upon the Bobby Colleran Trust for help. Since the pandemic the loss we have suffered as a school has dramatically increased, both directly and indirectly linked to COVID.
The support from the team at The Bobby Colleran Trust is not a requirement but is crucial to providing the care and support for children and families at the worst possible time in their lives. Without this quick support I fear that children will be unable to cope with their loss and their life chances will be greatly affected.
As a school we teach the children to dream believe achieve, the team at The Bobby Colleran Trust enable this to be a reality.
I dream of a world where everyone has access to the team at The Bobby Colleran Trust and where children have the strength and resilience to be children again and become amazing adults.
Thank you from the bottom of our hearts for being there, for being you and for being amazing.
Over the last few years we have worked with the Bobby Colleran Trust to provide support to pupils with bereavement counselling. We have been impressed with their child-centred approach and have seen the positive impact of the work they do.
More recently, the Bobby Colleran Trust Take Care team have provided counselling for one of our pupils who had suffered a particularly traumatic bereavement. The team worked in a creative and holistic way, tapping into the child’s existing interests and allowing them to build a relationship based on trust and mutual respect.
One of the things that impressed us was the collaborative approach the Take Care team took with the school. The child knew that the support they were receiving was being built upon in school and felt safe with the consistent approach in place to support them in their bereavement. The team always willingly gave their time, attended multi-agency meetings, maintained regular communication with key people in the child’s life, and gave endless guidance to us in school on how to help and support the child.
Based on both our recent and previous experiences of working with the Bobby Colleran Trust, we have seen first-hand the valuable work they do to support children who are experiencing bereavement and loss.
My sessions with Joan are really fun, I have learnt a lot of things through the months, my session teach me reframing and there is always a solution. It's ok to laugh and cry and more xxx
My sessions have helped me through tough times, happy times and sad times, I love having fun wont Joan I wouldn't change it for the world.
I love Joan she is honestly the best, she's kind, caring, funny, beautiful, smart and I could give 10000 more reasons. I will miss her so much, I love and miss you xxx
You have been my best friend and I will keep your memories in my heart very safe.
My mum and my dad are proud of me and because of you I have lots of memories to keep safe.
Thank you for all you helped me with.
I will miss you so much.
"School Improvement Liverpool are privileged to work in collaboration with The Bobby Colleran Trust and their wonderful team. The support, advice and guidance given to our school staff, children and families is so prompt, sensitive and professional at times.
They give our staff confidence when dealing with a death in the school community. Long may our collaboration and partnership continue."
I would like to provide feedback on how The Bobby Colleran Trust has helped both me and my daughter.
I describe Joan as an angel to family and friends, as that is how it felt, particularly in those early sessions that i was invited to attend. I was communicated with on what was discussed and how my daughter was feeling during sessions i wasn't in attendance which was crucial to me and felt we were really working as a team with the main priority, my daughter.
Thanks for all your help and you should all be proud of yourselves for the help that you provide to so many families and we will never forget your help to us.
I wanted to refer a child to The Bobby Colleran Trust who was struggling coming to terms with a significant loss in their lives.
Other children within our school have been lucky to receive support from the service and a number of staff (myself included) have seen the impact this has had on their emotional well-being and ability to settle in school.
I feel the staff in this service have a special way of connecting with children, families and professionals and it is clear they really do put their heart and soul into what they do.
I think it is really important we have access to local services like The Bobby Colleran Trust and that children and families continue to benefit from this valuable service.
YPAS, which supports over 10,000 children and young people annually, is fortunate to have The Bobby Colleran Trust as a resource to accommodate the heightened demand from those seeking therapeutic support to address their loss. Referring to the Bobby Colleran Trust for specialised bereavement therapy enables us to promptly address their unmet needs in a seamless and timely manner.
Together we can make a difference
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