What we do

Child Bereavement UK helps families to rebuild their lives when a child grieves or when a child dies. 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, and parents and the wider family when a baby or child of any age dies or is dying. 

We provide training to 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.

Vision and Mission

Our vision is for all families to have the support they need to rebuild their lives, when a child grieves or when a child dies.

Our mission is to tackle the inequalities that exist in the availability, accessibility and quality of bereavement support and training across the UK and to build capacity within communities to manage the impact of child bereavement. 

Values

The work of Child Bereavement UK is underpinned and guided by our commitment to:

Integrity - We place the needs of bereaved families at the heart of everything we do. Our work is based on listening to and learning from the lived experience of the families and professionals with whom we work. We respect everyone’s experience. Confidentiality, discretion and consent are of the utmost importance in our work.

Inclusiveness - We are inclusive of and respectful to all our stakeholders, including colleagues, volunteers, supporters and beneficiaries, in our attitudes, behaviours and activities. We aim to use accessible language and to be open and unbiased. We welcome and respect everyone and advocate for equity, diversity and inclusion across all areas of our work.

Quality - We strive for the highest standards of excellence and professionalism in all aspects of our work. We continually assess, review and improve our systems, processes and impact.

Collaboration - We are committed to a culture of teamwork and collaboration. We work in partnership with other organisations to provide an incrementally improving picture of national child bereavement support.


Bereavement support

We offer free, confidential bereavement support by telephone, video or instant messenger, as well as face to face from a number of locations across the UK.

Support sessions - support for individuals, couples, children, young people and families 

Groups for families - facilitated groups for bereaved families where children aged 4-12 and their adult carers can meet others and explore their feelings through creative activities 

Groups for young people - facilitated groups for those between the ages of 11 and 25 to meet for social activities and to work on creative projects

Groups for parents - facilitated groups for bereaved parents and carers to meet in a supportive environment

 

We welcome families and individuals of any gender or gender reassignment, marital or civil partnership status, disability, race, religion, faith, belief, or sexual orientation.

We will endeavour to source interpreters / BSL interpreters where needed / possible.

Find out more about Child Bereavement UK's services across the UK. 

Helpline

We provide confidential support, information and guidance to individuals, families and professionals throughout the UK. Our support team is available to respond to calls, Live Chat or email from 9am - 5pm, Monday to Friday (except bank holidays).

We provide: 

  • A confidential listening service
  • Support, guidance and information
  • Details about the support Child Bereavement UK can offer
  • Signposting to other organisations that can also offer support 

Email: [email protected]
Telephone: 0800 02 888 40
Live Chat: via our website

Find out more about our Helpline

Support and training for professionals 

We provide a wide range of training, consultancy, supervision and reflective practice to help professionals better understand and meet the needs of bereaved children and families. We offer CPD-certified training delivered by skilled facilitators who are specialists in their field. Our training is based on learning from families and is underpinned by relevant theory and practice. We provide:

  • A programme of training courses/webinars
  • Bespoke training to meet your organisation’s needs
  • Consultancy and evaluation for statutory, voluntary and corporate sectors
  • Supervision and reflective practice for practitioners working with bereaved children and families

Support and training for schools/further education

We offer a number of resources for schools including:

  • A range of free, online resources for early years, primary, secondary and further/higher education, including Managing Bereavement: A guide for schools
  • Webinars for education professionals
  • Free-to-access online training modules: Supporting a bereaved pupil and Managing a sudden death in collaboration with London Grid for Learning
  • Elephant’s Tea Party: a bereavement awareness programme for primary and KS3 to help children develop emotional literacy and coping skills

Find out more about our Training.

Email: [email protected]

Please see our current programme of webinars. 

Website

 Our website hosts a breadth of information, information and short guidance films on a range of bereavement topics. It also includes:

  • A searchable database of support organisations
  • Information and resources for schools/further education
  • Guidance for young people
  • Details about our training and support for professionals, including webinars, conferences, bereavement in the workplace training, consultancy, supervision and reflective practice
  • Shop – offering a range of publications, books, leaflets and resources for families and professionals  
  • Ways to get involved with the charity such as volunteering, participating in research or fundraising events

childbereavementuk.org

Publications and resources

We provide books, films and workbooks for bereaved families, which have been developed with their input, and for professionals. Many of our resources have received British Medical Association recognition for educational merit.


Read the Trustees’ Annual Report on the Charity Commission website