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A service for children and young people aged 3-18 and their close family. They offer help with the grieving process brought on by the death or terminal illness of someone close.

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The Children's Bereavement Centre is run by a committed team of friendly, supportive and professional people who are qualified to help with the grieving process brought on by the death or terminal illness diagnosis of someone close.

Our core services are all free & available to children and young people aged 3-18 & their close family members regardless of race, class, sexual orientation or disability.

What we offer:

One to One bereavement support, play therapy and counselling for children and young people (aged 3-18)

Pre-bereavement support for children, young people and their parents/carers affected by terminal illness

One to One bereavement counselling for adult family members

Filial Therapy and Bereaved Family Programmes to support families together

Face to face and telephone advice and support for children, families and professionals

Social Events and monthly Peer Support Groups

Children and Young Peoples Annual 2 day bereavement camp (aged 6-18)

Children's Group Activities and Workshops

Placement Provider for qualified counsellors and final year students

Training programmes for schools, professional organisations and volunteers

If you require any further information please call or email us.

Childrens Bereavement Centre, 3 Kings Road, Newark, Notts NG24 1EW
01636 551739
info@childrensbereavementcentre.co.uk

http://www.childrensbereavementcentre.co.uk

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The Crossing - The Children's Bereavement Centre

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The Children's Bereavement Centre is run by a committed team of friendly, supportive and professional people who are qualified to help with the grieving process brought on by the death or terminal illness diagnosis of someone close.

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Bassetlaw Bereavement Care: Bassetlaw Bereavement Care Offering support and an opportunity to talk through your feelings in confidence. Bereavement Support Groups also available. Telephone: 01909 502779 – 24 hours answer phone.

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support group; support organisations; bereavement; death; loss

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Nottshelpyourself | Bassetlaw Bereavement Care

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Offers support and practical assistance to the bereaved, both at Bassetlaw District General Hospital and one to one support in the community.

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The Grief Café is held at St Saviours Community Centre, Lidget Lane, Retford, DN22 6QW on the first Tuesday of every month 2-3pm. If you need any more info you can call Barbara on 07768159844.

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Many people have struggled over the last 18 months, but it has been particularly difficult for those who have lost a loved one. All the usual supports and comforts have not been available, and funerals have been very difficult to hold as we might like.If you feel you need some support or to take some […]

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The Aurora Centre in Worksop run a bereavement group on a Friday morning. This is a drop in group, however there is access to 1-1 support from a trained bereavement counsellor if required.

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Aurora is here to offer help and support to anyone who may be suffering a loss or bereavement. An informal support group is held each friday where a warm welcome and listening ear is provided by a team of experienced volunteers. It is also an opportunity to meet with others in a similar position

' It's my comfort blanket '

' I'd only been here for an hour and my mood was lifted '

' This is like a breath of fresh air, the group are very supportive and friendly '

This is a free support group and includes refreshments though a £2 donation is respectfully requested

No need to book - just come along! For those who prefer more individual support then 1:1 sessions are available.

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If you have experienced a bereavement, join our welcoming group at Aurora Bassetlaw and speak to other people with a similar experience.

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This helpline is run by trained bereavement volunteers who offer emotional support to anyone affected by grief.

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Grief can be overwhelming - you don’t have to deal with it alone. Cruse Bereavement Support is here. Call our helpline or chat online.

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Child Bereavement UK help children, young people, parents and families to rebuild their lives when a child grieves or a child dies.

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We help children, young people, parents, and families to rebuild their lives when a child grieves or when a child dies.

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Winton's Wish is a charity which supports grieving children and young people. They provide emotional and practical bereavement support to children and young people and those who care for them.

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Winston's Wish is the UK's childhood bereavement charity. We support children and their families after the death of someone important.

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Information about emotions, support and looking after yourself.

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Losing someone important to you is one of the hardest things to experience in life. If you're young, bereavement can be even more difficult. But support and advice are available to help you get through it.
Your teenage years can be a lot of fun, but they are also often an emotional time. If someone close to you dies, it can be incredibly hard. Your world may feel as though it has crashed down around you.

It can make you feel very alone, especially as a young person, because you might find that none of your friends have gone through anything similar and won't understand or know what to say.

Your emotions after a bereavement

Grieving is a natural part of recovering from a bereavement, and everyone's experience of grief is different. There are no rules about what we should feel, and for how long.

But many people find they feel a mixture of the following:

sadness

shock, particularly if the death was unexpected

relief, if the death followed a long period of illness

guilt and regret

despair and helplessness

depression

These feelings may be very intense, particularly in the early days and weeks. Time eventually helps these intense emotions subside, and there's no need to feel guilty about starting to feel better. It doesn't mean you're not respecting the person's memory or forgetting about them.

Your family may all react differently to a bereavement. You may find it difficult to see your parents or other adults grieving and not know what to say to them. You could try just letting them know you're there for them too while you get support yourself.

There are several things that can help you start to feel better. Looking after your health and talking to someone will help you get through this difficult time.

You can read more about how other young people cope with grief and loss on the YoungMinds website.

Finding support for bereavement

Talking about your grief is an important part of getting through a bereavement. Choosing who to talk to about your feelings is a very personal decision. Sometimes the most unlikely person can actually offer the most support.

If you've lost a family member, someone else in your family may also be good to open up to because they're likely to understand how you're feeling.

A close friend can be a good listener and a source of comfort and support, even if they haven't gone through this themselves.

There are lots of other sources of advice and support available, including:

websites and blogs - such as Hope Again, a website for young people going through a bereavement, where you can find information, read other people's experiences, and add your own; the Winston's Wish and Child Bereavement Charity websites also offer information and advice

helplines - such as the Cruse Bereavement young people's helpline on 0808 808 1677

your GP - especially if you're concerned you're not coping, might be depressed, have trouble eating or sleeping, are thinking about hurting yourself, or you're not starting to feel better after a few months: they may suggest you have counselling

a teacher or tutor - you may be distracted or find it hard to concentrate at school or college for a while, so talking to a teacher you feel comfortable with can help them understand what you're going through and take a bit of pressure off you; special circumstances, such as bereavement, can sometimes be taken into account if you're having trouble with coursework or exams

Looking after yourself during a bereavement

During a time of grief you may not feel like looking after yourself, but it's important to help you cope with the extreme emotions that come with bereavement.

Some of the following quite simple things can make a big difference, such as:

eating - you may lose your appetite, but try to keep eating as normally as possible: your body needs food, even if you don't want it; ideally, go for healthy, well-balanced meals

sleeping - it can be hard to sleep when you're very upset, but there are some things that can help: read 10 tips to beat insomnia for more information

socialising - seeing your friends and keeping up a normal social life may help take your mind off things and allow you to talk about how you're doing, if you want to; but don't feel guilty about not thinking about the person you've lost or having a good laugh with friends

exercising - regular exercise can make you feel good and help you sleep (but avoid doing vigorous exercise close to bedtime); it can also be a relief to focus on something physical when you're going through an emotional time

avoiding smoking, drinking and taking drugs - you may feel like smoking or drinking because you feel down, but your body has to work hard to deal with substances such as nicotine, alcohol or illegal drugs, especially when you're young, and they'll end up making you feel worse

Read more about grief after bereavement or loss.

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Losing someone important to you is one of the hardest things to experience in life. If you're young, bereavement can be even more difficult. But support and advice are available to help you get through it. Your teenage years can be a lot of fun, but they are also often an emotional time.

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Free and confidential bereavement support for individuals, couples, young people and families by telephone, video, messenger and face to face in a number of locations.

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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:

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]

Carlisle, 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)

Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire

High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire

Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire

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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charity bereavement child death grief loss baby stillbirth miscarriage suicide young people

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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.

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Support for children aged 5+ who have had a loved one diagnosed with a serious or life threatening illness.

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Where young people can go for help.

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Grief is how you react to losing someone or something in your life, it's not just about death. Experiencing a loss can be incredibly tough, no matter who or what it is, or your relationship to them. But it's not a mental health condition. It's something that most people will experience at some point in life.

I was so aware that the sympathy and questions all came from places of good intent, but I couldn't handle being the spokesperson of our family's emotions during such a difficult time.

Our Activists share their experiences of grief.

We all grieve differently

Grieving is a personal thing. You might feel a mix of emotions, or you might feel numb. There's no right or wrong way to do it. Whatever you're feeling is okay.

Everyone's journey with grief is different. That means you might feel the loss differently to the people around you. Your culture, beliefs and community can all shape how you cope. Sometimes you might feel a pressure to grieve a certain way, but know that whatever feels right to you is valid.

Taking care of yourself and grieving your own way is important. But also try to be mindful of how others are grieving, as their process might look different to yours. They might not be ready to talk about it, even if you are. Neither of you is doing anything wrong; you're just on different journeys.

Grief can hit you at any time. You might think it'll happen at a certain moment, like your first holiday without the person you've lost. But it can also catch you off guard. Sometimes you might not feel anything for a while, and then it hits you much later - you might hear this called 'delayed grief'.

Grief can bring up a bunch of emotions. Some people find it overwhelming. Others experience it as a physical pain. Some people find that they just feel numb.

There's no right way to feel when you experience a loss. Your reaction is valid, whatever it looks like. And if you don't feel much at all, that's fine too. It doesn't mean you're made of stone, or that you didn't care about the person you lost.

It's also common for your feelings to change with time. Try to feel your feelings without judging yourself. Grief is hard, so try to go easy on yourself.

When my best friend passed away, I barely remember the first few months after he died. I was weighed down by this cloud of absolute nothing. For me, that was one of the things I never knew about grief. It can be so many emotions - or it can be nothing at all.

Feelings of guilt and anger

When someone you care about dies or isn't in your life anymore, it's normal to feel guilty or like it's somehow your fault. But it's important to remember that you are not to blame at all.

Your emotions might shift and change, and that's normal. But feeling less pain or sadness over time doesn't mean you've stopped caring about the person you've lost. Finding happiness in the things you enjoy doesn't mean you've forgotten them or stopped loving them.

