8 UK grief charities that can help you cope with loss
Are you finding it hard to cope after a loss? Discover 8 UK grief charities that might be able to help.
Losing a loved one is never easy. Some people seek support from friends, family, colleagues, or members of a faith group or other community. But sometimes, people want to speak to an impartial professional – someone who will listen and offer support without forming a close connection.
This is where grief charities can help. They are staffed by professionals who are trained to listen and not judge. When emotions are running high, this can be a huge help, especially if you're worried about burdening people who are close to you or you just need someone to talk to.
Here, then, are eight UK grief charities that can help you cope with loss.
1. Mind
Mind describes itself as "the mental health charity for all". It does a lot of work addressing the stigmas around mental health and offers support to people experiencing mental health issues.
Its
website includes articles on bereavement along with signposts to other services. It also has a support line (0300 102 1234) and an infoline (0300 123 3393). Both are open from 9 am to 6 pm, Monday to Friday.
2. The Good Grief Trust
The Good Grief Trust is "run by the bereaved, for the bereaved". It offers articles and video content from people who have experienced grief first-hand.
Its website features a
map of local and national bereavement support groups for those who need immediate support. You can also get in touch with the Good Grief Trust itself by
email.
3. Cruse Bereavement Support
Cruse Bereavement Support offers lots of free resources on its
website. These include articles on issues relating to loss, "grief booklets" and information for people who don't speak English.
The charity has more than 80 local branches across the UK. It also runs a free helpline staffed by trained bereavement volunteers.
Find out more about this service, including opening times.
4. National Bereavement Service
The National Bereavement Service (NBS) offers
free bereavement support. It also offers practical support with the tasks you need to complete after someone close to you dies.
In addition, the charity offers what it calls "emotional support and bereavement care… available to those who need extra comfort during this challenging time".
You can
contact the NBS team by phone or web form.
5. Sue Ryder
Sue Ryder is a palliative and bereavement support charity. Among other things, it provides
online bereavement support.
This includes articles on bereavement, self-help tools and an online bereavement community where people can share their experiences.
The charity also provides short-term online video counselling for people finding it hard to cope. Like all of Sue Ryder's online bereavement resources, this service is free.
6. AtaLoss
AtaLoss describes its
mission as "changing the culture of bereavement so that every bereaved person can have timely and holistic support, to navigate their grief and changed circumstances for healthy outcomes".
To this end, the charity provides a database of bereavement services in the UK as well as a free online bereavement counsellor chat service. This is open from 9 am to 9 pm, Monday to Friday.
7. Marie Curie
For 75 years, Marie Curie has been offering end-of-life care and support for anyone likely to die from their illness.
It also offers bereavement support over the phone. You can get up to six free sessions with one volunteer lasting up to 45 minutes each.
Read the FAQ and book a call.
8. Winston's Wish
Based in Gloucester,
Winston’s Wish is a charity that helps under-25s who have suffered a bereavement. It also helps parents, school staff, healthcare professionals and other adults who care for bereaved children.
Freephone 08088 020 021 puts you in touch with a bereavement support worker between 8 am and 8 pm on weekdays. The charity also offers email support, live chat and text message support.
Finding local grief support groups
If you would like to join a local grief support group, you could look on websites such as Meetup and Eventbrite. You could also ask in your local community centre or library or at your place of worship.
How the NHS England website can help
The NHS England website has a page dedicated to
grief after bereavement and loss. It covers symptoms, things you can try to help yourself, and information about where to get NHS help, including talking therapies. It also includes information about prolonged grief disorder.
What to do if you need to talk to someone now
If you're grieving and need to talk to someone immediately, you can call the Samaritans in the UK on
116 123.
The Samaritans is a registered charity that you can phone free of charge if you're struggling to cope. Your call will be taken by a trained volunteer who will listen without judgment.
You can also
communicate with the Samaritans via email and letter. But if you feel you need a non-judgmental listening ear right now, a phone call is the best way to go.
In an emergency, call 999
If you think you might hurt yourself or someone else, you should
call 999 immediately.
No matter who you are or where you are, coping with loss is never easy. Often, we want to speak to someone patient and understanding – but someone, crucially, who we don't know personally.
Many grief charities in the UK provide free counselling services as well as information online to help you cope with loss. We hope one of the charities we've discussed helps you in your grief journey.
