All-Party Parliamentary Group
New All-Party Parliamentary Group on Grief Support and the Impact of Death on Society
AtaLoss is proud to serve Maureen Burke MP as the Secretariat for the APPG on Grief Support and the Impact of Death on Society, bringing together stakeholders from across the sectors to raise awareness of, and address, issues of adult and child bereavement, and grief as a public health issue.
"As Chair of the APPG on Bereavement, I am committed to raising awareness of the profound impact grief can have on individuals and families. Too often, bereaved people struggle to access the support they need. This APPG will work to ensure their voices are heard in Parliament and that policy reflects the importance of compassionate, accessible bereavement support. By bringing together experts, charities, and those with lived experience, we can drive meaningful change and improve support for bereaved people across the UK." Maureen Burke MP, Chair.
Maureen Burke MP
Labour
Chair
Christine Jardine MP
Liberal Democrat
Officer
Jess Brown-Fuller MP
Liberal Democrat
Officer
Lord Graham Evans of Rainow
Conservative
Officer
Martin Vickers MP
Conservative
Member
Stephen Gethins MP
Scottish National Party
Member
Patrick Hurley MP
Labour
Member
Baroness Harris of Richmond
Liberal Democrat
Member
Jim Shannon MP
Democratic Unionist Party
Member
Graham Leadbitter MP
Scottish National Party
Member
Ben Lake MP
Plaid Cymru
Member
Lorraine Beavers MP
Labour
Member
Lizzi Collinge MP
Labour
Member
Zöe Franklin MP
Liberal Democrat
Member
Brendan O’Hara MP
Scottish National Party
Member
David Mundell MP
Conservative
Member
Kirsty Blackman MP
Scottish National Party
Member
Andrew Snowden MP
Conservative
Member
Bell Ribeiro-Addy MP
Labour
Member
Alex Easton MP
Independent
Member
Ruth Jones MP
Labour
Member
Darren Paffey MP
Labour
Member
David Chadwick MP
Liberal Democrat
Member
Baroness Finlay of Llandaff
Crossbench
Member
Lord Popat
Conservative
Member
Statement of Purpose
To bring together bereavement services, charities, faith communities, health professionals, public sector organisations and bereaved individuals to:
raise awareness across Parliament of the impact of bereavement on adults and children
recognise grief support as a public health issue
campaign for change for the wellbeing of bereaved people across the UK
IGM 19th March 2025
Priorities
Responding to current issues
Bereavement implications of the Assisted Dying Bill. Campaigning for mandatory informing of families and for bereavement awareness, information and support to be explicitly included.
Death certificate delays. Raise awareness of the grief implications and influence change.
Support bereavement inclusion in the Employment Rights Bill.
APPG priorities
Commissioning research into the economic and social implications of unsupported bereavement, including the ongoing impact of adults bereaved as children, mental health, relationship breakdown, homelessness, substance abuse and crime - and advocating for investment in bereavement services as prevention.
Advocating for routine referral to comprehensive and central signposting, for holistic, all-life support.
Bereavement support in schools - in absence, exams and for teacher training.
Take forward the call for all employers to have a bereavement policy including parental bereavement leave.
Investment in bereavement services as called for by the UK Commission on Bereavement.
For information about our forthcoming meetings, to become a member, or get involved:
Contact appg.griefsupport@ataloss.org
Steering Group
AtaLoss
Winston’s Wish
National Bereavement Alliance
Cruse Bereavement Support
Widowed and Young
Child Bereavement UK
Upcoming Events
APPG Meeting Thursday 20 November 2025
Focus: Children’s Grief Issues, Agenda (Link here)
Time: 2:00–4:00pm
Location: Westminster
Hybrid/Online: Teams (Link here)/Please contact appg.griefsupport@ataloss.org for in person attendance availability.
Lead Organisation: Winston’s Wish / Child Bereavement UK
APPG Drop-In (Parliamentarians Only) Wednesday 3 December 2025
Focus: Signposting - effective signposting and why it is needed
Time: 1:00–2:45pm
Location: Westminster
In-Person. Parliamentarians Only: If anyone has anything that they would like to contribute - lived experience or other evidence of the need to find the right, timely support - the agenda is still in draft and we would welcome your contributions. Please send any suggestions for inclusion to appg.griefsupport@ataloss.org
Meeting minutes
Inaugural Meeting - Wednesday 19th March 2025
Resources
Suggested Amendments to Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill
Death Certificates Delays Letter to Minister
This is not an official website [or feed] of Parliament. It has not been approved by either House. APPGs are informal groups of Parliamentarians with a common interest in particular issues. The views expressed are those of the group. Please find the link to this APPG and its status in the Register Of All-Party Parliamentary Groups [as at 28 March 2025].]