Feeling anger is a normal response to loss as well. Especially if you didn't get to say goodbye or had no control over how things were left. It's okay to feel angry, but it's important to understand that what you feel is valid.

Grieving takes time and being with the people you love can help you through it. You might suddenly feel sad when you're not expecting it or feel on edge about your health or other people's. This is just your body and mind are reacting to the loss, and that's okay.

You might never stop grieving, but opening up to your family and friends and figuring out what support you need can help you get on top of it.

Losing someone close to you can really shake up your life. If you're struggling to accept their death, finding it hard to handle everyday things or feeling stuck, reach out to someone you trust. Talk to a friend, a sibling, a teacher or someone you trust about how you're feeling. We all need help from time to time.

Stages of grief

Grief is personal but there are five common steps that people go through - the 'five stages of grief'. These can help you make sense of what's happened and what you're feeling. But they might not happen in order, or you might not go through them all. Sometimes, you might feel like you're moving backwards - that's completely normal. Take things at your own pace. Grief doesn't have a timeline.

It's normal to feel down and a bit hopeless when you lose someone. But if you find that these feelings don't go away, that you get physical symptoms, or you start thinking about hurting yourself, then it might be time to get help. A good first step is to see your GP. They can discuss things like counselling and medication.

It can be hard to reach out to your GP and talk about your mental health. But we have tips to help.

Sometimes, finding ways to express your grief can be helpful. Here are a few different ideas you could try if you're struggling to cope with what's happened:

Turning my pain into something creative helped me channel the anger and pain I was feeling.

Ffion

Knowing what to say to someone who's grieving can be tough. But just being there for them can mean a lot. Here are some other things you can do to support them.

Marie Curie has more tips and advice on how you can look after someone who's grieving.

Big celebrations, like birthdays or religious holidays can be tough when you've lost someone important. Being around people you care about can sometimes help, but these moments can also bring the grief to the surface.

During those times, it's important to take care of yourself. If things start to feel too much, try to step away and give yourself some space. It's normal to miss the person you've lost and feel triggered by what's going on. And remember, the people around you might also be grieving. Try to share what you need and understand their needs - it can help everyone to cope better.

Having a plan for if you start to feel overwhelmed can be helpful. You could tell someone you trust about how you're feeling so they can check in with you. Knowing where you might be able to have some quiet time to regroup can help you to stay grounded as well.

If you're grieving a death, these events can be times when you remember the person you've lost. Here are some ideas for how you can celebrate their memory:

During the Christmas holidays there is often an unspoken pressure on everyone to come across as cheerful. Please know that you do not have to pretend that you're okay just for the comfort of others.

It's okay to not be with people the whole of the Christmas period and just a small amount of time to recharge can be very beneficial.

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Dealing with grief and loss | Mental health advice

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It can be really hard and painful to lose someone you know. Find out how to deal with grief and loss, and what help is available for bereavement.

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Helping bereaved children, young people and their families find hope and healing after the death of someone close.

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A world where no child is left to grieve alone

We care passionately about helping bereaved children, young people and their families find hope and healing after the death of someone close.

Crises in the news

If you have been affected by the recent devastating events in the news, please read our useful guides or don't hesitate to reach out and call our helpline on 0808 802 0111 from 9am - 9pm weekdays.

This year, our theme is 'The Shape of Your Support'. We are focusing on the people around a bereaved child or young person, beyond their friends or family, that can be there to support them through their grief. At Grief Encounter, we help build compassionate communities that can provide the right support from the right people, at the right time. Find out more about how this special week supports bereaved children.

We use some necessary cookies which are essential for certain basic functionalities on our website. We would also like to set Google analytics cookies to help us improve our website by collecting and reporting information on how you use it. These cookies collect information in a way that does not directly identify anyone. For more information please see our Cookies Policy.

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Home SUPPORTING BEREAVED CHILDREN & YOUNG PEOPLE

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One child in every UK classroom will experience the death of someone close by the time they reach 16 years old. Grief Encounter is here to help with the confusion, fear, loneliness and pain, providing a lifeline to children and young people to cope with free, immediate, one-to-one support.

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Rainbow offers support to children, young people and adults grieving a significant loss.

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RAINBOWS BEREAVEMENT SUPPORT GREAT BRITAIN is a well respected national charity having a proven, positive impact on the lives of children, young people and adults grieving a significant and often devastating loss in their lives.

Our vision is quite simply for every child and young person in every school in Great Britain, grieving a significant and often devastating loss in their lives, to be understood and supported appropriately.
The principal objectives and activities of Rainbows Bereavement Support Great Britain:

Raising awareness of the impact of bereavement and loss on children, young people and adults

Facilitating high quality education and training in bereavement and loss

Providing practical, realistic and sensitive guidance to ensure all schools have appropriate bereavement policies and procedures in place

Nurturing and developing the emotional health and mental well-being of children, young people and adults who have experienced a significant loss through death, relationship breakdown or other adverse circumstance

The PDF file below gives further details on our Objectives and the relevance of Rainbows Bereavement Support GB (Use the side bar to scroll through the document) it can be downloaded by clicking on the "Download" button.

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The work of Rainbows is tried, tested, researched, monitored and evaluated. We know the impact of our work is long-lasting and has a tangible impact on people's lives.

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About Us. - Rainbows Bereavement Support GB

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RAINBOWS BEREAVEMENT SUPPORT GREAT BRITAIN is a well respected national charity having a proven, positive impact on the lives of children, young people and adults grieving a significant and often devastating loss in their lives. Our vision is quite simply for [...]

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Support and guidance for young people and their families.

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We help children, young people, parents, and families to rebuild their lives when a child grieves or when a child dies.

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Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services

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Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust

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Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust

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Find out how to get help if you are worried about your thoughts or feelings

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A free and anonymous place to find online support and counselling.

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Kooth is your online mental wellbeing community. Access free, safe and anonymous

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Free, confidential mental health support and counselling for young people aged 11-25.

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Some people feel better when they begin counselling or mental health support, this may be because they are being listened to for the first time or because they have been struggling for a while. Other people may feel more anxious or distressed when they start because they are talking about difficult feelings that, in some way, they would prefer to ignore. In this situation, they may feel worse before they start to feel better. It is important that you feel ready to talk and it is always best to share with your counsellor or mental health worker any concerns you have about how you are reacting to the support you are receiving.

You, or someone on your behalf, will need to contact us to make a referral. Once you have done this you will be offered an initial assessment appointment within four weeks. If you are unsure which of our services is right for you, we can discuss this during your assessment and make sure you receive the right support. The assessment is an opportunity for you to meet with a counsellor or mental health and well-being worker to highlight the issues you wish to talk about. After the assessment you will be placed on our waiting list - full details of the waiting times will be provided at your assessment and will depend on where and when you can attend. When you reach the top of our waiting list you will be offered one-to-one sessions; this means that just you and your counsellor or mental health and well-being worker will be in the room. This encourages you to talk openly without feeling influenced or pressured by anyone who might attend with you. The sessions will take place once a week for a period of six weeks and each session lasts for fifty minutes. Your sessions can be extended by an additional six weeks if both you and your counsellor or mental health and well-being worker agree they are needed. Appointments take place at various locations across Bassetlaw, however we do not offer sessions within the home.

All of our staff are trained and experienced in mental health and will always respect your right to make your own decisions. Our counsellors work in accordance with the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) Ethical Framework for the Counselling Professions.

Abbey Street Community Centre, Abbey Street,

Worksop, Nottinghamshire. S80 2LA

01909 530943 - 07368 323945

info@talkzone.org.uk - www.talkzone.org.uk

Equality Statement We are committed to treating all people equally and with respect regardless of their sexual orientation, gender identity, expression, ethnicity, religion or ability. We provide appointments in fully accessible venues across Bassetlaw. We are an LGBT+ inclusive service and have LGBT+ specialist staff. If an LGBT+ specialist is required please make this clear within the referral.

UK Data Protection Laws requires our organisation to manage all personal information in accordance with the General Data Protection Regulations. In particular, we are required to process your personal information fairly, lawfully and in a transparent manner. This means that you are entitled to know how we intend to use any information you provide. You can then decide whether you want to give it to us in order for us to provide the service or services that you require. In accordance with GDPR all of the information we request and collect is for the legitimate purpose of accessing our services. All contact information will be used to contact you with details of service and or services that you have requested. Your personal details will not be retained for any other purpose, nor will they be shared with any other organisation, without your consent. All of our staff are responsible for maintaining your confidentiality. As an organisation we provide training to all members of staff and ensure that they are aware of their obligations. In addition to this our policies and procedures are regularly audited and reviewed.

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Talkzone - Mental Health Service for young people in Bassetlaw

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Mental Health and well-being services and counselling for young people in Bassetlaw, Worksop, Retford, Bircotes, Tuxford

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Supporting people bereaved and seriously injured by road crashes.

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Why we're here

We're here to support people bereaved and seriously injured by road crashes.

We're here to help people be community champions for safe and healthy mobility.

We're here to campaign for safe streets and the rights of road victims.

We want a world where everyone is free to move in a safe and healthy way, every day. We work to stop road deaths and injuries, support people affected by road crashes and campaign for safe and healthy mobility for all.

Support us

The National Road Victim Service

0808 8000 401

Brake's free support service if you are bereaved, seriously injured, or helping a road crash victim.
Meet your named caseworker. Call 0808 8000 401 or email help@brake.org.uk

Helping you, if bereaved, injured, or someone you love has been injured

Read more

For victims of road crashes and their families

Read more

Read about the service standards that the National Road Victim Service aims to meet

Read more

What we're doing

Learn about, and get involved with, our work in communities, in schools, and with organisations to raise awareness and make a positive change for safe and healthy mobility.

Support our national campaigns for road safety and the rights of crash victims.

This website uses cookies: Learn more Okay, thank you

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The road safety charity. Care for victims, safe and healthy journeys.

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A video about bereavement from Young Minds

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A video about bereavement from Young Minds

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A video to help young people who have experienced grief.

