At Team Jak, we understand that school can be an essential part of a young person’s world. It’s not just about education, but also friendship, routine, and support. So when a child is diagnosed with cancer or experiences a loss, it can be difficult for schools to know how best to help. Through our school outreach programme, we offer emotional and practical support so staff can help guide pupils and families through diagnosis, treatment and recovery, as well as bereavement.
We offer a holistic, trauma-informed programme that meets the needs of the whole school — from pupils and parents to staff — with the flexibility to support individuals, groups, classes, or the entire school community.
Looking for support for your child, family, or want to refer someone you know? Please get in touch today.
Emotional Wellbeing Workshops: We deliver Bag of Worries (Primary) and Bag of Hope (Secondary) sessions to encourage pupils to explore and express their concerns in a safe, creative environment. Using journals, games, crafts, and stories, we help children develop tools to manage emotional challenges and build resilience.
Loss and Bereavement Support: Our grief and bereavement support programme helps children and teens understand and process change, loss, and death. Siblings, cousins, classmates and close friends are all welcome at our sessions, which include storytelling, discussion, and practical coping strategies tailored to different age groups. We are also trained in, and present, Seasons for Growth which is a widely recognised programme for grief throughout Scotland.
Parent & Staff Workshops: We run sessions to help staff, parents, and carers understand and manage the impact on young people of childhood cancer and bereavement. We cover topics such as how to talk about illness, what to expect during treatment, and how to support pupils returning after a long absence. We also offer to work with the school and pupil to provide a link following individual diagnosis.
Help with Homework & Transitions: Keeping up with homework is often a challenge — for both children who are ill and their siblings. Our outreach support includes targeted academic support during treatment or after absence, helping pupils stay on track and manage transitions between schooling stages.
1:1 Counselling & Ongoing Support: Where appropriate, we offer referrals — for both pupils and staff — to 1:1 counselling, music therapy, or emotional regulation support.
Staff & Whole School Resources: We provide a bank of trauma-informed resources and staff training, including emotional wellbeing support, to extend the impact across the school community.
Schools have a great wealth of resources around wellbeing and emotions. However, since Covid this has become a real issue for many, with mid-level support missing and no way of meeting the needs of pupils who require more support. We have identified this gap and have a support programme we can provide to schools through Public Contracts Scotland, via Pupil Equity Funding, or direct. This allows schools to use our bespoke Team Jak Bag of Worries and Bag of Hope resources alongside our six-week programmes on self-worth, values, feeling safe, anxiety, and others. We also tailor activities and resources to meet individual needs, so please reach out if this is something your school might be interested in. For more information or to book please get in touch.
We provide emotional, social and practical support to children & young people with cancer, their families, friends and those bereaved
