Testimonials for Alfie's Squad

Ever since I heard about Alfie’s Squad and the reason for why such a peer support service was created all I could think is ‘Why has this taken so long and never happened before?’ I have been researching within the field of suicide prevention for over 20 years and listened to many bereaved adults worry about the risk of suicide for their children who have been bereaved by suicide. As well as Alfie’s Squad providing a safe space for children and young people to speak with their peers about their shared loss, it has also created an environment that will most likely reduce these children’s risk of suicide in the future – thus a more lasting impact for suicide prevention within adult populations.

As the lead researchers for Alfie’s Squad our team have reviewed both the survey data completed by both young people accessing the service and their parents or guardians and interview feedback. The preliminary findings show that Alfie’s Squad has helped in reducing social isolation and feelings of guilt, increasing social support and improving self-esteem in most of the children and young people who attend the weekly sessions. Most children have continued using the service after the 8-week program is completed and some have taken on the role of being peer mentors for new children joining in future programs.

The children and young people who were interviewed highlighted how the service had helped them to connect with like-minded peers, improve their confidence and social interaction, form strong peer connections and friendships, feel understood and accepted which improved their wellbeing especially as they were with people who had shared experiences, have a safe space for emotional expressions and how they valued enjoying the activities provided by the service.

The parents’ feedback was similar to that of their children and although we expected there to be a positive impact on them using the service, we were quite surprised by the feedback we received from parents and carers on how the service had helped them and provided them with a support network which they so desperately needed. Other adult only suicide prevention services were not suitable for many single parents due to childcare issues and Alfie’s Squad has filled a gap for both children and young people and their families. Many commented on how attending the weekly sessions improved the communication between them and their child(ren) about their loss and how their wider families felt the benefits of them being happier as a consequence of attending the sessions.

The evaluation and findings will be key to establishing future Alfie’s Squad’s across the country and displaying the fact that such a service not only alleviates immense pressure on the children and young people themselves, but also on their families, schools, A&E departments, and GP surgeries. It is also potentially saving valuable lives of bereaved partners, guardians the children and young people to the service and the young people themselves. We are confident that the findings will help to put a case forward for some statutory funding and the local companies have already displayed a commitment to this.

Feedback from staff and founders of Alfie’s Squad, highlights the tone of collaboration, the tone of coproduction and the tone of co-design that Allison and Alfie have created alongside the voices of the children and young people and their families. I think that this is continued all the way through and what it has meant is that there is a lot of love in the room and space for recovery.

From the very first time meeting young Alfie and his mum Alison, it struck me how determined and passionate they both were to help other children and families who had gone through the same devastation and pain that they themselves had experienced, and still live with to this day.

Their commitment to give children and family members some hope and a safe space to come together and connect is heart-warming to see, and they do all this without wanting any praise or gratitude. I’m extremely proud to not only be a patron of such an incredible and powerful group, but to also call them my friends.