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NottAlone's page on Bereavement and Loss

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NottAlone's page on Bereavement and Loss

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Help, advice and signposting for young people who have experienced bereavement/loss.

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Has someone you care about died or are they seriously ill?

When someone you care about dies or is seriously ill, it is very difficult. There's no right or wrong way to feel, but it's natural to have strong reactions. If an animal you love dies, this can be very upsetting too. People can feel scared, confused, numb, or out of control. You might even feel like you'll never feel OK again. These feelings will change over time- it's really tough, but certain things can help you cope.

If you're grieving, this is for you

Watch this video from Young Minds, and visit their website for more.

How can I deal with this?

Try to talk to your family and other adults in your life, even if this feels hard or even impossible.

Do something practical like creating a memory box with photos and objects that reminds you of the person who has died.

When someone has died, think about having your own memorial. This doesn't have to be a funeral, here are some ideas e.g. writing letters, poems and songs, drawing pictures, lighting a candle, planting a tree.

Try to stay active, spend time with friends and keep to your normal routine as much as possible.

Who can I talk to?

Try to talk to someone you trust. Even if they're grieving too, it could help them to share their feelings. Your school or college/university should also offer support - talk to a member of staff who you trust. If you would prefer to talk to someone you don't know, check out the 'Get Help' links further down the page.

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When someone you care about dies or is seriously ill, it is very difficult. There's no right or wrong way to feel, but it's natural to have strong reactions. If an animal you love dies, this can be very upsetting too. People can feel scared, confused, numb, or out of control.

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Facts about bereavement and grief and ways to manage grief.

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Bereavement & Loss | Feelings | Health for Teens

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Losing someone you love is very hard, so these posts will help you manage the sadness that you feel and help you come out of the other side of this difficult period.

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Information, advice and help to find support.

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Ryan’s story: How I started talking about my grief

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Dealing with grief and loss | Mental health advice

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It can be really hard and painful to lose someone you know. Find out how to deal with grief and loss, and what help is available for bereavement.

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There are links on here to the loss of pets.

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Video: How grief and loss can feel like a ball in a box.

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Video: How grief and loss can feel like a ball in a box.

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A video in which 3 powerful analogies are used to help understand grief and the way it can change over time.

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How Grief and Loss Can Feel Like a Ball in a Box

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A 10 minute video where young people share different emotions felt and how they manage their grief.

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Hope Again- Young people living life after loss

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This link contains guidance, documents and resources for adults supporting children and young people who have experienced loss and bereavement, inclusing guidance on managing a critical incident and/or death of a pupil developed by Notts Educational Psychology Team.

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Loss and Bereavement | The East Midlands Education Support Service

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Guidance documents and resources for adults supporting children and young people who have experienced loss and bereavement

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Child Bereavement Uk - Developing a policy

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Child Bereavement Uk - Developing a policy

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Framework for structuring a bereavement policy and templates for parent/carers following the death of a pupil and a member of staff.

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A school or nursery with a bereavement policy is prepared and has plans in place to deal with death, grief and bereavement. This applies to supporting a bereaved pupil or member of staff as well as reacting to a critical incident or tragedy, such as the death of someone within the school community.

Every setting is different, so it is important that the bereavement policy is appropriate for the size, structure and organisation of your nursery or school, as well as reflecting the organisation's culture and ethos.

The following downloads give a suggested framework for structuring a bereavement policy or charter, as well as some template letters to parents and carers.

Developing a bereavement charter or policy

Template letter to parents and carers

Template letter to parents and carers - the death of a pupil

Template letter to parents and carers - the death of a member of staff

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Developing a bereavement policy or charter

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A school with a bereavement policy is prepared and has plans in place to deal with death, grief and bereavement.

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Bereavement resources and guides for school, including a policy template.

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We send a monthly e-newsletter along with occasional updates on our news, fundraising, training, events, merchandise and volunteering - please opt in below to receive these updates. If you don't opt in, we will only contact you with information specifically relating to these resources.

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Managing Bereavement: A guide for schools.

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Resources for professionals

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We help children, young people, parents, and families to rebuild their lives when a child grieves or when a child dies.

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This course is for Professionals who interact with colleagues dealing with loss in the workplace. This course is ideal for anyone seeking to deepen their comprehension of workplace grief and acquire the skills needed to assist their colleagues and peers experiencing grief. There will be a financial contribution required for this training.

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We're excited to announce the launch of Grief First Aid, training that will empower your workforce with the tools, techniques and knowledge to provide thoughtful, and timely support.

The Benefits of Grief First Aid for the Workplace

Upon completion of our carefully structured 3-module course, you will:

Gain the skills to talk with your bereaved colleagues and peers, with confidence and compassion. Ensuring those experiencing loss feel heard, respected, and supported.

Understand how to assist colleagues returning to work following a bereavement, making their transition smoother and more supportive, reducing the potential negative impact it can have on them and your business.

Understand the value of a workplace bereavement policy, how to implement it and its profound impact on your business and colleagues' wellbeing and productivity.

Get equipped to set up peer support networks within your organisation to facilitate group support for your colleagues.

Promote a positive and compassionate grief support system within your workplace.

Free 1 year access of the Grief Support App Untangle for trained Grief First Aiders

As an attendee you will also receive a year's free access to Untangle renowned Grief First Aid Trainers support app. This resource-rich platform offers immediate counsellor contact, grief-specific toolkits, and interactive self-care workshops, providing crucial support at your fingertips.

WHO SHOULD ATTEND

Professional who interact with colleagues dealing with loss in the workplace. This course is ideal for anyone seeking to deepen their comprehension of workplace grief and acquire the skills needed to assist their colleagues and peers experiencing grief.

KEY FACTS

Course length: 3 modules, each 4 hours long

Virtual delivery: mic & webcam recommended for delegates.

Max delegates: 15

Cost: £325 (+VAT) for individuals or £2,500 (+VAT) for team training (Max 15 participants)

Course materials: PDF of slides and a certificate of completion

Training Groups: Join others on our online sessions or arrange team training specific to your organisation, tailored to meet your needs.

ABOUT THE COURSE

The course consists of three, 4-hour modules:

1. Understanding Bereavement and Your Role as a Grief First Aid Specialist - Grasp the complexities of grief and define your role in addressing it.

2. Supporting Your Organisation - Learn the importance of bereavement policies and how to implement peer support networks.

3. Skills Practice - Develop practical skills for communicating with bereaved people, facilitating conversations about grief, and practising these skills in supportive environments.

COURSE FORMAT

The course comprises three modules, each 4 hours long. We facilitate online sessions, accommodating a maximum of 15 participants per group. The training is interactive, providing space for participants to ask questions and explore the topic in the context of their roles.

WHAT OTHERS ARE SAYING ABOUT TRAINING WITH US
"I've attended a lot of sessions over the years that are designed to help you in your role but can honestly say this was one of the most relatable sessions I've been on." Claire, Operations Manager Rothesay

About Cruse

We help people through one of the most painful times in life - with bereavement support, information and campaigning.

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NEW: Grief First Aid Training - Cruse Bereavement Support

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grief first aider, grief first aid, grief first aid training, train to be a grief first aider, bereavement, workplace, training

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An introduction to childhood bereavement and grief. To increase understanding of the emotional impact of bereavement and loss.

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Aim:For anyone who comes into contact with children or young people in a school or other organisation. You will increase your understanding of the emotional impact of bereavement and loss on children and young people and develop simple skills to support them in their grief.
Via zoom/teams or onsite at your school/organisation

To book this training, please email Kate. If you require further information, please contact Kate on 01636 551739
Training session 2: Working creatively with bereaved children to support difficult emotions

Aim:For anyone who is directly supporting children and/or young people i.e. Mental Health Lead, SENCO.You will increase your knowledge and learn practical skills to increase your confidence and different ways to work with bereaved children and/or young people. Dates & Times:

Wednesday 18th September Castle House, Great North Road, Newark. Nottinghamshire. NG24 1BY. 10am-1pm

To book this training, please complete this form and return to Kate. If you require further information, please contact Kate on 01636 551739 or email Kate.

"Thank you for delivering such a powerful training session. It was inspiring."
Training session 3: Understanding Childhood Bereavement and Grief Aim:For anyone who is already working with or would like to work with children or young people to deepen an understanding of the emotional impact of bereavement and provide practical tools to improve skills to better support children or young people affected by bereavement and loss.
Please return completed booking forms to Kate Baxter. If you require further information, please contact Kate on 01636 551739 or email Kate.

"Felt that trainer is very knowledgeable but also open to sharing own experiences to help."

Training session 4: Communication Through Play Aim:For anyone who is seeking to improve their practical skills to better support children or young people affected by bereavement and loss.You will increase your understanding of how special play sessions can help children who have had difficult life experiences which are impacting on their learning and behaviour.

Friday 7th June 2024 at Church of Promise, Winthorpe Road, Newark, NG24 2AA. Please book here.

Please return completed booking forms to Kate Baxter. If you require further information, please contact Kate on 01636 551739 or email Kate.

Download more information about each training session here.

All training is available to those who work with children, anywhere in England, as long as you can attend the Nottinghamshire venues on advertised dates.

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We offer a number of training sessions for professionals, who want to build on their knowledge and skills to support children and young people affected by the death or terminal illness of someone important to them.

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Interactive training sessions and webinars - various options of training available.

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charity bereavement child death grief loss baby stillbirth miscarriage suicide young people

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All our training is delivered online by experienced facilitators. Online interactive training sessions are limited to 25 people to allow for discussion; these last for 3 hours. Our webinars are for much larger groups and last from 60 to 90 minutes; they have a Q&A function but are not interactive.

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Rainbows will contact your organisation to discuss training needs.

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Thank you! You have taken the first step already!

A local Rainbows Trainer will contact you to provide further information and will visit you to discuss your training needs in bereavement and loss. They will be delighted to support you in reviewing or developing your own bereavement policy and procedures and encouraging you in introducing the Rainbows programmes to grieving children and young people.

Following your discussion and based on your school's needs, the local Rainbows Trainer will explain the Rainbows Programmes and the training process, present the Rainbows resources and answer any questions you may have.

