STUDENTS from Dyson Perrins CE Sports College have successfully completed their training as Peer Mentors specialising in bereavement and loss.

The training was delivered to year nine and 10 students by local children’s bereavement charity Noah’s Ark Trust to bolster the school’s existing peer mentor scheme, which is known as MAFIA (Mentoring and Friendship in Action).

The MAFIA scheme helps students tackle difficult issues including bullying, language and cultural differences. The Noah’s Ark Trust programme helps to prepare children to support a friend or peer through a bereavement, and ensures all pupils have someone to turn to should the need arise.

Training and development co-ordinator Felicity Copp said: “Every hour a child in Herefordshire and Worcestershire is bereaved of a significant person in their life. It is these children that we hope the newly trained mentors will be able to identify, support and where necessary refer them to our service”.