Gloucestershire charity, Winston's Wish, will feature on BBC One this Sunday (20th December), as it takes the spotlight in the BBC Lifeline Appeal.

Kristin Scott Thomas, the BAFTA award winning actress who was bereaved of her father and then her step-father, is presenting the appeal on behalf of Winston's Wish. During the 10 minute programme, she tells the story of three families who have all been supported by Winston's Wish. Eddie, Tom and Tiff all know first-hand the impact a death of a parent in childhood can have.

The appeal highlights the wide ranging ways Winston's Wish supports bereaved children, young people and their families from the national helpline to the virtual support service and face to face work.

Kristin Scott Thomas said: "Winston's Wish is a charity that provides support to children and young people facing the death of a loved one. I am honoured to be presenting the Lifeline Appeal on their behalf.

"The charity is important to me for a personal reason: both my father and my stepfather were killed in accidents before I was 12 years old. The death of a parent is the most devastating event a child will ever face, and it can have a catastrophic effect. At Winston's Wish, an experienced and compassionate team can help children make sense of what has happened to them, providing a safe place to explore their emotions and learn to live a meaningful life after their loss.

"No child should have to experience the loss of a loved one, but they do each and every day. Winston's Wish exists to provide emotional and practical support to children, young people and their families, and help them navigate through their grief and face their future with confidence and hope."

Fergus Crow, chief executive of Winston's Wish, said: "Since the pandemic broke, children and young people across the country have been impacted by death, dying and bereavement. As the death toll rose, services like ours became vital sources of support and guidance to thousands of people, and this work continues as the impact of the pandemic is more widely felt, heard and seen.

"This appeal gives us an opportunity to highlight the important work we do with bereaved children and young people, along with raising essential funds. We are so grateful to Eddie, Tom and Tiff for contributing to the film and the BBC for this opportunity. Please do tune in on Sunday to watch the appeal."

The Winston's Wish BBC Lifeline Appeal will be broadcast on Sunday 20th December at 2pm on BBC One and again on Wednesday 23rd December at 10.10am on BBC Two. The appeal will also be available on BBC iPlayer.

The Lifeline Appeal has been running for over 25 years and has supported more than 300 charities. To find out more, visit the BBC programme page https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m000qpwv or the Winston's Wish website www.winstonswish.org/bbc-lifeline