Dates can be set for staff training and resources can be ordered.

Possible Funding support may be available from these organisations :

Gov.UK Covid Support ( Link)

Facilitator training, can be delivered in one day at your site or the equivalent hours in two or three sessions (morning, afternoon or evening), depending on your requirements.

Rainbows Co-ordinator/s will receive additional training to assist in implementing the programme.

The local Rainbows Trainer will be available to offer on-going support, advice and affirm staff with the implementation of the Rainbows Programme and issues related to bereavement and loss.

Below is a video interview with one of Rainbows Co-ordinators.

THE RAINBOWS PROGRAMMES

Rainbows Bereavement Support GB currently offers four programmes:

SunBeams: Foundation Stages and lower Key Stage One

Rainbows: Year 2 and Key Stage Two

Spectrum: Key Stage Three, Four and Five

SunRise : For Children and Adults with additional learning needs

COORDINATORS ON-LINE FORUM
A dedicated RainbowsGB forum is available to all Coordinators at the following link.

=============================================================================== See Below to download a copy of the SALES ORDER FORM. ===============================================================================
CONFIDENTIALITY

Confidentiality will be kept at all times unless a child or young person is at risk. Rainbows groups strictly adhere to the school's safeguarding policies and procedures.

THE IMPACT OF RAINBOWS PROGRAMMES

Emotional Development

75% of young people agreed that the Rainbows programme helped them to feel calmer in themselves.

"Rainbows helped with my anger and not to bottle up things and that it is okay to talk about things." (Charlotte, Year 9)

Self-esteem

79% of young people agreed that they felt more confident and less worried about their problems.

"Rainbows helped me get my confidence back." (Chelsea, Year 10)

Relationships

71% of young people felt that they got on better with their family as a result of Rainbows.

"Rainbows helped me let out my feelings instead of bottling them up and taking it out on my mum." (Josh, Year 6)

100% of young people agreed that they trust the adults who run the groups.

"It's a time I can say everything to someone I trust." (Mollie. Year 9)

Inclusion

95% of children agreed that the Rainbows group gave them a safe place to talk about their feelings.

"I had issues in and out of school. Knowing people were there within school helped me to deal with my problems properly in my head." (Rachel, Year 11)

"I love being at Sunbeams." (Alfie, Foundation 2)

77% of young people agreed that participation at Rainbows helped them to enjoy being at school.

"I have made friends now because of Rainbows." (Shane, Year 6)

(Research findings from 'An evaluation of the direct impact of the Rainbows Programmes in supporting children and young people within South Yorkshire' 2011)

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Schools and Professionals. - Rainbows Bereavement Support GB

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HOW TO PROVIDE TRAINING IN BEREAVEMENT AND LOSS AND THE RAINBOWS PROGRAMMES Thank you! You have taken the first step already! A local Rainbows Trainer will contact you to provide further information and will visit you to discuss your training [...]

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Winston's Wish: Rapid Response Bereavement Training

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Winston's Wish: Rapid Response Bereavement Training

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Bereavement support and training for schools immediately following a death in the school community.

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Bereavement training and support for schools needing urgent help

Have you experienced a death in your school community? It can be difficult to know how to immediately respond, what to say and how to support your students and colleagues while they are grieving. Whether it's the tragic death of a pupil, teacher or important figure within your school, Winston's Wish is here to help.

We have over 30 years of experience supporting grieving children and young people and can offer your school support, guidance and training. Our Rapid Response training package is designed to help school staff in those days and weeks following a bereavement. It compliments our other resources and support services. You can access our free online resources via our Support for Schools hub, see additional information further down this page.

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Our support and bereavement training package for schools needing help immediately after a death in the school community.

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Recommended books for Primary aged children:

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Recommended books for Primary aged children:

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We will add further recommendations over time and would be delighted to review any books you may like to recommend for inclusion, please contact our National Director Sharon Melia-Craven: sharon.rainbowsgb@btconnect.com .

If you would like to purchase any of the books previewed below then just enter the Title in your preferred "Search Engine" for buying options.

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Rain Before Rainbows
by Smriti Halls (Author), David Litchfield (Illustrator)

In the midst of rain, rainbows can be hard to see. But with courage and the help of good friends, there is always a way out of darkness.

A girl and her companion fox travel together from a place of loss and despair, through uncertain times, towards the hope of colour, light and life. Along the way, they find friends to guide and support them. Together, they build a glorious future and discover there is a way out of the darkness, into the light of the rainbow. A book with immense hope at its heart, this is a positive message for anyone who's ever gone through a tough time.

3 to 9 years.

Smriti Halls

Smriti Prasadam-Halls is an award-winning, internationally bestselling British author whose books for children include I LOVE YOU NIGHT AND DAY (Publisher's Weekly #1 bestseller, Wall Street Journal bestseller), THE WAYS OF THE WOLF (English Association Non-Fiction Winner) and DON'T CALL ME SWEET (Booktrust Treasure Pack).

Smriti worked for the BBC and across children's publishing and television for twelve years, as a writer and commissioning editor. She began writing books of her own in 2012 and is now published in more than 30 languages worldwide. Smriti lives and works in London with her husband and three sons.

"I'd love to see Rain Before Rainbows included on your RainbowsGB Website"
Smriti Halls

Text © 2020 Smriti Prasadam-Halls - Illustrations © 2020 David Litchfield

From RAIN BEFORE RAINBOWS Written by Smriti Halls & Illustrated by David Litchfield

Reproduced by permission of Walker Books Ltd, London, SE11 5HJ www.walker.co.uk

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Michael Rosen's Sad Book
by Michael Rosen (Author), Quentin Blake (Illustrator)

Very occasionally the term non-fiction has to stretch itself to accommodate a book that fits into no category at all. Michael Rosen's Sad Book is such a book. It chronicles Michael's grief at the death of his son Eddie from meningitis at the age of 19. A moving combination of sincerity and simplicity, it acknowledges that sadness is not always avoidable or reasonable and perfects the art of making complicated feelings plain. It wasn't made like any other book either; Michael Rosen said of the text, " I wrote it at a moment of extreme feeling and it went straight down onto the page ... Quentin didn't illustrate it, he 'realized' it. He turned the text into a book and as a result showed me back to myself. No writer could ask and get more than that." And Quentin Blake says that the picture of Michael "being sad but trying to look happy" is the most difficult drawing he's ever done... "a moving experience."

6 - 19 years

About Michael Rosen

Michael Rosen, an English poet, scriptwriter, broadcaster, and performer, has been writing for children since 1970. He lives in London with his wife and five children.

Text © 2004 Michael Rosen - Illustrations © 2004 Quentin Blake

From MICHAEL ROSEN'S SAD BOOK Written by Michael Rosen & Illustrated by Quentin Blake

Reproduced by permission of Walker Books Ltd, London, SE11 5HJ www.walker.co.uk

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The Grief Jar Written & illustrated by Lynsey Shaw

The Grief Jar is a heart warming book for children about a little bear's journey with grief - of human nature and the kindness of friends.

The story begins with Bear sitting in a room alone with a big heavy jar filled with feelings that he can't move by himself. His friends want him to come out and play but they can see that he's sad and don't know what to do. Each animal friend comes in to see if they can help, and one by one ask him about his Daddy. As Bear shares stories about his Daddy, he begins to feel he may be able to lift the jar if he can get a little help from his friends. They begin to assist him in carrying his jar, coming up with practical ways to make it easier to carry whilst sharing memories of his Daddy.
3-8 Years
Publisher : Bear & Goose Designs https://www.bearandgoosedesigns.co.uk/
"The Grief Jar is beautifully illustrated with loveable characters. This will be an invaluable resource for us and for anyone who wants to engage with children about their grief." "The Grief Jar is a delightful book that demonstrates how, with the help of friends, and sharing memories children can begin to manage their feelings, and not feel so overwhelmed by their grief. The delightful illustrations and gentle story are uplifting and will be so beneficial for many bereaved families to read together. We will definitely be adding it to our resources list!" Julie Parker, CEO, Penhaligon's Friends, Cornwall Balloons Charity, Exeter

"The Grief Jar is a moving tale about the warmth of human nature and the kindness of friends. A sensitively told story about the feelings of loss, beautifully illustrated and appealing to both children and adults. I will be recommending it."
Eleanor Clarke, National Co-Director, Rainbows Bereavement Support GB

Lynsey Shaw is an Author, Illustrator and Graphic Designer from Devon, UK
The Hare-Shaped Hole
Lynsey lost her father in June 2020 during the height of the pandemic and felt compelled to create children's book The Grief Jar to break down some of the barriers with regards to conversations on grief and loss.

The Hare-Shaped Hole is a beautiful, touching, and poignant picture book which gently explores themes of grief and loss.
The Grief Jar is her first children's picture book as Author/Illustrator having illustrated three previous children's books for other authors. These include Counting all the Sheep, Ned King of the Skies & Ned's Grand Quest.

Lynsey lives in Plymouth with her husband and young daughter and enjoys hiding her daughter's much beloved soft toy "Ridgy" (a unicorn) within the pages of every book she illustrates.

Her other work is in surface pattern design for children's clothes and more examples of her work can be seen at: www.bearandgoosedesigns.co.uk, on Instagram @bearandgoosedesigns and Facebook @bearandgoose

Grief and loss are subjects that tend to be avoided in society, and the aim of The Grief Jar is to normalise the conversation and to break down the barriers of communication particularly in children and to emphasise that talking through our feelings should be encouraged. Rainbows GB was the first charity to enthusiastically support the creation of The Grief Jar, helping to raise awareness of the crowdfunder that facilitated its eventual printing and publishing. I'm proud to be recommended by them and for these books to go out to the families that need it.

Lynsey.

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Written by John Dougherty & illustrated by Thomas Docherty
John Dougherty
Hertle and Bertle were always a pair, though one was a turtle and one was a hare. They were utterly buddies, and best friends forever and whenever you looked, you would find them together... until quite unexpectedly... the end came.

