Twenty-three children who have received support from Farleigh Hospice’s Children’s Bereavement Service, the Yo Yo project, held a gallery opening to show off artwork they have created with the project’s help.

The artwork was put on display in the Farleigh Hospice Art Gallery and friends and family were invited to celebrate the hard work of the youngsters.

Mark Cobbin, Farleigh Hospice’s Bereavement Services Team Leader, said: “The children who are involved in our Art Gallery each year never cease to amaze me with their talent, creativity and emotional energy.

"It is a really special project to be involved in and every single child should be really proud of themselves.

“The Yo-Yo Project at Farleigh Hospice offers support across a range of ages and bereavements.

"We work with children from age 4 to 18.

"The service is open to any child or young person in the mid Essex community who is facing the loss of someone special or who is bereaved, regardless of whether or not they have a connection with Farleigh Hospice.

"Our work is mostly through one-to-one support with our skilled team of counsellors and therapeutic social workers.

"We also run groups and family gatherings during the year which are a great opportunity for parents, carers and children to meet with others in a similar situation.

"Support is also offered to parents and carers through groups or individual support facilitated by our adult bereavement team, CIRCLE Adult Bereavement Support.

"It is very important that parents and carers take care of themselves as this helps the children and young people to process their own loss.”

Ellie Wakeling, 12, of Chelmsford, said: "I’ve chosen to draw the picture I have in memory of my uncle John and also my nanny.

"I wanted to use lots of bright colours in my picture because they are happy and I wanted to brighten up everyone’s day.

"I drew butterflies to show freedom, I wrote the words to represent uncle John and nanny and how I love them, the sun is to show how much they cared and how they brightened my day and the splats to represent everything about them.”

Lauren Randall, 13, of Chelmsford, said: "I tried to draw all of the things that I remember most about my mum.

"I drew a blue bag, which was the last thing she bought me, some cards because she used to love playing cards and the bed that she was in when I visited her.

"I also drew a boat to remember one time when we went to the beach.

"My dad and I were bored of sunbathing so we decided to go off and make a boat – we asked mum to come too but she said she didn’t want to and she ended up getting sunburned from staying where she was in the sun!

"I also drew flowers in the background because my mum loved flowers.”

Lily Dennis, 11, of Chelmsford, added: "I drew a picture of my grandad in his garden.

"He loved being outside and playing with me.

"He used to grow and look after apple trees and bay trees in his garden.

"He was a really happy person, so I used bright, happy colours to reflect him in my picture.

"It’s really exciting to have my picture in the gallery and it has been nice to share my feelings with other children who have also lost someone and see their pictures.”

For more information about the Yo-Yo Project, visit www.farleighhospice.org or call 01245 457416.