We are always on the alert  to do follow-ups for local groups and organisations and so we are pleased to be able to do a simple catch up with the activities of LOSSuk two years on.

An Update with Will Taylor of LOSSuk

April 2015

Rochford Life: Will, could you just remind us what LOSS is about?

Will: Our ultimate goal is to be working with as many young people in need that we can on a weekly basis. LOSS stands for ‘Loss of Something Special’ and that can include bereavement, family breakup etc. When we are not doing that we are trying to build relationships with other organisations that could potentially refer young people to us. We are working with young people in South East Essex and particularly across Shoebury and Southend in a range of challenging and troubling situations. 

RL: You are having an impact?

Will: As we look back on the last year it is clear that this work, of face to face contact as well as the training we deliver and the representation we have locally, is vital and much needed. In this past year we have seen 86 young people in regular weekly relationships and 200 young people seen in one-off events

RL: How do you get known?

Will: Referrals continue to come in through word of mouth. I believe that people working in the caring area have been able to recognise the professionalism, excellence and expertise that LOSS offers. We are grateful for the provision of funding, the development of relationships with schools and other organisations, and the many supporters who spread the word, encourage and fund-raise for us. 

RL: How do you stretch yourself to meet the need?

Will: It is easy to be tempted to follow every opportunity that presents itself to us because we are not constrained by anything other than our own time, talents and choices. This is a privileged position to be in, which we recognise, however it does mean that we have to be very restrained with the decisions that we make about the work we do.

RL: So what does that mean in practical terms?

Will: Well, this year it means we have focused on the areas where we are strongest, the area that has the biggest effect with the group of people that we started LOSS to reach, namely young people needing one-to-one mentoring and group mentoring. We find that currently we have a greater focus upon one-to-one work in Junior Schools while group work is mainly requested in the secondary schools that we are in. Alongside this has been the importance of the time spent building the relationships that we have with the schools we have worked in, as well as new schools and organisations who have oversight of delivery of support services.

RL: It sounds like you have become a real part of the local caring community.

Will: Yes, we hope so. LOSS are now a regular part of the Eastern Locality Panel meetings, where agencies that work with children/young people come together to discuss particular children/young people who are in need of support. We have received referrals from this panel who recognise the value of the work we offer.

RL: So a lot of what you have been doing has been building relationships with others In the caring business?

Will: Yes this is true in that rather than being reactive with referrals, we have been proactive in building stronger relationships with schools in Shoeburyness, in Southend, the YMCA & the YMCA-led Southend Vocational College, as well as the King Edmonds Secondary School KEWTS special unit in Great Wakering.  These are places where we were already known, and we have now worked with an increasing number of young people from these.

RL: Are there specific events or activities that stand out?

Will: Well, at the beginning of September, we were asked by one school to work with the entire school during their first week back following the summer break and we focused on how we are interconnected and how our actions can affect all those around. It was great to work with around 200 young people during this week.

RL: And I believe you’ve also helped produce a book on grieving?

Will: Yes, the most significant project we were involved with during 2014 was a booklet about the experience of loss, produced by young people for young people, made possible through a European funded ACT program and delivered in partnership with Southend YMCA. Following the sudden death of a student at Southend Vocational College, the young people there wanted to help others by sharing their own grieving process in this book. LOSS were asked to work creatively with the young people so that they were able to fully express their experience. Through art, photography, modelling and written word, we looked at a 7-stage grieving process that helped the young people share this experience in order to help others. The hope for this book is that those who read it see how these different stages affect others and so, by knowing that, they find what they are experiencing is a normal part of the grieving process. To see the booklet on loss please go to http://goo.gl/rwX5Q7    LOSS have supported the college and individual students following this and continue to do this. 

RL: And this is a growing work?
Will: Yes, four months into this year and we were working with nearly as many young people on a one-to-one basis as we did for the whole of 2014, and we are excited to have needed to bring a new worker on board, who has an excellent track record and has particular skills in play therapy, to deliver support to one particular student. It is early days yet but we are looking forward to seeing how this might develop in the months to come. We have also started to have discussions with a local secondary school to work with 6th form students and will potentially be starting some one-to-one working and group work during the term ahead.

RL: Well, Will, thank you very much for sharing. We’ll check back in another year’s time to see how things are developing even more, I’m sure.

See previous interview with Will Taylor