When Hertle disappears for good, Bertle can only see a Hertle-shaped hole where his friend should be. He pleads with it, get angry with it, but the hole still won't bring his Hertle back. It seems like hope is lost... until Gerda the kindly bear finds him. She explains that he must fill the hole with his memories of Hertle. And slowly... Bertle begins to feel a little bit better.
Powerful and moving text from children's author and poet John Dougherty is paired perfectly with warm illustrations from the wonderfully talented Thomas Docherty in a thoughtful and sensitive approach to this difficult topic.
The Rabbit Listened Written and Illustrated By Cori Doerrfeld

This moving picture book can be used as part of a gentle conversation about death and grief with children.

Publisher : Frances Lincoln Children's Books (for ages 3-5 Years)

John Dougherty was born in Larne, Northern Ireland, and grew up to become a teacher (the nice sort) before turning to writing stories and poetry for children. He now lives in England with his two children.
With its spare, poignant text and irresistibly sweet illustrations, this book is about how to comfort and heal the people in your life, by taking the time to carefully, lovingly, gently just listen.
(Penguin Random House) 40 pages, colour illustrations, for ages 3-5 years old

John's also a singer, a songwriter, a published poet, and a seasoned schools and festival performer with all the skills necessary to have a crowd of kids helpless with laughter one minute, and ready to leave the hall quietly and sensibly the next. He's visited schools and festivals from Swindon to Sydney, from Milan to Mumbai, and his appearance before a crowd of 1700 children and teachers at the 2017 Hay Festival was live-streamed to 900 primary school
You'll Find Me By Amanda Rawson Hill
Thomas Docherty is an author and illustrator of children's books based in Swansea. His first book, The Little Boat, was shortlisted for the prestigious Kate Greenaway Medal, and his books have been translated into over 25 languages.

Loss is a universal experience, and one of The Hare-Shaped Hole's central messages is that while grief is unavoidable, it is survivable. I'm very thankful for the work of organisations like RainbowsGB who - like Gerda, the wise bear in the story - help children to deal with bereavement in all its forms, and very grateful that they've chosen to recommend The Hare-Shaped Hole as a story that might, in turn, help in the vital work they do. -

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The Rabbit Listened :

When something sad happens, Taylor doesn't know where to turn. All the animals are sure they have the answer. The chicken wants to talk it out, but Taylor doesn't feel like chatting. The bear thinks Taylor should get angry, but that's not quite right either. One by one, the animals try to tell Taylor how to act, and one by one they fail to offer comfort. Then the rabbit arrives. All the rabbit does is listen . . . which is just what Taylor needs

Publisher: Scallywag Press

" There is a big piece of my heart and soul in every book I work on, so I support them all equally. I do, however, acknowledge that sometimes a book, like The Rabbit Listened, hits just the right note at the right time. I have been so humbled and honoured by how that book has been received and am very happy for "The Rabbit Listened" to be included on the Rainbows GB recommended books page. "

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I llustrator Joanne Lew- Vriethoff

Absence becomes remembrance in this soothing book that offers tender ways to pay tribute throughout daily life to a loved one who is not around. Be it friends, family, pets, or others, memories can carry us beyond the precious moments we have together to keep the ones we love in mind always. Lo ss becomes remembrance in this book that offers tender ways to pay tribute to, and meaningfully incorporate, a loved one's lost presence into present and future life experiences. Be it departed friends, family, pets, and more, memories can carry us beyond the precious moments we have together to keep the ones we loved before in mind forever.
The Gift of Gerbert's Feathers
Throughout the book the omnipresent narrator encourages thoughtful reflection on the empty spaces left by the loss. The gentle scenes portrayed inspire recovery from sadness and honor those who are absent. This lyrical heartful story provides consent and gently encourage readers to move to a place of peace and acceptance despite the absence.

Distributer EUROSPAN Publisher Magination Press
Most books that address loss or grief are specific to a parent, grandparent, or pet. The readers will get to know Gerbert while he is well and will experience the changes he undergoes as he comes to accept that he won't live forever. The gentle tone of the story will allow readers to come to understand death as a concept and a way to participate in the experience (whether the child reader is preparing for/adjusting to the loss of a pet, a relative, a neighbour or whether the child reader is learning about natural end of life as a universal reality). The emphasis on family love and shared human values avails the book as a ready resource for families across creed and culture.
EUROSPAN Book Store discount for Schools and Readers. 20% discount + free standard delivery Order at www.eurospanbookstore.com

Use code: TWENTY (valid indefinitely on all purchases)

Amanda Rawson Hill runs a newsletter called Middle Grade at Heart, which is a book club kit with a new middle-grade book each month. Her debut middle-grade book was published in Fall 2018. She lives in Atwater, California.

I wrote You'll Find Me after witnessing my brother-in-law slowly die of cancer. He left behind a young daughter, my niece, and figuring out the right way to say goodbye was just too much in all the pain. I hope this book can help children and parents discuss death, grief, and learning how to live and love afterwards. It's an honour to have it recommended here.

Amanda Rawson Hill

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Something Very Sad Happened
Meaghann Weaver (author)
Lori Wiener (author)
Mikki Butterly (illustrator)

Gerbert the gosling is strong and brave and has fun times with his family and friends but knows that, one day soon, he won't be able to keep up with them anymore. As Gerbert prepares for his final migration, he finds a way to show his flock that he will always be with them.

Distributer EUROSPAN Publisher Magination Press

EUROSPAN Book Store discount for Schools and Readers. 20% discount + free standard delivery Order at www.eurospanbookstore.com

Use code: TWENTY (valid indefinitely on all purchases)

Meaghann Weaver, MD, MPH, FAAP, is a paediatric oncologist and Chief of the Division of Palliative Care at the Children's Hospital and Medical Centre in Omaha, Nebraska. She works with a wonderful interdisciplinary Hand in Hand team which strives to foster the strengths and graces of children and families in the Heartland. Dr. Weaver's favourite life moments are spent painting, dancing, cooking, and gardening with her amazing daughter, Bravery. Dr. Weaver dreams of one day returning to Africa with her family.

Lori Wiener, PhD, DCSW, is co-director of the Behavioural Science Core and Head of the Psychosocial Support and Research Program at the paediatric oncology branch of the National Cancer Institute. As both a clinician and behavioural scientist, Dr. Wiener has dedicated her career to applying what she has learned from her work with seriously ill children and their families to create new therapeutic, communication, and educational tools. She lives in Annapolis, Maryland with her family and several animals, including a pup named Tessa, a rescue cat named Tupelo, and a pond filled with goldfish, koi and noisy frogs. One of Dr. Wiener's favourite pastimes is photographing the migration of snow geese.
The Land of Neverendings
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By Bonnie Zucker
When Emily's sister Holly dies, she is surprised to find that she misses her toy bear, Bluey, almost as much as Holly. Bluey was Holly's constant companion, and Emily used to make up stories about him and his escapades in the magical (and very silly) world of Smockeroon to entertain her. And the only person who seems to understand Emily's grief is Ruth, her kindly next-door neighbour.

But then very strange things start to happen. Emily dreams of talking toys visiting her bedroom, telling her that they have come from Smockeroon, and have a message for her from Bluey. A terrible black toad, who stinks of sadness, begins to stalk Ruth's house. And when a parade of penguins wearing plastic moustaches marches through their kitchen - well, Emily has to begin to wonder whether this is all a dream after all. But why are the toys here, and what could Bluey possibly be trying to tell her?

This stunning novel will tickle your funny bones as much as it pulls on your heartstrings and is a true classic in the making.
Illustrator: Kim Fleming

Distributer EUROSPAN Publisher Magination Press

Kate Saunders is an English author, actress and journalist. She has worked for newspapers and magazines in the UK, including The Sunday Times, Sunday Express, Daily Telegraph, She and Cosmopolitan and has written multiple books for children and adults
EUROSPAN Book Store discount for Schools and Readers. 20% discount + free standard delivery Order at www.eurospanbookstore.com

Use code: TWENTY (valid indefinitely on all purchases)

Bonnie Zucker, PsyD, is a licensed psychologist in private practice. She received her undergraduate degree from George Washington University, USA, her master's degree from the University of Baltimore, USA, and her doctoral degree from the Illinois School of Professional Psychology in Chicago, USA.

Dr Zucker specializes in the treatment of anxiety disorders and is the author of Anxiety-Free Kids and Take Control of OCD and, co-author of Resilience Builder Program for Children & Adolescents and two relaxation CDs.
Why Do Things Die
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By Kate Saunders

A beautiful and gentle look at the circle of life, using Christine Pym's gorgeous animals characters to explore the emotions and facts around death, with questions such as Is it ok to talk about dying? What happens when someone dies? Can I shout and cry and hide away? and how can I stop feeling sad?

Recommended reading age : 9 to 12 yrs

Katie Daynes
Publisher : faber.co.uk

'When I was writing The Land of Neverendings, I could see how tough it was for a child to experience bereavement when there is almost no way to talk about death in this society where we all pretend it doesn't exist. Accessing books that help to normalise bereavement and loss and offering programmes of peer-to-peer support is something I am delighted to support'.
Katie Daynes
Kate Saunders

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The Super Miraculous Journey of Freddie Yates
By Katie Daynes

Illustrator Christine Pym

Publisher : Usborne

Recommended reading age : Primary (Reception Year 1 and Year 2)

" My brother Jo died in a car crash when he was 18. I can vividly remember the moment 16-year-old me received the news - and the days, nights, weeks and months of heartache that followed. Poetry and novels helped. Knowing I wasn't alone in my grief helped. Treasuring Jo's memory helped. Over 25 years later, when I was given the chance to write a children's book about coping with death, I grasped it with both hands.

I wanted to use simple honesty and tender examples to create a useful tool for both children and adults. Working closely with the wonderful illustrator, Christine Pym, we created a cast of characters who could put a voice to all those questions that explode in your head when someone dies. We also had the experienced child psychologist Dr. Sasha Lillie Lyons on hand for advice, guidance and extra words of wisdom. "

"I'm really pleased that RainbowsGB have chosen to feature our book on their website. I hope it can support the hugely i mportant work they do, helping children to make it through the hardest times in their young lives."
Jenny Pearson:
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By Jenny Pearson
The Shark Caller
Rob Biddulph (Illustrator)

Dive beneath the waves with this spell-binding adventure of friendship, forgiveness and bravery, set on the shores of Papua New Guinea, perfect for fans of Katherine Rundell and Eva Ibbotson.

