Resources on Grief

The majority of links and resources mentioned below are taken from the brilliant book ‘The Grief Journey‘ by Care For The Family.

You can purchase the book directly from their website careforthefamily.org

AtaLoss provides the UK’s bereavement signposting service. Their website offers information and signposting to national, specialist and local bereavement services, including telephone helplines. Visit ataloss.org for comprehensive, up-to-date details of resources, information and organisations that can support you, many of which are free to access.

The following details and telephone numbers may be helpful if you would rather talk to someone.

Samaritans: phone 116 123 at any time, 24 hours a day.

Cruse National Bereavement helpline: 0808 808 1677.

National Bereavement Service: 0800 0246 121

SHOUT: Text: 85258
giveusashout.org

Halton Bereavement Cafe is hosted by Halton Libraries, Halton Cancer Support, and Halton Compassionate Communities Network. This informal peer led group is an opportunity for Halton’s bereaved adults to get together to chat and support each other. The groups are held in two venues:

St Marie’s, Lugsdale Road, Widnes, WA8 6DB.

Halton Lea Library, Shopping Centre, Second Av. Palacefields, Runcorn, WA7 2PF.

For dates and times please email [email protected] or phone 01928 592 405.

Halton Cancer Support

Tel: 0151 423 5730

Halton Carers Centre

Tel: 01928 580 182

Citizens Advice Halton

0151 257 2449

Child Bereavement UK

01928 577164

• Step-by-step guide to what to do after someone dies, including registering the death, arranging the funeral, help with funeral costs, dealing with the estate, and information on your benefits, pension and taxes.
  gov.uk/when-someone-dies

• Practical advice for the recently bereaved (including a PDF checklist): Search ataloss.org for recently bereaved’.

• Applying for probate: gov.uk/applying-for-probate

• Bereavement Service Helpline, for help and advice on bereavement benefits you may be entitled to, including a Funeral Expenses Payment claim.
  0800 731 0469.

• What does a funeral director do for you? Search nad.org.uk for ‘The role of a funeral director’.

• The Bereavement Journey consists of six sessions that use films and small group discussions to help guide you through your grief. Groups are run across the country and online. (thebereavementjourney.org)
• Cruse Bereavement Support (cruse.org.uk) have a telephone helpline (0808 808 1677), online chat service and local branches that provide group sessions and one-to-one support.
• Search the NHS website (nhs.uk) for ‘Grief after bereavement and loss’ or ‘CBT’.
• British Association for Counselling &t Psychotherapy (bacp.co.uk) has a directory of therapists.
• Counselling Directory (counselling-directory.org.uk)
  has a national directory of counsellors.

Specific age or gender support

• StrongMen (StrongMen.org.uk) offers peer-to-peer support and dedicated retreats for men who have been bereaved.
• Child Bereavement UK (childbereavementuk.org) helps children who are grieving and supports parents in talking to their children about bereavement. They offer a helpline, live chat via their website or email. 0800 02 888 40.
• Grief Encounter (griefencounter.org.uk) also helps children and young people who are bereaved, through a helpline, live chat or email. 0808 802 0111.
• Age UK (ageuk.org.uk) provides general support for older people through their helpline, including the bereaved and lonely. 0800 678 1602.

Loss of a partner/spouse

• Care for the Family (cff.org.uk) provides support events and befriending for those widowed young (up to the age of 50, or older with dependent children).

029 2081 0800.

• WAY (widowedandyoung.org.uk) provides peer-to-peer support to anyone who has lost a spouse or partner before their 51st birthday. 0300 201 0051.

• Way Up (way-up.co.uk) is an active online self-help group aimed at providing mutual support to those who have been widowed primarily (but not exclusively) in their 50s and 60s.

Bereaved parents and siblings 

• Care for the Family (cff.org.uk) provides support events and befriending for bereaved parents, and support events for bereaved siblings, both online and in person, as well as the Brothers & Sisters Life after Loss private Facebook group for those who have lost siblings to share with one another. 029 2081 0800.

• Surviving the Loss of your World (slowgroup.co.uk) offers supports for bereaved families (parents and siblings). 07532 423 674.

• The Compassionate Friends (tf.org.uk) provides support for bereaved parents and bereaved siblings.

0345 123 2304.

Suicide and sudden death

• Survivors of Bereavement by Suicide (uksobs.org) has several options on their website, or you can call their helpline: 0300 111 5065.

• Sudden (sudden.org) supports those who have lost a loved one suddenly. Helpline: 0800 2600 400.

• The Lucie Blackman Trust (Ibt.global) offers support to families whose loved one has died abroad.

Murder/manslaughter

• The Compassionate Friends (tef.org.uk) has specific information for families affected by murder.

0345 123 2304.

• The National Homicide Service offers support to families bereaved by murder/manslaughter.

0300 303 1984.

• Support after Murder and Manslaughter (samm.org.uk) supports those bereaved through murder or manslaughter. Helpline: 0121 472 2912.

• Government guidance on deaths abroad due to murder or manslaughter can be found on gov.uk – search ‘Death abroad through murder or manslaughter’ and ‘Coping with death abroad’.