When a child experiences the death of someone important in their life or the separation of their parents, it can be difficult for them to find the words to express how they feel. Many children worry that nobody understands what they are going through or that they are somehow different from their friends.
Rainbows Peer Support Groups provide a safe, structured, and supportive environment where children and young people can meet with others who have experienced a similar loss or significant family change. Through age-appropriate activities and guided discussions, children learn that they are not alone, that their feelings are normal, and that there are healthy ways to cope with change and uncertainty.
What Does Peer Support Mean?
Peer support is based on a simple but powerful idea: children often gain comfort, reassurance, and understanding from being alongside others who have had similar experiences.
In a Rainbows group, children are not expected to tell their whole story or speak if they do not wish to. Instead, they learn through listening, sharing, and participating in activities with other children who “get it”. Hearing another child say, “That happened to me too” can reduce feelings of isolation and help children feel understood in a way that adults, however caring, sometimes cannot.
Peer support helps children:
- Realise they are not alone in their experience.
- Develop a sense of belonging and connection.
- Build confidence in expressing feelings.
- Learn healthy coping skills from both facilitators and peers.
- Feel accepted, understood, and supported.
- Develop resilience and hope for the future.
Why Peer Support Rather Than 1:1 Therapy?
Rainbows is an early intervention programme, designed to support children before difficulties become more entrenched or overwhelming.
Rainbows is not counselling, psychotherapy, or a clinical intervention. Instead, it provides a preventative, strengths-based approach that helps children and young people understand and process their experiences in a supportive group setting.
For many children, participating in a peer support group is sufficient to help them adjust to bereavement or parental separation. The opportunity to meet others, talk about feelings, develop coping skills, and receive support from trained facilitators often helps children regain confidence and move forward positively.
Where a child requires specialist therapeutic support due to complex needs, significant emotional distress, trauma, or mental health concerns, Rainbows may not be the most appropriate service and other supports may be recommended. Rainbows can, however, be a valuable support before or after therapeutic intervention, depending on the child’s circumstances.
What the Rainbows Programme Offers
Rainbows provides children and young people with opportunities to:
- Share experiences in a safe and supportive environment.
- Recognise and express feelings.
- Build self-esteem, confidence, and trust.
- Develop healthy coping strategies.
- Increase resilience.
- Adjust positively to changes in their lives.
- Connect with peers who have experienced similar situations.
Children often tell us that one of the most important things they learn is:
“I’m not the only one.”
What Rainbows Does Not Offer
Rainbows is not:
- Counselling or therapy.
- A crisis response service.
- A place where advice is given or judgments are made.
- An assessment service.
- A reporting or note-taking service.
Children cannot attend Rainbows while participating in another intensive therapeutic intervention, such as Play Therapy or certain court-directed assessments, as engaging in multiple emotional support services simultaneously can be overwhelming for some children. Attendance may be possible before or after such supports.
How Rainbows Groups Work
- Groups meet weekly for nine sessions, each lasting approximately one hour.
- Groups typically have 4 to 8 children.
- Children are grouped according to age and developmental stage.
Rainbows is available for:
- Lower Primary
- Middle Primary
- Senior Primary
- Second Level
Children must generally be at least 7 years of age and/or in First Class to participate.
Sessions use a variety of activities including:
- Storytelling
- Discussion
- Drawing and creative activities
- Age-appropriate journals
- Movement activities
- Relaxation exercises
- Reflection and sharing opportunities
Key themes explored include:
- Feelings
- Family
- Change
- Anger
- Difficult emotions
- Coping and adjusting to life changes
Confidentiality and Safety
Children are encouraged to share their thoughts and feelings within the group. They can tell their family about something they themselves shared, but they should not bring home another child’s story, name, or experience. This helps create trust and safety for everyone involved.
Rainbows Ireland operates in accordance with Children First Guidelines (2017) and all facilitators receive training in safeguarding and child protection.
Important Information for Parents and Guardians
- Rainbows is a free service supported by Tusla.
- Both legal guardians are offered the opportunity to provide consent for a child’s participation.
- Peer support may not be suitable for every child, and alternative services may sometimes be recommended.
- Children may return to Rainbows after approximately nine months, and many participate again as they mature and experience different developmental stages.
Further Support
Rainbows also offers:
- Monthly online Parents’ Introduction to Rainbows sessions.
- A Parent Workshop Series providing additional information and support for parents and guardians.
If you have questions or would like to discuss whether Rainbows is the right support for your child, please contact your local Rainbows Coordinator or email ask@rainbowsireland.ie.
Find your nearest Rainbows Centre: Centre Locations.
Every child deserves to know they are not alone. Through connection, understanding, and shared experience, Rainbows helps children and young people develop the resilience and confidence to adjust to life’s most significant changes.