"I want to be able to call the sharks. Teach me the magic and show me the ways."

Blue Wing is desperate to become a shark caller, but instead she must befriend infuriating newcomer Maple, who arrives unexpectedly on Blue Wing's island.

At first, the girls are too angry to share their secrets and become friends. But when the tide breathes the promise of treasure, they must journey together to the bottom of the ocean to brave the deadliest shark of them all...
Freddie Yate's journey is packed with outrageous escapades that somehow ring true. He's a very endearing character and the bond between him and his friends is touching and believable. It's a well-written story that pulls no punches.

Publisher : Usborne
Zillah Bethell
Recommended reading age : 9 to 12 Years

Jenny Pearson :
Storm in a Jar
I wrote The Super Miraculous Journey of Freddie Yates following the death of my step-father and the discussions that followed with my children - his grandchildren. Death is something that we don't always like to talk about, but as teachers, supporting children who are going through a bereavement is something that most of us will experience. And we have a responsibility to do that to the best of our ability. Through reading and sharing stories we are able to open up discussions with our classes which help build empathy and understanding

" I am honoured that Freddie Yates is featured on the Rainbows Bereavement Support group website and I hope that the message I tried to convey ,that even though someone is no longer with us, we can still love them, might help. "

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By Zillah Bethell

Publisher : Usborne

Recommended reading age : 9 yrs +

" Rainbows does the most crucial work, and I'm truly honoured that The Shark Caller can be a part of that."

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I am so pleased to have Storm in a Jar on the Rainbows Bereavement Support Group reading list as it will offer a vital resource to families who are trying to navigate the emotional aftermath of loss. It shows us that all types of feelings are real and valid.
By Samuel Langley-Swain

Illustrated by Katie Cottle

Arlo visited Nana every Sunday. She would always have new sweets waiting for him inside a special jar. When Arlo finds out Nana has passed away, he keeps the jar with him to feel safe and closer to his Nana. As his sadness turns to anger, a storm builds inside the jar, until Arlo has enough and smashes it open! After the storm washes him out to sea, Arlo spots Nana sailing off into the
moonlight. He knows she will be happy and safe, wherever she is headed. This book is a vital resource to families who are trying to navigate the emotional aftermath of any kind of loss. It shows us that all types of feelings are real and valid.

Recommended reading age : 3 to 7 Years

Publisher: Childrens Books | Owlet Press

Samuel Langley-Swain

I wrote The 'Storm in a Jar' to initially explore the build-up of anger, experienced through the eyes of a child. It came from a fantastic metaphor my adopted son used to describe his own built-up anger. After my great grandmother passed away, I decided to integrate grief into the story and used imagery from a nightmare that my friend's child had about black jellyfish, and a dream I had about my great-grandmother sailing off into the moon, to thread the story together. She lived to 102 so it was a great point of reflection for me, being able to focus more on my son's grief, losing his first family member. I wrote the book with an hour of her passing and unlike other books which create a metaphor for death, this book focusses on the emotional journey that follows.

Samuel :

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RECOMMENDED BOOKS - Rainbows Bereavement Support GB

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Below are a selection of books on bereavement and Loss recommended by RainbowsGB. We will add further recommendations over time and would be delighted to review any books you may like to recommend for inclusion, please contact our National Director [...]

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Picture books about death and bereavement

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Picture books about death and bereavement

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Little Parachutes • children’s picture books about

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We help you to find a picture book to gently support a child who has experienced a bereavement, grieving and loss.

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Books and resources for children up to the age of 11.

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These books and resources may be helpful for young people aged up to 11-years-old who have been bereaved.  For further help in finding resources, email helpline@childbereavementuk.org or call our Helpline on 0800 02 888 40. Please note: Inclusion on this list does not constitute a recommendation or endorsement by Child Bereavement UK, as we are aware that whether a book is helpful or not is subjective and as such is a decision that can only be made by the individual reader.

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Information and advice for children - also refers to pets dying.

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Books and resources for young people aged 11-18 years.

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These books and resources may be helpful for young people aged 11 to 18-years old who have been bereaved.  For further help in finding resources, email helpline@childbereavementuk.org or call our Helpline on 0800 02 888 40. Please note: Inclusion on this list does not constitute a recommendation or endorsement by Child Bereavement UK, as we are aware that whether a book is helpful or not is subjective and as such is a decision that can only be made by the individual reader.

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Bereavement support for children with SEND when dealing with the death of a parent or sibling.

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Supporting grieving children and young people with SEND

There are an estimated 44,496 children with SEND bereaved of a parent in the UK* and, just like all bereaved children and young people, they need support to understand and cope with their grief. Adults are naturally inclined to want to protect and shield children from difficult and sad situations, and this may be even more so for children with special educational needs and disabilities due to their ability to understand death. Below is some information and guidance on how to support bereaved children with SEND, and the specialist support Winston's Wish can offer grieving families.

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Bereavement support for children with SEND | Winston's Wish

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Supporting grieving children and young people with SEND There are an estimated 44,496 children with SEND bereaved of a parent in the UK* and, just like all bereaved children and young people, they need support to understand and cope with their grief.

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Support for bereaved children and young people with special educational needs.

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All children and young people, regardless of their circumstances, have a right to have their grief recognised, to hear the truth and to be given opportunities to express their feelings and emotions. Those with additional needs are no different but may need extra help with their understanding and ways to express feelings. Whilst we may not know exactly what a child or a young person with profound and multiple learning disabilities understands when someone significant dies, they will certainly be aware of that person's absence and of the changes in their own life that may result.

Helping children with additional needs deal with their grief may present teachers, parents and carers with specific challenges. The child's understanding may be at the level of a much younger child and they may have little sense of the permanence of death. Some children may never come to a complete understanding of the finality of death and may continue to believe that the dead person will return one day. They may long for things to be the same as they were.

Preparing for a death

If the death is expected, it can be helpful to prepare the child in advance in a gradual way. The child may need to be prepared for visits to a hospice or hospital. It helps if the child can be told about any changes they might see, such as how the ill person might look or sound or for any changes in their day to day activities and routines that might happen.

Keep to normal daily routines as much as possible - many children and young people with learning difficulties find any change difficult to manage.

Use clear, concrete language, avoiding euphemisms and abstract ideas.

Explain any predicted changes in routine in advance, giving details about who will be doing what and when.

Use pictures and photographs to explain what will happen at any visits to a hospital or hospice.

After a death

When a death has occurred, the child may need help in understanding the concept of death as well as needing opportunities to express their grief.

Answer any questions as they arise honestly and using simple language, at a level appropriate to the child's understanding. Give enough information to answer the question, but without adding a confusing amount of detail. You may need to repeat your answer many times, so try to use consistent language and explanations.

Use lots of examples to explain the non-reversibility of death, but in a way appropriate to the child's understanding. Where possible, use pictures and real objects. Try to take a biological approach that is practical, clear, and visual, with concrete examples, such as comparing a dead fish with a live fish, observing flowers wilting and dying. See below for some ideas on how to do this.

Try to include the child in rituals, such as sending cards or attending the funeral or memorial service. Children with additional needs are sometimes excluded as it is challenging for the adults around them, or there may be the belief that the child won't understand what is happening. However, being included in these events can be extremely helpful for children and can aid their understanding of what is happening. There may be ways to enable their participation such as having another adult to care for them during the service or there might be parts of it that they could be present for. However, if this is not possible, make sure that they are given an opportunity to say goodbye with their own simple ceremony.

Prepare the child for events such as funerals or memorial ceremonies. It may be helpful to visit the place where the service with take place beforehand or to make a multisensory or social story using photographs with accompanying text that will explain what will happen. See Resources section for sources of guidance about sensory and social stories.

Explain and prepare for any changes to daily routines in advance, giving details about who will be doing what and when. It can be very reassuring for children to know who will be taking them to school or to activities if this has changed.

Communicating the Truth

It is sometimes assumed that children with additional difficulties need more protection from hearing about death and dying than other children, or that they do not have the capacity to understand. However, whilst their understanding may be that typical of a younger age, we often underestimate their abilities to cope with the tough things in life. The challenge is to find creative ways to communicate when words are sometimes not appropriate.

It is important to acknowledge the death. To ignore what has happened suggests that this is an unimportant event and denies the existence of the person who has died.

If using words, use the real ones, for example, 'dead' and 'dying', not euphemisms. If the child communicates using signs or symbols, ensure you have the correct vocabulary to hand.

Understanding the concept of death

All children struggle with the concept of death and its permanence. Children with learning difficulties may find this particularly hard to grasp and will benefit from simple, practical examples to illustrate the difference between dead and living things. Very visual explanations are particularly important for children with autism spectrum disorders.

Here are some ideas to helpwith understanding:

Buy a bunch of flowers, put them in a vase and observe them wilt, wither, and die. Compare them to a fresh bunch of the same type. If kept, the dead flowers will illustrate that death is permanent and that the flowers do not return to life.

Purchase a dead fish from the supermarket and compare it to a live one. Even when put into a bowl of water the dead one will not move, breath, eat or swim.

Give the dead fish a burial that replicates as far as possible a real one. You can explain a cremation by burning leaves and mixing the resulting ashes with some earth.

Take photographs of the above activities and put these into a book. This will act as a visual reminder for the many times when the explanation will need to be repeated.

Use as many real-life examples as you can, such as pictures of funerals and coffins to aid understanding.

Visiting the dead body will help with the concept of no life, but this will need careful preparation, so the child knows exactly what to expect. Feeling that the body is cold and observing no breathing or movement can aid their understanding that the body is no longer working.

Expressing their grief

Children do not need protection from the feelings and emotions associated with grief, but support to express them and reassurance that these sometimes powerful and overwhelming emotions are normal and necessary. This is even more the case for children with learning difficulties.

