How we can support you

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 offer free, confidential bereavement support for individuals, couples, children, young people, and families, by telephone, video or instant messenger, wherever you live in the UK. We also offer face-to-face support from a number of locations.

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.

The following support groups run at various times, by video and /or in person in some areas of the UK:

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

Please call our Helpline to find out more about the availability of our groups.

We can also offer face-to-face support if you are able to travel to one of the locations below:

Scotland [email protected] | 0800 02 888 40

Glasgow
Glasgow’s Royal Hospital for Children*

*Provides support to parents and families bereaved of a child or who have a child that is expected to die, across NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde (GG&C), and to families throughout Scotland who have input through the Royal Hospital for Children, Glasgow.: 01413704747 | [email protected]

North of England [email protected] | 0800 02 888 40

Carlisle, Cumbria
Workington, Cumbria
Kendal, Cumbria
St Helen’s, Merseyside
Wirral, Merseyside
Widnes, Cheshire
Greater Manchester
Bradford, Yorkshire
Leeds,* Yorkshire

*This is a funded service providing support for children and young people in Leeds: 01133 503 598 | [email protected] (For anyone else seeking support in Leeds, please call 0800 02 888 40)

South of England [email protected] | 0800 02 888 40

Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire
High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire
Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire

London [email protected] | 0800 02 888 40

Queen’s Park
Stratford

Get in touch via our Helpline on 0800 02 888 40 | [email protected] or Live Chat via this website and we can help you find the support that suits your needs.

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Telling a child that someone has died

It is important to tell a child of any age when someone important in their lives has died, and ideally this is done by someone who is closest to them.
Supporting bereaved children and young people

Children and young people grieve just as much as adults but they show it in different ways. Find out how you can help them and more about child grieving.
Grieving for a child of any age

The agony of losing a child of any age is unparalleled. There is no age or point in time that makes it any easier. No parent expects to face the death of their child and no grandparent expects to lose their grandchild.
When a grandparent dies - the impact on children and young people

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. There is the grief associated with their own loss, but also the reactions and responses of their children to the death of a grandparent.
Children's understanding of death at different ages

Babies and young children have no understanding of the concept of death yet, long before they are able to talk, babies are likely to react to upset and changes in their environment brought about by the absence of a significant person.
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.
When your baby dies

When a baby lives only a short time or dies before birth due to miscarriage, stillbirth or a painful decision to end the pregnancy, people may assume that the loss is not important. This is simply not the case.
Children's understanding of death at different ages

Guidance on children's understanding of death at different ages and stages of development.
UK death & bereavement statistics

A parent of children under 18 dies every 22 minutes in the UK; around 23,600 a year. This equates to around 111 children being bereaved of a parent every day.