The Bereavement Journey® – New Report Reveals The Support Programme delivers £33.5 million wellbeing boost
20th August 2025
An independent evaluation has revealed that AtaLoss’ UK-wide bereavement support programme, delivered by churches for their communities, has generated wellbeing benefits valued at more than £33.5 million over two years – with significant potential for national public health adoption.
The study, commissioned by national charity AtaLoss and conducted by Youthrive Research Consultancy, examined the impact of The Bereavement Journey®, a pioneering, volunteer-led, grief support programme, re-launched in 2023 to help adults process the range of ways a bereavement can impact, whether recent or long ago, for their future wellbeing. The programme uniquely offers an option of spiritual support and accompanying signposting to complete the all-round help.
Proven improvements in wellbeing
The study examined feedback from the first 377 courses across the UK from April 2023 to March 2025. Key outcomes include:
96% of participants reported understanding how their bereavement was affecting them
95% said the course helped them to process their loss.
86% reported reduced loneliness
73% reported improvements in mental health
79% attended the optional spiritual session with 95% finding it helpful
And over 93% said they felt better able to cope with their situation at the end of the course.
Participants reported renewed hope, improved resilience, and increased ability to re-engage with daily life and support others – all strongly linked to better public health outcomes.
Strong case for public investment
Using HM Treasury’s Green Book wellbeing valuation, the report estimates the first two years of The Bereavement Journey® courses contributed to at least 2,575 WELLBYs (Wellbeing-Adjusted Life Years), equating to £33.5 million in social value – potentially £39.4 million with inflation.
With over 7 million people significantly bereaved in the UK in 2024 alone, the report concludes that The Bereavement Journey® could yield substantial societal and economic benefits, including reduced pressure on NHS mental health services, and savings for employers.
As author, Dr Becky Ward, Youthrive Research Consultancy concludes:
The Bereavement Journey® is not simply a compassionate and effective course for people to cope with their grief, it is also a promising model of social and economic investment for our nation.
Closing the gap in bereavement provision
Many communities have limited local bereavement services, with some people facing waits of 18–24 months for counselling. Healthcare professionals, including GPs and social prescribers, are increasingly referring patients to The Bereavement Journey® as an accessible, timely alternative.
Gold standard signposting
The evaluation also examined AtaLoss.org, the charity’s national signposting website, which is offered alongside the programme to provide access to further tailored services and resources. Awareness within local courses was lower than expected but the website was highly valued by those who used it, prompting a call for wider adoption of the charity’s “gold standard” signposting in all bereavement pathways.
AtaLoss CEO and founder Yvonne Tulloch concludes:
“The Bereavement Journey® with its accompanying signposting is regaining the informal, holistic community support that society once offered. Almost all of us have grown up with death as taboo, leading to grief illiteracy and neglect of bereavement support. In forgone years the various ways that death can impact were known and supported across a community, enabling bereaved people to process all aspects and re-build their future. Today, society hardly allows time off work to attend a funeral, let alone support in the holistic way that bereavement requires. If a person is struggling after a death, counselling is usually the only help that is suggested. We have yet to discover the lifelong cost to individuals and in turn, the public purse from decades of unprocessed loss.”
The analysis showed significant research evidence both in the UK and internationally that unsupported and unprocessed grief from bereavement have wide social implications for the health and welfare of both individuals and wider communities. It cited physical and mental ill-health, reduced income, loneliness, substance abuse, homelessness, suicide contagion and crime as some of the potential consequences and concluded:
“The significant majority (85-90%) of bereaved people who do not require or benefit from a clinical intervention may be helpfully supported by participating in The Bereavement Journey® and/or being signposting to suitable information and support services.”
AtaLoss is calling for The Bereavement Journey® and its signposting model to be integrated into the NHS and public health bereavement pathways, as a key element of the Government’s new Health and Social Care Mission delivered in partnership with churches and others to ensure nationwide access.
AtaLoss is a UK wide charity helping bereaved people find support and wellbeing, by raising awareness about the impact of bereavement, directing to help through the signposting website AtaLoss.org, and training and equipping community support, including supporting through The Bereavement Journey® programme.
Yvonne Tulloch, CEO and Founder at AtaLoss and Roger Greene, Deputy CEO and former NHS Trust CEO, are available by prior arrangement.
Media interviews can be arranged via WhatsApp message to Adam, AtaLoss Communications on 07736 949 869 or press@ataloss.org
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