Resources
Enable Law – Bereavement Support Fact Sheets
FACTUAL: Bereaved individuals and families needing legal clarity or support after a sudden, unexpected or complicated loss can read these factsheets called: A Guide Through Inquests for Bereaved People and Legal Support Following Bereavement.
The Royal College of Psychiatrists Suicide Support Advice
WEBSITE: The Royal College of Psychiatrists has produced a bereavement information pack for those bereaved by suicide or sudden death.
Pete English on Losing a Pet for Headstrong
BIOGRAPHY/AUTOBIOGRAPHY: Video and article from the Headstrong Website. How to cope with the lose of a pet, with Pete English. A helpful page exploring Pete’s connection with his cat Thomas and pet bereavement as a topic.
FuneralCelebrants.org.uk Directory
WEBSITE: Funeral Celebrants.org.uk is a register of funeral celebrants across the UK. A Funeral Celebrant is a person who can help plan, write and lead a Funeral service.
Physical Manifestation of Grief - Understanding How Grief Affects the Brain
This article explores the physical manifestation of grief. Grief not only impacts our emotions but also brings significant changes to the brain, affecting memory, stress levels, and overall well-being.
Dying for Beginners - The Dying Process
This video explains the dying process very gently so that we understand it better and can have conversations with friends and family about it.
Love Your Pet - Grief Support
In this article we acknowledge the value of pets in supporting grief and the pain we can also experience when they die.
How to Cope with Grief - The Benefits of Grief Gardening
When you lose someone, the grief will never go away completely — so you may want to know how to cope with grief. Some people find that gardening as they grieve, known as grief gardening, can gently relieve some of the emotional and physical symptoms after the loss of a loved one.
Top Tips to Keep Well Hydrated - The Physical Effects of Grief
One of the most common physical effects of grief is reduced appetite and a lack of interest in drinking enough fluids. Meanwhile we can often cry a lot which depletes our hydration levels further. Sabine explains why keeping hydrated in grief is important and how that can be achieved.
Bereavement Support - Young People Training
Listening People bereavement support training and resources provide tools for teachers, youth workers, counsellors and anyone who works with young people to safely and confidently enable them to engage around the difficult topic of loss.
Symptoms - The Physical Effects of Grief
Are you puzzled by the physical effects of grief? Sabine explains the hidden causes of common grief symptoms.
Funerals: Everything a - Young Person Needs to Know
A useful film and book to help any young person understand funerals (burial and cremation) and decide whether to attend and what role they can play in saying goodbye to a loved one.
Surviving Christmas - When You Are Bereaved
The video from Sabine Horner offers tips for surviving Christmas when you are bereaved.
Bereavement Counselling - What You Need to Know
We provide some information here about what bereavement counselling is, what to expect and how to find a good counsellor that suits your needs. The information is helpfully provided by the Association of Christian Counsellors.
Anticipatory Grief & the Final Farewell - The Power of Discussing Death
Anticipatory loss is the grief that is felt in anticipation of someone's death and we can better prepare for loss, change the negative narrative, and remove the taboo by talking about death.
Christmas… a Difficult Time for - Those Who Are Grieving
Christmas is a difficult time for those grieving. This is the season of traditions and family gatherings and a by-product is that it highlights the ‘missing-person-shaped’ hole in our lives.
Offering Bereavement Support - to Grieving University Students
Supporting young adults as they navigate being away from home at University and providing them with bereavement support can be challenging. Here our Founder, Yvonne Tulloch provides quick tips on how to do so.
Preventing Drastic - Weight Loss in Grief
Sabine Horner explains why eating can become a major issue after losing a loved one and experiencing grief. In the early days, for biological reasons most people who are grieving simply do not feel hungry.
Losing a Child - and Grieving
Grieving the death of a child, of any age, brings heartbreak and devastation. This article was written by Jane Harris and Jimmy Edmonds who set up the Good Grief Project following the death of their son, Josh.
Feeling the Physical Effects of Grief? - Nourish Your Body
Nutritionist Sabine Horner recommends ways to nourish your body when you are grieving.
Rosemary for Remembrance - Mourning Cake
A recipe for how to bake a Rosemary for Remembrance Cake from Nigella Lawson’s book Feast. It’s perfect to bake for yourself or someone else who is in mourning.
Bereaved? Why We Can’t Stomach Food - Physical Signs of Grief
Lost your appetite? Of the many physical signs of grief, a decreased appetite and other food related issues are perhaps the most common. Learn what you can do about it.
When Something Terrible Happens by Marge Heegaard
FACTUAL: The 'Drawing Out Feelings' series of books has been designed to provide parents, educators and counsellors with an organised approach to helping children cope with grief, family loss and change.
When Someone Very Special Dies by Marge Heegaard
REFLECTION: A practical format for allowing children to understand the concept of death and develop coping skills for life, this book is designed for young readers to illustrate.
The Goodbye Boat by Mary Joslin
NOVEL/STORY: A very simple illustrative story of the sorrow of seeing the goodbye boat take a friend away.
When Someone Dies by Tracey Cusick & Simon Hepworth
REFLECTION: This book asks the questions that children ask, and answers them in a succinct format. Simple illustrations and straightforward text are designed to help children through difficult times.
