Therapists
Lead Therapist
Francesca Raymont
I have the privilege of leading our team of therapists at Children and families in Grief. I have been a part of Children and Families in Grief since it launched in 2011. We have worked with many children, young people and their families who have experienced the death of someone special to them. We offer a safe space and the opportunity to look at thoughts and feelings surrounding the loss and we support children, young people and families to work through their grief towards a positive future, this work is an honour to do.
Therapist
Helen Way
I am a fully qualified member of the team. I am really pleased to have been given the opportunity to work with Children and Families in Grief.
I feel very strongly about the importance of the work we do and the benefits to the families, helping them through difficult times. I feel privileged that the families we work with are able to share their stories with us.
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Therapist
Soraya Jilani
I am a fully qualified team member. I enjoy working with our CFG families and find it uplifting and rewarding to see communication open up between family members over our family visits and creative therapeutic weekend.
It is a privilege to be part of this process.
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Therapist
Catharine Langran
I have been a member of the team at Children and Families in Grief since 2014. My background is working with families in the Sure Start Children’s centres for many years. During this time, I completed my counselling quali'cation and went on to work in primary and secondary schools as a school counsellor. I feel that my previous work and life experiences have really supported the work I do with the families we support within CFG.
I really enjoy meeting and working with all the families and the other members of the CFG team. It always feels such a privilege to be part of the families sharing their story with us and other families and allowing themselves this dedicated space to remember the person who has died and explore their loss and grief.
Therapist
Wendy Elliott
My name is Wendy Elliott I first joined the team as a volunteer many years ago and saw what wonderful work the team provided for young people and their families around Devon, so when the opportunity came up to join the team as a sessional therapist I jumped at the chance. I feel this service is so important to the families who contact us to find the help and support after losing someone special to them, it can sometimes be a very difficult and confusing time for all.
I am so proud to be working as a member of this dedicated team, with both the therapists and also the large voluntary group behind the scenes, I know it can makes all the difference to families who contact the service and become part of the Children and Families in Grief family.
Volunteer Therapist
Tracey Williams
I am a volunteer therapist with CFG, a mum to 3 boys and am currently training to be a counsellor having spent about 15 years working in education, both here in the UK and abroad.
The CFG family has been so supportive and welcoming since I started my journey with them, and it has been great to see how that sense of community and togetherness is shared with individuals and their families who reach out for what CFG has to offer. It is not all talk either- grief and loss are explored through a variety of ways and there is often laughter as well as tears.
Volunteer Therapist
Rachel Hoare
I'm a volunteer therapist at CFG having completed my counselling training theory. I feel very honoured to be a part of this incredible and supportive team of therapists and I feel privileged to spend time with the children and families we work alongside.
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Volunteer Therapist
Karyna Squibb
I began my journey with CFG as a Treasurer and from there I became a Trustee. I am very passionate about the work that CFG do with families and children who have suffered a bereavement and this ultimately lead me to a change of career from a Lawyer to becoming a Qualified Counsellor. I am now a Volunteer Therapist with CFG alongside having my own private practice. CFG is a unique charity in that it offers help and support to the whole bereaved family as a group and also offers a family day for all of our families to meet and feel that they are not alone in their grief - I am honoured to be a part of the families' journey.
Volunteer Therapist
Maryanne Mcardle
I have been a nurse and health visitor for 40 years and very much enjoy working and supporting families. I am excited to join the volunteer team to support the therapists in bereavement work with our families.
I am at the end of my counselling course and hope to qualify in the Autumn.
Volunteer Therapist
Liz Moon
I am really proud to be one of the volunteer counsellors at children and families in Grief. I feel privileged to work within this friendly, supportive charity and with the families and children who access our help and support.
I am currently working towards my level 4 diploma in counselling and also work in the NHS.
Volunteer Therapist
Justin Lewis
I have been with CFG, working as a qualified volunteer counsellor, for the past couple of years. The work the organisation does is of great value to the community and it's been a real pleasure working alongside both families and other members of the team.
Trustees
Trustee
Pat Goss
Since joining in 2011 I have been closely involved with this charity both as a Trustee and volunteering at events. What a wonderful opportunity this has been for me as I am also involved with Rowcroft Hospice as a Chairman of the Friends and found the two to be closely linked. To see the benefits that the CFG has to offer families when they need most support, has been a great experience and I greatly appreciate the privilege of being a part of this organisation.
Chair of Trustees
Sophia Honey
I joined Children and Families in Grief in 2011 and am the Chair of Trustees. I am a solicitor and currently work for a national charity. I appreciate the impact of grief on children from lived experience and am proud to be a part of this wonderful charity, building positive futures for the local children and their families who come to us for support. The impact of our work through the skill of our therapists never ceases to amaze me.
Trustee
Sue Cole
I originally contacted CFG in 2011 as I had lost my husband to suicide in 2008 and my mum to cancer in 2011. My son and I were really struggling to cope. CFG really helped us rebuild our lives. When I was asked to be a trustee I jumped at the chance as it was my way of giving something back for all the help that we were given.
Trustee
Sue Newman
I am a qualified nurse and health visitor who worked in London, Cambridge and Oxford before moving to South Devon some years ago with my family. I have over thirty-five years of experience in the Health Service, firstly at clinical level, both in the acute hospital sector and in primary care before moving to professional leadership roles as Head of Services.
I have been involved with a number of charities and in particular the Hospice movement having been chairman of trustees at Rowcroft Hospice South Devon for a number of years. I am particularly interested in children and their families and am delighted to be involved with Children and Families in Grief as a trustee.
Trustee
Sally Debney
I joined Children and Families in Grief as a trustee in 2024. I was a qualified nurse until 2009 and now work in education with primary aged children.
I used the service CFG provide following the loss of our first born son aged two and half years. They helped our family with our grief when our second born son was six years old and again when he went to secondary school. We attended the family
bereavement days which helped our son immensely. It also gave my husband and
me a safe space to share our grief and gain tools to help with our own emotions.
I felt that I really wanted to give something back, so when I was approached to consider becoming a trustee, I jumped at the chance
I will be forever grateful for the support we received at the darkest time of our lives.
Trustee and Treasurer
Will Treadwell
I joined Children and Families in Grief in 2024 as Treasurer and later became a Trustee. As a Chartered Accountant, I specialise in simplifying complex financial information and presenting it in a clear, meaningful way. My role also involves overseeing treasury management, where I draw on my background in accounts and audit to strengthen processes and improve efficiency. I am committed to ensuring that every pound is used wisely, delivering the greatest possible impact for the families we support.
Minute Secretary
Sarah Bond
I joined CFG in 2018. I attend the trustee meetings and take the minutes. I enjoy being part of the CFG team and knowing the difference we make to the families we support.