THE new director of a bereavement charity aims to use music and art to help people through their grief.

Helen Mackinnon has returned to the city to lead SeeSaw, the child and family bereavement service based in Headington.

She said: “I was looking for something that would take more of a leadership role.

“I knew this position would allow me to maintain the charity’s strengths while taking it in new directions.”

The new directions include music and art therapy sessions, inspired by Mrs Mackinnon’s previous work as a director of music at The King’s School in Gloucester.

She said: “At the moment, SeeSaw offers before and after bereavement services to children and their families through home visits and dog walks with our golden retriever collie cross, Dogood.

“I’m interested in creative arts as a way to help people work through grief. It’s effective.”

Seesaw was founded in 2000, and in the last year it has worked with 246 families and 420 children across Oxfordshire.

Mrs Mackinnon added: “Like most charities it’s a struggle to get the money, but I’m amazed at how extensive the charity’s reach is to people all over the county.”

Mrs Mackinnon recently left her job at Winston’s Wish child bereavement charity based in Cheltenham.

The 56-year-old, who is from Cheltenham, said she is happy to be back in Oxford where she went to uni and trained as a GP.

She said: “I have always loved Oxford and it feels lovely to be back.”

Rosie Nicol-Harper, from Headington, was the charity’s director for six years until taking early retirement in June.

She said: “Helen has such a good background in this type of care and she has new skills that she can bring to the charity.

The charity has four full-time staff, four part-timers and 12 volunteer support workers.

All of its services, which cost £300,000 to run each year, rely on donations. Visit seesaw.org.uk