Parenting bereaved children

Parents supported by Child Bereavement UK talk about some of the issues they faced when looking after bereaved children, whilst grieving themselves, and what helped them.

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London to Brighton Cycle

London - Brighton
Opinion: Why bereavement awareness needs to be on the business agenda

Jane Wood, CEO of Homes for Scotland and Scotland Advisor for Child Bereavement UK, writes about the importance of embedding bereavement awareness in businesses across the UK.
Petition launched calling for a register of bereaved children

A petition, backed by Winston's Wish, Child Bereavement UK and the Childhood Bereavement Network, is calling on government to create a register of bereaved children.

Support for families

This film features children and their families who have attended Child Bereavement UK's Family Support Group in East London.
When a baby is stillborn

"Once you start to talk about things it's like the burden is being lifted." Marina and Ben Fogle share their experience of when their son, Willem, was stillborn.
A guide to supporting someone who is bereaved

A guide to supporting someone who is bereaved includes families supported by Child Bereavement UK alongside bereaved celebrities.
When someone dies through suicide

Melissa and Katherine and their families were supported by Child Bereavement UK after being bereaved by suicide.
When a twin baby has died

"I can wear the identity of being a bereaved parent rather than hide it." Vicky and John share their experience of when their twin baby, Cecilia, was stillborn.
Why support is needed

Bereaved families we have supported talk about what helped them after the death of someone important in their life.
When a parent has died

Young people we have supported talk about some of the difficulties they faced and what helped them after the death of their mum or dad.
One More Minute campaign films

Hear what bereaved families would say if they had one more minute with their special person who has died.

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.

Short guidance films

Our short films are delivered by support practitioners and cover a range of topics on grief and bereavement, providing guidance on what can help. Read more

Books and resources

A list of books and resources relating to grief and bereavement and what may help. Read more

Others' experiences

Some bereaved families find it helpful to read about other peoples’ experiences and how the support they have received has helped them. Read more