What on Earth Do You Do When Someone Dies? by Trevor Romain
REFLECTION: This book is a simple, insightful, and straight from the heart book for any child who has lost a loved one or other special person.
Muddles, Puddles and Sunshine by Diana Crossley
REFLECTION: A book offering practical and sensitive support for bereaved children.
Michael Rosen's Sad Book by Michael Rosen
BOOK: A beautifully illustrated read for adults and children about love and loss which explains why it's ok to be sad sometimes.
Remembering Mum by Ginny Perkins & Leon Morris
BIOGRAPHY/AUTOBIOGRAPHY: The book Remembering Mum reminds the reader of the need to express grief in a society which all too often sees death as a taboo subject.
Waterbugs and Dragonflies by Doris Stickney
FACTUAL: This little book will help you find the right words...a caring thought...a comforting reflection to communicate compassion in extraordinary ways for bereaved children.
The Memory Tree by Britta Teckentrupp
NOVEL/STORY: A beautiful and heartfelt picture book to help children celebrate the memories left behind when a loved one dies.
Granpa by John Burningham
NOVEL/STORY: An illustrated book to help and support children with grief.
Badger’s Parting Gifts by Susan Varley
NOVEL/STORY: A helpful reading guide from Child Bereavement UK that provides tips for reading Badger’s Parting Gifts with children and helping them better understand grief.
How to - Hold Your Own Memorial
If you have been bereaved and you can’t attend a funeral or have chosen not to do so you may want to hold your own memorial service for the person you have lost.
Learning Disabilities - and Bereavement Support
This briefing is produced by Brake, the road safety charity. It aims to raise awareness of how people with learning disabilities experience grief, and provides advice on how to offer them bereavement support.
Young People and - Traumatic Grief and Bereavement
In traumatic grief and bereavement, children and young people experience very strong emotions because of the meaning they make of the death.
How to Cope with a - Tragedy & Complicated Grief
Every death brings its own trauma to survivors. However, when someone is suddenly killed in an accident or murdered, the stress levels rise considerably for those left behind and this can cause what is known as complicated grief.
Traumatic Grief & - Bereavement Support
Trauma refers to the way that some distressing events are so extreme or shocking that they overwhelm a person’s ability to cope, resulting in lasting negative impact. This article contains information to help you understand and respond to people with traumatic grief.
Autistic People and - Bereavement
There is not a great deal of research on how autistic people deal with bereavement. However there is useful advice available that can help us support anyone with autism, whatever their age.
Funerals - How to Plan One
Our guide on how to plan a funeral. A funeral is an opportunity to create a special tribute to your loved one and whilst painful, can also be memorable and a positive experience.
Protecting Against Identity Fraud - What to do When Someone Dies
Wondering what to do when someone dies and has their identity stolen? This advice might help you to prevent it.
Government Advice - What to do When Someone Dies
Do you need to know what to do when someone dies? There’s a lot of Government advice to help and support you during this difficult time. This article explains more.
Funeral Etiquette - in Different Faiths
If you are attending the funeral of someone of a different faith you can get advice here on, for example, what to expect, how to pay your respects, how to send condolences and what to wear to the funeral.
Five Tips for Supporting - a Grieving Young Person
Here are five tips for supporting young people who are bereaved.
Tough Stuff Journal: Someone Has Died
REFLECTION: A resource to help young people express and share their grief and feelings of loss when someone has died - endorsed by professionals in the field.
Training by Listening People
TRAINING COURSES: Training for youth leaders, teachers and professionals supporting young people.
When Children Grieve by John W. James and Russell Friedman
FACTUAL: In When Children Grieve, the authors offer a cutting-edge volume to free children from the false idea of “not feeling bad” and to empower them with positive, effective methods of dealing with loss.
Welldoing.org
WEBSITE: Therapist-matching and coach-matching service for in-person and online therapy.
The Snowdrop Tree by Ema Lou Rowe
NOVEL/STORY: How to help a child through bereavement; a story with outdoor activities for adults and children to share.
Supporting Children When Someone They Love Has Died Through Suicide
FACTUAL: Produced by the Balloons Charity this leaflet gives tips and advice on how to support children bereaved by suicide.
Suzie Goes to a Funeral by Charlotte Olson
NOVEL/STORY: A simple story to help and show what children might experience at a funeral.
Supporting Young Children and Families Through Bereavement (Free eBook)
FACTUAL: A guide for early years professionals.
A Shelter for Sadness by Anne Booth and David Litchfield
NOVEL/STORY: Anne Booth’s gentle text explores how a bereaved little boy creates a shelter for his sadness giving it a place where it can take on the many different shapes and moods it may arrive in.
Lost for Words (Free e-Book) by Benjamin Brooks Dutton
FACTUAL: Downloadable advice for children about how to cope with grief by Childhood Bereavement Network.
What Happened to Daddy's Body? by Elke and Alex Barber
NOVEL/STORY: Explaining what happens after death in words very young children can understand.
Stewart's Tree by Cathy Campbell
NOVEL/STORY: A book for brothers and sisters when a baby dies shortly after birth.