Help the child to learn how to recognise different feelings both in themselves and others, as well as learning appropriate ways of expressing their feelings. You can do this by using everyday situations and events to point out different emotions in other people (for example on TV programmes, in magazines and stories) using consistent and simple language to label emotions from the child's own experiences and by using pictures.

Remember that children with take their cue from the adults around them, so it is helpful if you can be honest about your own emotions and to sometimes shed tears if you need to, but to also reassure the child that you are OK and that your response is natural.

Use a simple workbook such as 'When Someone Very Special Dies' by Marge Heegard (see Resources section). This can easily be adapted for various ability levels.

Looking at photographs or watching videos of the person who has died can facilitate expressions of sadness or anger.

Carrying a comfort object such as a small piece of warm furry blanket can be an aid in getting through difficult moments.

Offer opportunities for safe ways to express frustration and anger, such as physical activities, music-making, or creating a 'scream box' (a box stuffed with paper and a cardboard tube to shout into). Give reassurance that it is OK to be angry.

Remembering the person who has died

When someone important to a child or young person dies, memories are an important part of the grief process. Whilst the person may be physically gone from the child's life, the emotional bond will still be there. This is particularly true when a parent or carer dies and children with additional needs often have a number of adults in caring roles, so will be affected by the death of any one of them. Memories help any child to construct a sense of who it is they are grieving for and why. It is, therefore, important to help make this happen for children with additional needs.

Ways to remember a person who has died might include:

Having a piece of fabric from an item of clothing worn by the person who has died, to carry in a pocket or made into a cushion, which can be comforting.

Having the perfume or aftershave of the person who has died on a hanky can be reassuring.

Put together a memory box of tangible reminders chosen by the child that are of particular relevance to them. Try to keep in mind the importance of concrete reminders of the person that has died and include something relating to all five senses. A memory box therefore might include pictures of the person, pictures of things that person enjoyed, a small object that belonged to the person, a piece of fabric that is associated with that person (that may have a particular 'feel' to it), a CD of music that the person enjoyed or tape of them speaking, something that reminds the child of the smell of that person (such as perfume, aftershave, toothpaste or deodorant).

Listening to audio tapes of the voice or favourite music of the person who has died may be familiar and comforting.

Use photographs and memories of significant events to create timeline and story of that person's life.

Keep in mind that the needs of bereaved children with additional difficulties are the same as those of any child but ensuring they receive appropriate support and understanding may require some additional thought and preparation from the adults caring for them.
Click below to download a print-friendly PDF version of this page, including further reading and resources:
Supporting bereaved children and young people with special educational needs

Author: Child Bereavement UK

© Child Bereavement UK

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charity bereavement child death grief loss baby stillbirth miscarriage suicide young people

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Supporting bereaved children and young people with special educational needs

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Helping children with additional needs deal with their grief may present teachers, parents and carers with specific challenges. The child's understanding may be at the level of a much younger child and they may have little sense of the permanence of death.

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Supporting bereaved children with special educational needs.

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Supporting bereaved children with special educational needs
Sue McDermott, non-executive director (Manchester seminar) and Katrina Avery, registered director (London seminar), Rainbows GB
Rainbows Bereavement Support GB offer high quality training in bereavement and loss, and have provided fully adapted programmes and training in Great Britain since 1992. The charity has now provided support to over 100,000 children and young people and have offered training and guidance to more than 1,200 schools. Alongside providing fully interactive training, the organisation are also able to support schools and communities to review or develop their own bereavement policy and procedures. Rainbows have expanded considerably, and offer services across the country.

Further information and details on training and resources can be found on Rainbows Bereavement Support GB's website, at: http://www.rainbowsgb.org/.
Responding to a sudden death
There is no way of knowing how we will react to a sudden death; each individual may have a unique response. It is important to be aware that there is no 'normal' response to a sudden bereavement, or reactions that can be classified as 'good' or 'bad'.

People with special educational needs may find a sudden death to be particularly challenging, and children and young people in particular may react in a very different way to what might be expected from their peers.

Individuals who have autism and other special educational needs often find it difficult to express their feelings and emotions. This can make grieving particularly hard.
Challenges facing suddenly bereaved children and young people with special educational needs
Emotional understanding can be limited in children with special educational needs. A bereaved child may be aware that they are angry, but be unable to express why they are feeling this emotion.

Expressions of inappropriate emotions can be common following a bereavement, and may be particularly likely in younger children who have more limited vocabularies. For example, a child with special educational needs might state that they are happy about a bereavement. This could be because they are unaware of words such as 'relief', or if a loved one's behaviour was upsetting before the bereavement.

The confusion of a bereavement, and egotistical nature of children, may lead to them falsely holding responsibility for a death. Issues around 'wrong connections' and anxiety are common, and a child who has been bereaved by a road traffic crash may become concerned every time a relative chooses to drive. Locations and circumstances associated with the bereavement may become connected with death in a child's mind.
Change
Change can also present a challenge to people with a learning difficulty, and there is the potential for individuals to react violently. Priorities and immediate reactions to a bereavement may initially be practical in people with special educational needs, with emotional responses following later in the grief process. In particular, an individual may focus on day to day practicalities and schedules and not give any outward signs that they are grieving.
All children who have been bereaved will require the following:

To have their questions answered

To be listened to

Accurate and encompassing information

An atmosphere of safety and trust that makes them feel supported.

Bereaved children with special educational needs require all of the above. However, they may also require more specific support.
Specific support needs for children with special educational needs:

Clear language
It is important to avoid using phrases such as 'gone to sleep', or 'gone to heaven'. For children with special educational needs, these phrases can be upsetting and misleading. Be clear and direct, and aware that it may be necessary to repeat information.

Clear communication
Avoidance of misinterpretation and wrong connections is also very important - parents and carers should take care to reassure children that medical conditions such as a headache are not severe.

Reflection of the child's learning style
Using visual and physical methods may be more effective in autistic children - if a child struggles with writing or reading, use a method that they will find easier.

Explain 'death' words clearly
It is important to ensure that children are fully involved in the processes that follow a death. However, it is crucial that words such as 'funeral' are explained clearly to ensure that a child is fully aware of what is happening.

Routines and practicalities
Routines help all children feel safe, and can be vital, especially for children with special educational needs. Having back up plans and being reliable are essential, particularly in developing trust and building confidence with a child.

Emotional support
Children with special educational needs need to know that it is OK to be happy. Carers and supporters should accept that they may express grief in unusual ways, and that children's emotions may change rapidly. Be aware that children with special educational needs may ask 'unusual' questions or be interested in gory details.
Schools
Schools can be a great place for bereaved children with special educational needs. They can provide a safe space, and allow a sense of normality and routine to return for children. However, it is vital that schools are properly prepared for a bereavement. It is important for schools to have received the correct training, and to have policies and procedures in place. Being prepared, and aware of special days such as anniversaries and birthdays is crucial.

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Supporting bereaved children with special educational needs - Sue McDermott and Katrina Avery - Sudden

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Sue McDermott, non-executive director (Manchester seminar) and Katrina Avery, registered director (London seminar), Rainbows GB Rainbows Bereavement Support GB offer high quality training in bereavement and loss, and have provided fully adapted programmes and training in Great Britain since 1992.

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A social story about someone close passing away

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A social story about someone close passing away

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This resource from TES is a book which contains spaces to fill in the personal details of the deceased.

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Social Story about Death | Teaching Resources

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Social story about someone close passing away. The book contains spaces to fill in the name of the deceased and other details to personalise the book to the specific

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Books about grief from Beyond Words. These books are word-free and are ideal for SEND children.

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How bereavement can affect a person with autism and guides to help.

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This section looks at the subject of bereavement, how it can affect autistic people and what we can do to help

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NottAlone's page on Bereavement and Loss for parents/carers

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NottAlone's page on Bereavement and Loss for parents/carers

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Information and advice about helping a bereaved young person, including sources of support.

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If your child is experiencing bereavement, you might be too. Make sure you have support and ask for help if you need it. Talk to someone about your mental health.

Information about grief

Every time life changes, something is lost. Loss is therefore a big part of life and some common areas of loss that children and young people face include loss of:

Familiar environments e.g. moving house, moving school

Significant adults

Friendships

Opportunities

Experience of death

Different people experience loss in different ways, and this applies to the children and young people and the adults supporting them.

Grief is a normal reaction to loss and each of us will experience change in a unique way. We cannot assume we know how children and young people will experience grief based on our own experiences.

Keep these guiding principles in mind when supporting grieving children:

1. All children and young people need support from trusted and familiar adults. Most children recover from grief with this support but some need additional help.

2. Everyone's experience of grief is different so it's important to listen to your child and try to understand what they are feeling.

3. Children and young people are curious and will want to understand what is happening by asking questions.

4. Learning a little bit about the grieving process can help you to support your child.

5. Good support leads to healthy grieving and helps build resilience for the future.

Tips for talking to your child about bereavement and loss

It's good to talk and to listen; create opportunities to talk and listen to your child.

Use simple, clear language and be prepared to repeat topics and discussion, as needed. When people have strong emotions, it is often difficult for them to process information and to recall this in the future.

Encourage questions and remember that you do not have to have all the answers.

Apply the Goldilocks Principle i.e. tell the child what they want to know, not too much and not too little, using language the child can understand. Keep in mind your child's age and ability when talking to them about loss, bereavement and change. Read more about this here.

Recognise your own emotional response to the situation and reflect with friends and family on who is best placed to listen to your child.

Help your child with different activities to help them express their grief.

How to help children express grief:

Writing letters and poems

Drawing pictures

Making a display

Sending off balloons

Lighting a candle

A memorial (for example, planting a tree)

Curating a memory box

When might your child/young person need more support?

Make sure to give your child time and space to recover, and lots of love and support. For many children, this well be enough. These are some things to think about if you think your child might need more support.

Are your child's feelings linked to the loss preventing them from learning and taking part in daily life?

Is your child's behaviour a concern to themselves and others?

