'Other bereaved dads opened their hearts to me for new film'

A dad whose son was cared for in a children's hospice before his death said other bereaved fathers who have lost a child "opened their hearts" to him in a new documentary.

Paul Woodward's first film 'The Little Things' was released on Amazon Prime last year and featured the work of Derian House in Chorley.

He said it was a "personal thank you" about for the "incredible" care they gave his son Kalel for seven years until his death in 2019 at the age of 11.

His latest documentary 'Voice Again', released on Friday, shows the "raw and deeply moving" conversation had by grieving dads at the hospice, but also moments of "hope and laughter".

The 18-minute film, captured entirely on an iPhone, gives a voice to the hospice's grieving fathers and reveals the bonds they have created at Derian House.

"From day one, the dads opened their hearts to me and to this film," he said.

Woodward said the Derian Dads breavement group is a safe space where they can talk openly about grief over a cup of tea or a takeaway.

"That trust makes all the difference when you place a camera in the room.

"It quickly became a space of comfort, honesty and friendship, and I feel incredibly proud to have been welcomed into it."

He said the film features "truly heart-breaking stories - moments no parent should ever have to live through".

"The conversations are raw and deeply moving. But alongside the grief, there is hope, and there is laughter.

"That's because of the care Derian House continues to give these families, and the friendships the dads have built with one another," he said.

"The hospice doesn't just support you through your child's life - it supports you afterwards too. And that ongoing care and connection is something incredibly powerful to witness."

The fathers featured in the documentary had a special premiere at Derian House's in-house cinema on Wednesday.

Woodward hopes 'Voice Again' is the first in a series of documentary shorts on the hospice, building on the success of 'The Little Things' and shining a light on stories that did not make it into the film.

He who worked alongside Steve Pemberton, the co-creator of The League of Gentlemen and star of ITV's Benidorm sitcom, and director Thomas Elliott Griffiths in the production of 'The Little Things'.

He said he hopes 'Voice Again' encourages men across the UK "to come together and recognise that safe spaces do exist if we choose to reach out".

"If this group of men can support one another and make a positive difference in each other's lives, then others can too," he added.

Karen Edwards OBE, chief executive at Derian House, said: "Paul is a fantastic patron of Derian House and has already done so much to raise awareness of the work we do.

"The Little Things brought Derian House to screens around the world, but there are still many stories to be told, and we're grateful that Paul wants to continue creating films about us."

She said supporting bereaved parents was a "vital part of the care" it provides and the short documentary will "showcase the courage, resilience, and even the humour that Derian House dads find in one another".

She added: "It sends a powerful message to the world that hospices continue to be here for families long after the loss of a child."

Listen to the best of BBC Radio Lancashire on Sounds and follow BBC Lancashire on Facebook, X and Instagram. You can also send story ideas via Whatsapp to 0808 100 2230.