Participate in research

Some families have found it helpful to share their stories to allow professionals to learn from their experiences, with the aim of improving the support that other bereaved families are offered. Child Bereavement UK promotes research studies which we feel are in support of the core aims of the charity, and have met rigorous ethical standards.

Current research studies

Understanding the impact of suicide bereavement

Researchers from UCL are inviting people who have a friend or relative who has died by suicide, to participate in a research study to understand more about the thoughts and images people experience after a suicide bereavement. Participation would involve a confidential, online interview, lasting no more than 90 minutes. Participants must be UK residents. The study has been approved by the UCL Research Ethics Committee 16587/001. If you would like to know more are interested in taking part please click here.

Did you lose your mother in childbirth?

The Department of Counselling Psychology at City, University of London is looking for adult volunteers to take part in a study on the experience of having lost your mother during childbirth. You would be asked to take part in a one off 1-2-1 interview that would ask about how you have made sense of losing your mother during childbirth.
More information HERE.

Parent involvement group to help improve stillbirth care through research

A research team in Bristol is looking for parents of stillborn babies (who died at least 6 months ago) to help identify the most important aspects of care that should be measured in studies. This will involve discussing what future research should look at and developing key messages for bereaved parents.
More information HERE.

Children’s Bereavement Care and Adaptive Meaning Making in Bereaved Parents

The focus of this research is the immediate bereavement care parents experienced at the time their child died. The research endeavours to increase understanding of the unique role of bereavement care in facilitating meaning-making for bereaved parents. It is part of a Professional Doctorate in Counselling and Psychotherapy Studies / Psychological Trauma that Lesley Dougan, a BACP Accredited Counsellor, is undertaking at the University of Chester. Participants: a parent of a child who died before their 18^th birthday and where the bereavement occurred over 12 months ago; additionally, those who accessed bereavement care when their child died.
More information HERE.

COCOON Study on maternity care since the Covid-19 pandemic

The Centre of Research Excellence in Stillbirth in Australia and King’s College London are leading on a study to understand how maternity care has changed since the outbreak of COVID-19. Part of the study seeks to understand psycho-social experiences of the COVID-19 outbreak on parents who have experienced stillbirth or neonatal death during this outbreak. The researchers wish to interview parents who have experienced a late-term miscarriage, a stillbirth, or a neonatal death since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic. If you would like to part in this study there is opportunity to leave your details should you want to share your experiences in an interview by taking part in an initial survey. https://www.stillbirthcre.org.au/our-research/global-research-study-maternity-care-during-covid-19

Parents' experiences of perinatal bereavement following pre-eclampsia

Manchester University is working with Action on Pre-Eclampsia to research the best way to support families who have experienced the death of a baby during or after pregnancy due to pre-eclampsia. If you have been bereaved in this way and would like to take part in this research, go to: https://apps.mhs.manchester.ac.uk/surveys//TakeSurvey.aspx?SurveyID=n4K06l72I

Latest

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Lake District
“One thing we never did was shut down any talk about her mum.”

Vivienne supported her granddaughter Shaneeka after her mother died.
Meet our Let’s Rock Volunteer - Steve

Steve volunteers regularly for Child Bereavement UK by helping out at Let’s Rock and Pennfest Festivals.
Director of Fundraising - maternity cover

We are seeking a Director of Fundraising (maternity cover) to ensure that our income keeps pace with the growing need for support for children, young people and families who are facing the devastation of bereavement.

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.
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.
Genevieve
Supporting a bereaved pupil

This comprehensive, free-to-access resource , Supporting a bereaved pupil has been developed by Child Bereavement UK in collaboration with the London Grid for Learning.
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.
What we offer

Child Bereavement UK provides a wide range of training, consultancy and support services to help professionals help bereaved children and families
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.
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.
Contact us

Contact one of the Child Bereavement UK centres or get in touch with one of our departments.
Sudden death - including accidents, suicide and homicide

Bereavement can be devastating in any situation, but a sudden death brings additional layers of shock, horror or disbelief. We can help, find out more here.