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Making a referral for additional bereavement support services

At Child Bereavement UK we support grieving children and young people, and parents bereaved of a baby or child, to find hope and rebuild their lives. Support is available if you’re 25 or under, or if your baby or child has died or is expected to die before their 26th birthday.

Speak to a bereavement specialist instantly

Did you know you can speak with a bereavement specialist right away? When you contact us, you will speak with a trained bereavement specialist who can offer immediate, compassionate support and guidance. There is no need to book an appointment - you can access support as soon as you need it.

Start a conversation today:

Call 0800 02 888 40
Text or WhatsApp 07418 341 800 (You must be 13 or older to receive support via WhatsApp)
Email [email protected] or use our contact form
Use our live chat, just click the yellow 'Chat with us' button

There’s someone available to speak with between 8am and 8pm, Monday to Friday (excluding bank holidays).

Refer for additional support

If you need support in a language other than English, we can arrange interpreters over the phone. We can also use the Relay UK app for those with hearing or speech difficulties.

If you need urgent support in a crisis, please call 999.

If you feel you need further support, or you’re unsure what support is right for you, you can make an enquiry for additional services.

This may include:

Facilitated online groups connecting bereaved children, young people, or parents
Ongoing sessions with a bereavement specialist or counsellor

Not everyone will need this level of support, and it may not be appropriate for everyone. We tailor our support to each individual by understanding your needs and recommending the most suitable service.

To enquire, please complete the relevant referral form below. Try to answer all questions as fully as possible before submitting. Once received, a bereavement specialist will review your information and guide you towards the most appropriate support.

You will be contacted within 10 working days to discuss next steps.

Referrals for children and young people

We encourage children and young people to take an active role in seeking support where possible. This means:

Parents, carers and professionals can refer a child aged 12 or under
Young people aged 13 or over are encouraged to make their own referral, with support from a trusted adult if needed

We are unable to accept referrals without the consent of the person seeking support.

I am under 13 years old and referring myself

I am 13-15 years old and referring myself

I am 16-25 years old and referring myself

I am a parent, carer or professional referring a child under 13

Referrals for bereaved parents

I am a parent bereaved of a baby referring myself

I am a parent bereaved of a child and referring myself

Who do we support?

Child Bereavement UK supports:

Children and young people (up to age 25) who are bereaved or facing the death of someone important to them
Parents who are bereaved of, or facing the death of, a baby or child (up to age 25)

We also support those around them, including family members, friends and professionals, through our on-demand services and training programmes.

To access additional support, the following criteria must be met:

You (or the person you are supporting) live in the UK
You are registered with a UK GP
Bereaved children/young people are aged 25 or under
Parents are bereaved of a child aged 25 or under
The death occurred more than 8 weeks ago
You have access to the internet
You are finding it difficult to manage your grief
You do not meet any of the exclusion criteria (below)

When might we not be able to offer additional support?

Submitting a referral does not guarantee access to additional structured support. If we are unable to offer a service, we will always explain why.

You may not be able to access additional structured support if:

You are currently receiving (or waiting for) support from a mental health team, counsellor, therapist or psychology service
You are using drugs or alcohol without support from another agency
You require immediate crisis support
You are self-harming or experiencing suicidal thoughts without coping strategies in place
Someone else close to you is seriously ill and may die
You are not living in the UK or registered with a UK GP
There is an ongoing police investigation or court case
Your circumstances are currently unstable (e.g. housing or significant life changes)

Support is still available

Even if additional structured support is not appropriate, you can always access our on-demand services:

Call 0800 02 888 40
Text or WhatsApp 07418 341 800 (You must be 13 or older to receive support via WhatsApp)
Email [email protected]
Use our live chat, just click the yellow 'Chat with us' button

These services are available 8am-8pm, Monday to Friday (except bank holidays).

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Helpline

Confidential bereavement support, information and guidance for families and professionals. 8am to 8pm, Monday to Friday (excluding bank holidays).
Support for children and young people

We support children and young people (up to the age of 25) when someone important to them has died or is not expected to live.
Support for bereaved parents

We support parents when a baby or child has died or is expected to die before their 26th birthday.
Family bereavement support

We support families when someone close to them is dying or dies.
Parenting support

We support parents and carers who are looking after a grieving child or young person.
Support for professionals

We support professionals who work with bereaved children, young people, parents and families.
Supportive talks and webinars about grief

Our bereavement specialists run live talks, workshops and free webinars for children, young people, parents and families every month.

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Children and young people grieve just as much as adults but they can show it in different ways. Find out how you can help them and more about child grieving.
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Guidance on children's understanding of death at different ages and stages of development.
Explaining to a child that someone has died

Guidance on explaining to a child that someone has died.
Explaining death and dying to children

Guidance for teachers and parents on talking to children about death and dying,
Grieving for a child

No parent expects to face the death of their child. See our resource for support and guidance on grieving for a child.
When a grandparent dies

The death of a grandparent is often a child or young person’s first encounter with the death of someone important. Parents have a great deal to manage when their own parent or carer dies.
Child Bereavement UK training

Child Bereavement UK designs and delivers training for professionals in health and social care, education, the emergency services and the voluntary and corporate sectors, equipping them to provide the best possible care to bereaved families.
Contact us

Contact details for our Helpline, departments and services.
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