You Just Don't Understand
REFLECTION: Supporting Bereaved Teenagers produced by Winston's Wish.
Is Daddy Coming Back in a Minute? by Elke Barber
BIOGRAPHY/AUTOBIOGRAPHY: Explaining (sudden) death in words very young children can understand.
Someone Came Before You by Pat Schwiebert
NOVEL/STORY: Helps parents tell a child of a family that has suffered a miscarriage or stillbirth.
When Someone Very Special Dies by Marge Heegaard
NOVEL/STORY: Children can learn to cope with grief (Drawing Out Feelings Series).
A Birthday Present for Daniel by Juliet Rothman
NOVEL/STORY: Ellen has lost her brother, and she shares with readers just how his death has changed the way her family interacts and the way she thinks about herself and others.
Dear Grandma Bunny by Dick Bruna
NOVEL/STORY: This book tells the story of what happened and how Miffy felt and coped when Grandma died.
When Uncle Bob Died by Althea
NOVEL/STORY: A young boy talks about death and about Uncle Bob who died from an illness.
I Miss You: A First Look at Death By Pat Thomas
FACTUAL: This reassuring picture book explores the difficult issue of death for young children.
Goodbye Mousie by Robie H. Harris
NOVEL/STORY: This beautifully illustrated picture book tells the story of a little boy who’s told that his pet mouse has died.
What Does Dead Mean? by Caroline Jay and Jenni Thomas
REFLECTION: A book for very young children to help explain death and dying.
When Dinosaurs Die by Laurie Krasny Brown and Marc Brown
NOVEL/STORY: by Laurene Krasny Brown – A guide to understanding death (Dino Life Guides for Families).
Saying Goodbye Workbook (Free e-Book) for Children by Dr Elaine Klewchuk and Dr Susie Willis
FACTUAL: Downloadable leaflet for children affected by a Covid 19 death.
Where are you Lydie? by Emma Poore
NOVEL/STORY: A true and uplifting story for young children about love, loss and hope.
The Invisible String by Patricia Karst
NOVEL/STORY: A wonderful storybook for children experiencing any kind of separation for any reason (including bereavement) anxiety.
If There’s Anything I Can Do: How to Help Someone Who Has Been Bereaved by Caroline Voaden
BIOGRAPHY/AUTOBIOGRAPHY: Caroline Voaden was widowed in 2003 with two very young children. She explains how it feels to try and cope after the death of a partner, and she also passes on the advice of many other people who have lost their partners, some with young families, many in later life.
How It Feels When a Parent Dies by Jill Krementz
BIOGRAPHY/AUTOBIOGRAPHY: The short writings hold a range of reactions to the death of a parent. The authors come from different backgrounds, situations and circumstances, yet they hold one thing in common: losing a parent.
Childhood Bereavement Network
WEBSITE: A hub for those working with bereaved children and young people across the UK
A Sky of Diamonds by Camille Gibbs
NOVEL/STORY: An illustrated storybook about a girl named Mia who has experienced the death of her mother. Covering all stages of grief, it is perfect for reading with bereaved children aged 5-9 as a way to help them overcome their difficult feelings. It includes in-built strategies for coping with grief and answers many questions that children have about death.
Great Answers to Difficult Questions About Death: What Children Need to Know by Linda Goldman
FACTUAL: This book explores children's thoughts and feelings on the subject of death and provides parents and other caring adults with guidance on how to respond to difficult questions.
Helping Children and Adolescents Think About Death, Dying and Bereavement by Marian Carter
FACTUAL: A comprehensive guide that looks at how children comprehend the death of a pet or someone close to them, their own dying, bereavement and grieving.
British Association for Counselling & Psychotherapy
WEBSITE: Counselling and bereavement advocacy organisation.
Books on Death for Young Children (Various Titles) by Elke Thompson
FACTUAL: Books (various titles) explaining death in words young children can understand by Elke Thompson.
Ataloss.org: Being a Bereaved Parent Supporting a Bereaved Child
ARTICLE: Information on the AtaLoss.org website about being a bereaved parent
Mum's Jumper by Jayde Parkin
NOVEL/STORY: A simple, heartfelt and ultimately uplifting book for anyone coping with loss told from the perspective of a child.
Love Will Never Die by Clare Shaw
NOVEL/STORY: This book addresses the mixed emotions felt by a child during the grieving process.
Dealing with a Traumatic Bereavement
WEBSITE: This is a useful website offering help for those dealing with a traumatic event including bereavement where it has happened in traumatic circumstances.
Hope Again
WEBSITE: A fantastic support website from Cruse Bereavement Care by young people for young people.
Children & Grief by Joey O’Connor
REFLECTION: Children and Grief is a book that offers parents a way to approach these tough questions with honesty, tenderness, and hope.
Beyond the Rough Rock (Suicide) by Stubbs, Stokes & Baker
BOOK: A book to help with supporting a child who has been bereaved through suicide.
A Parent’s Guide to Raising Grieving Children: Rebuilding Your Family after the Death of a Loved One Phyllis R. Silverman & Madelyn Kelly
FACTUAL: A guidebook for parents about raising grieving children.