SeeSaw is a charity which gives vital support to bereaved children and young people in Oxfordshire. Volunteer support workers visit children in their homes and through friendship and activities strive to reduce the distress of grieving children and their families.

"We know that children suffer when someone they love dies," said Dianne Stafford, administrator of SeeSaw. "They experience a turmoil of emotions which can have a significant impact on how they cope with day to day living at home and school.

"That is why SeeSaw helps to make a difference to the lives of bereaved children in Oxfordshire, and the people who make that difference are volunteers."

Volunteer support workers come from a variety of backgrounds with a wide range of skills to offer. SeeSaw provides the necessary training to enable them to understand how grief can affect children.

This is challenging but rewarding work and requires people who are good listeners, able to cope with other people's distress, and perhaps most importantly, enjoy the fun of being with children.

So who can do this work? The answer is not everyone. But those who can, and who become support workers are positive about their roles.

"Being a friendly face, who is there, solely for that child or young person," said one, while another volunteer said: "It is a delight to see a child's pleasure in creating something beautiful to evoke memories of a parent, and there is immense satisfaction in helping them."

What advice do they have for someone thinking of volunteering?

One said: "Not to panic and think you ought to have the answer to everything. Empathy, tolerance and common sense take you a long way to being a support worker. Also, there is terrific support and back up from all the other SeeSaw workers so you are not alone."

If you are interested, come along to our Taster Evening in Oxford on Wednesday at Bush House, 2 Merewood Avenue, Oxford OX3 8EF. Or if you feel that becoming a SUPPORT Worker is not for you but you would like to offer support in other ways, such as helping us to raise funds, or volunteering a few hours of your time to assist at events would really help.

Contact SeeSaw on 01865 744768, or visit www.seesaw.org.uk