Our Champion Schools Programme helps deliver bereavement support in schools across Hampshire (from Early Years to Colleges), equipping staff with the confidence, knowledge and resources to provide compassionate support to bereaved children and families.
What makes this Champion programme unique is the combination of practical tools, expert-led guidance, and a strong peer network. Schools are not only trained but become part of a growing community across Hampshire, sharing learning, resources and real-life experiences to strengthen support for bereaved pupils.
We would like to extend a huge congratulations to one of our most recent Champion Schools – St Faith’s CE Primary School!
We are proud to recognise St Faith’s as a Simon Says Champion School, celebrating their commitment to supporting children and young people experiencing bereavement.
This status follows a year of dedicated work by the whole school community, during which staff completed specialist training, reviewed and strengthened school policy and procedures, and developed a bereavement support kit to ensure the right help is available when it is needed most.
Benjamin Bond, Headteacher at St Faith’s, said:
“Becoming a Simon Says Champion School has strengthened both our confidence and our compassion as a staff team. The training and guidance have helped us develop a clear, thoughtful approach to supporting bereaved pupils and their families. Most importantly, it has ensured that children facing loss feel understood, safe and supported within our school community. We are incredibly proud to stand alongside Simon Says in championing the wellbeing of every child.”
Photographed here with Benjamin Bond are Naomi Spiers, who organised a Simon Says fundraiser with the School Council, Rhiannon John, SENCO and Kerry Cannings, ELSA.
Schools like St Faith’s play a vital role in creating bereavement-informed communities. Across Hampshire, education settings are often at the heart of a child’s support network – providing stability, trusted relationships, and a safe space where children can begin to process loss. By embedding compassionate, informed approaches to bereavement, schools help ensure children and young people are supported with understanding, care and compassion as they navigate their grief. As part of the programme, schools can also undertake a structured bereavement support audit, helping them assess and continuously improve how they respond to loss within their community.
“By participating in the Simon Says Champion Schools Programme, you will demonstrate a commitment to fostering a supportive and compassionate environment for all pupils, particularly those facing the challenges of bereavement.” Debs Adams – Education Lead at Simon Says.
Schools like St Faith’s play a vital role in creating bereavement-informed communities. Across Hampshire, education settings are often at the heart of a child’s support network – providing stability, trusted relationships, and a safe space where children can begin to process loss.
Simon Says supports this role in a highly practical and personalised way. Alongside free, in-person training, schools receive tailored advice, resources, and guidance to suit their specific context. This includes help to introduce grief education into the curriculum – particularly important as bereavement education becomes a national requirement from September 2026.
Importantly, schools are not working in isolation. Through termly Champion Schools network meetings, staff come together to share challenges, explore new research, and learn from one another – whether that’s responding to complex situations or developing effective in-school bereavement groups. This peer support element is a powerful part of the programme, building confidence and consistency across settings.
We are delighted to welcome St Faith’s as a Simon Says Champion School and to see the growing commitment from schools across Hampshire to prioritise the emotional wellbeing of their pupils.
To find out more about how to become a Champion School, click here:
