How can we better support children to grieve?
This question is at the heart of My Grief – My Way, an interactive one-day conference from Simon Says, taking place on Wednesday 25 November 2026 at Solent Hotel & Spa, Whiteley.
Bringing together leading voices in childhood bereavement, creativity, and inclusion, the conference is designed for professionals who want to make a real difference in the lives of grieving children and young people. But more than that, it’s part of a bigger conversation about how we understand and respond to grief in childhood.
Event Details – 🎫Book your tickets here 🎫
- When: Wednesday 25th November 2026
- Where: Solent Hotel & Spa, Rookery Ave, Whiteley, Fareham PO15 7AJ
- Why: This event is being held as part of Simon Says’ 25th Anniversary year, marking 25 years of Giving Grief a Voice Across Hampshire. We want to educate professionals across Hampshire on how we understand and respond to grief in childhood.
Why ‘my way’ matters
Grief in childhood doesn’t follow a script. It isn’t always expressed through words or tears. For some children, grief shows up in movement, behaviour, play, or quiet withdrawal. For others, it can be shaped by culture, faith, additional needs, or developmental stage. Yet too often, we rely on approaches that expect children to process grief in ways that suit adults, for example, structured, verbal, and linear. When we do this, we risk missing what children are really trying to communicate. At Simon Says, we believe every child deserves the space to grieve in their own way.
A growing need for better support
Across education, health, and community settings, professionals are increasingly supporting bereaved children, often without specialist training or resources. At the same time, awareness of children’s mental health is growing, along with recognition of the long-term impact of unsupported grief. Young people themselves are also telling us what they need: honesty, understanding, and the freedom to express themselves in ways that feel natural to them.
What you’ll gain from the Conference
My Grief – My Way has been created to respond directly to these challenges, offering a space to learn, reflect, and build confidence.
On the day, you’ll:
- Discover creative, practical strategies you can use immediately
- Explore inclusive approaches for supporting children from diverse backgrounds
- Hear directly from young people about their experiences of grief
- Connect with like-minded professionals who share your commitment
- Learn how to support children with additional needs
📢 Guest Speakers
The conference will be headlined by special guest speaker, the author, poet and broadcaster Michael Rosen, alongside leading bereavement specialists Nicola Marshall and John Adams.
Author, Poet, Broadcaster
Hypnotherapist, Coach, Grief Specialist
Author & Funeral Director
You can attend interactive workshops covering topics such as movement, storytelling, and engaging bereaved teenagers and Michael Rosen will provide an opportunity for book signings.
About the speakers
- Michael Rosen is one of Britain’s best-loved writers and performance poets for both children and adults. He has published around 200 books, including the deeply moving The Sad Book (with Quentin Blake, Walker Books), written after the death of his son Eddie; the much-loved classic We’re Going on a Bear Hunt (with Helen Oxenbury); and A Great Big Cuddle (with Chris Riddell).
- Michael is currently Professor of Children’s Literature at Goldsmiths, University of London, where he co-devised and teaches the MA in Children’s Literature. His work continues to shape how children and adults engage with stories, language, and the realities of life, including loss, love, and resilience.
- Nicola Marshall is a grief and loss educator, speaker, and therapeutic practitioner. She is the founder of the Meet & Grief Café and a TEDx speaker, recognised for her compassionate and thought-provoking approach to grief. Sharing the same passion as Simon Says, Nicola is committed to opening up honest conversations about grief and empowering both adults and children to “allow themselves to be themselves,” even in the midst of change and loss.
- John Adams is an experienced funeral director and the Funeral Advisor to Child Bereavement UK. A past President of the National Association of Funeral Directors, he is a respected national and international speaker who champions the need for a society that talks openly about grief rather than avoiding it.
- John was the driving force behind the successful parliamentary petition calling for bereavement education to be included in the National Curriculum – a landmark achievement not only for education, but for society as a whole.
💡 Workshops
Be Part of the Conversation
Supporting grieving children isn’t about having all the answers — it’s about creating the right environment, where each child feels able to express their grief in a way that feels right for them. If you’re passionate about supporting bereaved children and young people, we’d love you to join us.
📋Workshop Leaders
Sarah Helton
Specialist SEND Consultant
Founder of 201 Dance Company
Victoria Hussey
Bereavement & Family Support Specialist
John Adams and Clare Shaw
John is a Funeral Advisor and Co-author and Clare is a Children’s Author
Workshop overview
- Creative ways to support children and young people with SEND– Sarah Helton, specialist SEND consultant and advisor for Winton’s Wish and Child Bereavement UK
- Using dance and movement to support a grieving child – Andrea Walker, founder and director of 201 Dance Company. Andrea recently adapted The Sad Book by Michael Rosen into an award-winning production, which toured the UK last year
- Creatively engaging bereaved teenagers– Victoria Hussey, bereavement and family support specialist, specialist trainer for Child Bereavement UK and a founding member of Simon Says
- Faith and culture; how they shape a child’s experience of grief– John Adams, Funeral advisor and international speaker and Clare Shaw, Children’s author of therapeutic stories
🎟️ 🎟️Tickets 🎟️🎟️
- Standard Rate: £110 per person
Your ticket includes full access to keynote sessions and workshops, breakfast baps, refreshments and lunch, conference materials, certificate of attendance, goodie bag, networking opportunities, stalls and book signings.