Does your child seem excessively distressed and unhappy?

Does your child seem lethargic, depressed and hopeless?

Has your child asked for help and do they want more help?

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When someone you care about dies or is seriously ill, it is very difficult. There's no right or wrong way to feel, but it's natural to have strong reactions. If an animal you love dies, this can be very upsetting too. People can feel scared, confused, numb, or out of control.

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The Children's Bereavement Centre: Training for parents and carers

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The Children's Bereavement Centre: Training for parents and carers

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An introduction to childhood bereavement and grief: To enable parents/carers and family members to increase their understanding of childhood grief and learn practical and helpful ideas to support their children and themselves.

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“You can’t protect your children from the pain of loss, but there is a great deal you can do to strengthen their coping skills and to nurture their emotional health & happiness; now, and in the future. Find out more about our FREE training sessions.

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Barnado's: 7 tips for helping children cope with grief

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Barnado's: 7 tips for helping children cope with grief

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Barnado's Bereavement Service have put together advice for parents and carers to help their child/ren cope with grief.

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The death of a loved one is a huge life event. The feelings of loss, grief, uncertainty, and sadness can feel overwhelming whatever your age. Our Child Bereavement Service have put together some advice to help you support a child or young person dealing with a bereavement.

Children and young people may feel the loss more strongly and might worry about your physical wellbeing. It is not uncommon for children to become confused about death once they've experienced loss for the first time.

4. Stay connected to other people

For adults who want advice about a child or young person who has been bereaved, read our How to explain death to children and young people and help them cope leaflet. You could also encourage children to speak to a trusted adult at school. They may be able to refer you to others who can help.

Visit our Mental health and emotional wellbeing page for resources to help support a child with poor mental health.

6. Reach out to others who might be struggling

Explaining a death to a child can be a difficult task, but our belief and experience is that a concerned adult can help a child manage their feelings of pain and loss. Parents and other adults need to help them understand the concept of death and this is best done by giving clear, age-appropriate, honest information on a frequent basis.

ow to talk to your child about grief.

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7 tips for helping children cope with grief

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Losing of a loved one is a huge life event - especially for a child. The feelings of loss, grief, uncertainty and sadness can feel overwhelming at first. Our experts have some advice to help deal with loss.

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Guidance for families supporting children through serious illness and bereavement.

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A parent/carers guide to support and where support services can be found.

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On this page, you'll find information to help you support your child or young person with grief and loss. We've also got advice about where you can find grief support services.

Get advice and updates directly to your inbox

Join our fight for children and young people's mental health. Sign up to the YoungMinds mailing list to receive our monthly e-newsletter, campaign updates, information about events and fundraising and other opportunities to get involved in our work.

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Guide Menu for Grief and loss

What is grief?

Losing someone we love and feel close to, or going through a bereavement, can be extremely painful. Grief is our natural response to this loss, and it is a process rather than an event.

Your child or young person, as well as you and other family members, may be grieving because:

someone in the family has died, like a parent, grandparent or sibling

their friend or someone at school has died

they have lost someone by suicide

someone they are close to has become ill

a pet has died or been lost

What does grief feel like?

Grief feels different to every individual child or young person. Our feelings around grief also change over time.

It's important to remember that there is no right or wrong way to grieve. It's okay to feel whatever emotion we do, and to process it in our own way. It's a time for being kind and patient with ourselves.

You might sometimes hear people talk about the 'stages of grief' or the 'grief cycle'. These describe some of the common feelings that people who are grieving can experience.

What are the 'stages of grief'?

1. Denial - for example, feeling confused, numb or in shock.

2. Anger - this might be towards the person who has died, or with the world in general.

3. Bargaining - for example, going over things from the past, or feeling guilty or anxious.

4. Depression - this might feel like intense sadness or loneliness about living without the person.

5. Acceptance - this might be feeling more able to live with our grief, rather than feeling we have 'got over it'.

It's important to understand that not everyone experiences all these things, and that we do not move through these stages one-by-one.

We might move forwards or backwards between them, or experience them in any order. Or we might feel different emotions.

Your child or young person might also experience some of the physical signs of grief. These can include:

waves of crying, which can sometimes feel like they come out of the blue

feeling unwell or sick

eating more or less than before

being extremely tired

finding it difficult to get to sleep

finding it difficult to concentrate, including at school

It's helpful to remember that it is normal for your child or young person to feel and experience these things after a loss.

Tips for talking about grief and loss

If your child doesn't want to talk

If your child or young person feels uncomfortable about talking, you could try starting a conversation while doing an activity. This can help them to relax by making it feel less like a 'big chat'. Have a look at our activity suggestions to get some ideas.

It's also okay to give them some space, especially with older children and teenagers. Sometimes it helps to just sit together quietly, or to offer a hand squeeze or hug. Reassure them that it's okay to talk to someone else they trust too.

You can find more tips about talking in our guide.

Helping your child or young person to cope with grief

Supporting your child or young person with a sudden death

When someone they're close to dies suddenly or unexpectedly, children and young people are likely to feel extremely shocked. They may find it impossible to believe that it's happened, or feel numb and empty. They might find it difficult to talk, or to eat or drink. They may experience physical symptoms like tummy aches, headaches and being extremely tired. These reactions are a normal way of coping with huge shock.

In the days and weeks after a sudden death, the most important thing you can do is provide safety and support.

Grief and loss support services

There are lots of organisations who provide counselling and other types of support to families, children and young people after a bereavement.

Sometimes, the grieving process starts before someone dies. For example, when we know they are ill and they are going to die soon. This is sometimes called 'anticipatory grief'. In pre-bereavement counselling, your child or young person can talk through their feelings and worries. Some hospices and other organisations offer this service. Speak to the professionals supporting your family to see what's available.

In bereavement or grief counselling, your child or young person will have a space to talk. They can also start to process some of their feelings around what's happened. You may be able to access this service through:

Let your child or young person know about the grief support services that are available to them via phone, text or online chat. You can find a list of support services below.

Over the longer-term, a counsellor or therapist can listen, provide emotional support and help your child or young person to make sense of their feelings. They can also support them to find ways of coping. You can find out how your child or young person can access counselling and therapy in our guide for parents.

If you have wider concerns about your child's mental health, it's a good idea to speak to the GP about next steps. They can find out more about what's going on and refer your child for more specialist help.

Looking after yourself

Supporting a young person who is grieving can be a very emotional experience. Take time to look after yourself and top up your own batteries when you can. If you are also grieving, things may feel overwhelming at times. Allow space for your own grief too. Remember that it's okay to ask for help from family and friends when you need it.

If you need support with your own grief, or you're struggling to cope, it's really important that you get the help you need. This will make you more able to be there for your child. You can access counselling, helpline support and support groups via the grief services listed below.

Useful helplines and websites

While we take care to ensure that the organisations we signpost to provide high quality information and advice, we cannot take responsibility for any specific pieces of advice they may offer. We encourage parents and carers to always explore the website of a linked service or organisation to understand who they are and what support they offer before engaging with them.

Help us improve our content

Whether you love the page or think something is missing, we appreciate your feedback. It all helps us to support more young people with their mental health.

Please be aware that this form isn't a mental health support service. If your child is in crisis right now and you want to talk to someone urgently, find out who to contact on our urgent help page.

At YoungMinds we take your privacy seriously. If you'd like to read more about how we keep the information we collect safe, take a look at our privacy policy.

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A guide to supporting a child or young person with grief, bereavement or loss, including information about finding grief counselling and other help.

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Joel is a charity which supports families through pregnancy and parenting after baby loss.

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Supporting families through pregnancy and parenting after baby loss

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Supporting families through pregnancy and parenting after baby loss.

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Information and support for bereaved siblings.

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Support our work

Each year thousands of parents suffer the loss of a son or a daughter. Please help us to support families in their time of greatest need.
Make a donation

Content © The Compassionate Friends.

Registered in England and Wales, no 04029535. Registered charity, no 1082335.
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Support our work Each year thousands of parents suffer the loss of a son or a daughter. Please help us to support families in their time of greatest need. Make a donation Content © The Compassionate Friends. Registered in England and Wales, no 04029535. Registered charity, no 1082335.

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Links and information to support siblings.

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Rainbow Trust Children’s Charity provides emotional and practical support to families who have a child with life-threatening or terminal illness.

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Help for young people whose sibling has died.

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Helping you cope with the death of your brother or sister.

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Support and resources.

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Sands - Saving babies' lives. Supporting bereaved families.

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When a child is bereaved we cannot and should not take away their grief. By helping them to explore it and share it, we can help them live through it and beyond.

In the UK 4,500 babies die every year. This means many families need to explain to siblings of all ages that their baby brother or sister will not come home. Young children may not understand the concept of death yet, but the grief experienced by parents and other relatives as they adjust to a baby's death will affect their practical and emotional lives.

This page aims to offer parents some helpful resources to begin conversations with siblings of all ages, as well a suggest activities for children to remember their baby brother or sister and express how they feel.

Resources for teachers and schools are included to help support siblings of babies who have died in school and other settings.

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Support for siblings | Sands - Saving babies' lives. Supporting bereaved families.

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The Kubler-Ross model of grief describes 5 primary responses to grief.

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Shout 85258 is a 24-hour free, confidential text service which offers support for anyone who is struggling to cope.

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Ways to cope with upsetting events in the news

If you're feeling overwhelmed, anxious or sad about what's going on in the news, know that you're definitely not alone. Here are some actions we can take to help us cope better through times like this.

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Shout - UK's 24/7 Crisis Text Service for Mental Health Support

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Shout 85258 is the UK's first 24/7 text service for anyone in crisis. Get free, confidential mental health support anytime, anywhere. Text 'SHOUT' to 85258.

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The Mix is a charity. providing free, confidential support for under 25s, via online, social and mobile.

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Essential support for under 25s

Welcome to The Mix's Get Support section. Here you can visit our discussion boards, use our Group Chat Service and speak to our trained team.

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Welcome to The Mix's Get Support section. Here you can visit our discussion boards, use our Group Chat Service and speak to our advisors.