*Training by ListeningPeople Training for youth leaders, teachers and professionals supporting young people. Expand ListeningPeople training and resources provide tools for teachers, youth workers, counsellors and anyone who works with young people to safely and confidently enable them to engage around the difficult topic of loss. Our training is led by Pete English. With over 25 years experience in working with young people and counselling in schools, Pete really does know what is like to support young people through difficult times. He is currently providing training on-line. On any of his workshops you will come away with tools to go away and use straight away, a heightened sense of the impact of hearing about loss on self and a whole host of new ideas! You can download our training leaflet from the box below. To find out when the next online workshops will be happening go to TRAINING Endorsements by professionals who have experienced ListeningPeople training: "What Pete doesn't know about young people and loss isn't worth knowing." Rachel Gardner, Youthscape "The training was professional, insightful and perfectly pitched for our setting." Joe Lowther, Kick London "I hadn’t expected to be putting this into practice so soon. Just had a phone call from our local church primary head teacher, a parent has taken her own life. Have you got any immediate pointers as to how we might practically support the school on Monday morning when this is such devastating, raw news for staff and children?" Pete advised this attendee by email. “Pete delivered the training in a way that enabled everyone in the room from very different professional and personal backgrounds to participate in it fully. He was calm and professional and gained people’s trust speedily through his knowledge and manner. He presented the material clearly and ensured that we understood it. There was a good balance of practical exercises and slides/written material.I would recommend Pete as a trainer/facilitator." Antonia Rowland, Volunteer at Number 72, Sudbury - Solicitor (SRA number 29891)"The whole area of loss and bereavement raises many sensitive issues and Pete quickly created a supportive and respectful learning environment in which to share and participate. He also brings with him a wealth of experience in small groups, mentoring and counselling which enrich the training. He placed the young person’s needs at the centre of the discussions, a great listener and generous in sharing resources, which promotes good practice and development for facilitators." Ant Cartwight, Senior Youthwork Coordinator Thanks so much! Great session again, so much amazing information and practical help. Can't thank you enough. Absolutely invaluable training. Kay Wilkinson - Youth Angels Coordinator. Download printed details about ListeningPeople training ListeningPeople_DL_AtaLoss_web.pdf
..Tough Stuff Journal: Someone has died A resource to help young people express and share their grief and feelings of loss when someone has died - endorsed by professionals in the field. Expand This is the latest member of the Tough Stuff Journal family - Someone has Died. This is aimed at supporting young people wrestling with the loss of someone close. The journal is designed to be used by a young person accompanied by a trusted adult - a parent or relative, youth worker, social worker or school mentor. The journal is designed deliberately in 'free form', can be written in and asks open questions to encourage the young person to reflect on and record their feelings about the loss. Purchase Price £5 + postage Available to order from our Online Shop The Tough Stuff journals have come into existence as a result of Pete’s work with young people over many years. Many of the ideas are credited to young people who he has worked alongside. Pete has worked with talented designers and illustrators to come up with the Tough Stuff journal - great resource which children and young people will want to pick up and work through with their teacher, a parent or counsellor. Julie Stokes OBE, founder of childhood bereavement charity, Winston’s Wish and author herself, expressed her appreciation of this resource saying; These booklets are deceptively difficult to write and I love the simplicity of your clear affinity to young people. I say this, Pete, having literally just finished a non fiction book for children and young people myself.
.Tough Stuff Journal: Parents Splitting Up A resource to help young people express and share their emotions and feelings of loss when parents separate Expand The first in our Tough Stuff Journal series, Pete English has produced a booklet for young people who are struggling with parental break up. For many young people this involves feelings of traumatic loss accompanied by emotions which are hard to handle. The journal is designed to be used by a young person accompanied by a trusted adult - a parent or relative, youth worker, social worker or school mentor. It is deliberately ‘free form’ and non- prescriptive in the way in which it can be completed, but has some guidelines at the back. It is useful for parents, youth workers, teachers or anyone working with young people. Purchase Price £5 + postage Available from our Online Shop 'Tough Stuff Journal: Someone has died' will be published shortly. This is specifically for young people who have been bereaved.
Five Tips for Supporting a Grieving Young person Pete English offers some useful tips if you are supporting a young person who has lost someone special Expand 1. Be available when they need you It might not be the most convenient time of day but if a young person wants to talk ensure that you are free to do so or tell them when you will be free and stick to it. You might get the “well I need to talk now” response but they will be okay. 2. Don’t assume that there is anything ‘wrong’ just because they don’t want to talk Everyone deals with loss in different ways. Keep an eye out but don’t push them to talk. Gently point them towards good resources like our Tough Stuff journal and you may be pleasantly surprised by leaving it lying around for them to pick up! 3. Talk about the person who died often Elephants in the room are hard to get around and everyone knows they are there. So be the one to address it. Get some Lego - make an elephant and make a room! 4. Use the correct words Grandpa didn’t fall asleep or pass - grandpa died. This is particularly important when you are talking to small children but equally important when communicating with teens because it makes it real however hard that is. 5. Be honest with them but not too honest That doesn’t make much sense does it? Tell them you are struggling too but don’t use a son or daughter as your emotional support. Find a group or a trusted friend or access a discussion group. For example The Bereavement Journey. - see www.thebereavementjourney.org
Funerals: Everything a young person needs to know A short film created by Rosedale Training to help a young person prepare for the funeral of a loved one. Expand Thank you to Rosedale Training for making this helpful film available for our website. We think it will help any young person understand funerals (burial and cremation) and decide whether to attend and what role they can play in saying goodbye to a loved one. See also our page on supporting a bereaved young person for more information about the impact of bereavement on young people. Click here If you are supporting a young person you may be interested to purchase a copy of 'Tough Stuff Journal: Someone has died'. Newly published is the new booklet in the Tough Stuff Journal family - Someone has Died. This is aimed at supporting young people wrestling with the loss of someone close. The journal is designed to be used by a young person accompanied by a trusted adult - a parent or relative, youth worker, social worker or school mentor. The journal is designed deliberately in 'free form', can be written in and asks open questions to encourage the young person to reflect on and record their feelings about the loss. Purchase Price £5 + postage Available to order by HERE The Tough Stuff journals have come into existence as a result of the work of Pete English with young people over many years. Many of the ideas are credited to young people who he has worked alongside. Pete has worked with talented designers and illustrators to come up with the Tough Stuff journal - a great resource - highly commended by Child Bereavement UK, which children and young people will want to pick up and work through with their teacher, a parent or counsellor.
Trainer Biography ListeningPeople founder and trainer, Pete English MBACP has over 25 years of experience Expand About Pete English, MBACP Pete English is a highly regarded trainer and national thought leader on supporting and working with young people. He's worked as a youth worker and counsellor for over 25 years specialising in supporting young people affected by bereavement and parental separation. He has spoken widely on this subject throughout the UK and other parts of the world and been involved in helping to set up charities that work with the bereaved, including AtaLoss.org. Pete provides training and consultancy to schools, churches and youth agencies who wish to be better equipped to listen to young people. He also runs his own counselling business, providing one to one support to young people. Pete says; 'I have a passion for seeing young people get the support that they need and to find a voice to talk about their experiences.' See the section on ListeningPeople Training on this page for endorsements from professionals. See also the 'Tough Stuff Journal' resources Pete has developed to help young people cope with bereavement and parental separation.