Resources
Project Eileen
WEBSITE: Multimedia school-based project helping young people tackle the topics of death and grief.
Baby Loss - and Grief
Losing a baby is one of the most devastating experiences a person can go through. This article covers how to understand the impact of baby loss and how to help those who have gone through it.
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.
Looking After Yourself - When You’re Mourning
After the funeral, everyone else's lives seem to go back to normal, and you may be left wondering how you're going to cope. Read on for advice on taking care of yourself, crucial for your future wellbeing and that of others, when you’re still mourning.
Bereavement Support - in Older Age
Although losing a loved one is perhaps more common in later life, this doesn’t make it any easier to deal with. If someone you know has been bereaved, there are some simple things you can do to provide bereavement support.
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.
Losing a Loved One - Coping When Bereaved
AtaLoss Subject Matter Expert, Sabine Horner is a nutritionist. Here she writes about how deep breathing can help us deal with the storms of emotion when we're bereaved.
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: Find an Independent - Funeral Director near You
Understand how The National Society of Allied and Independent Funeral Directors (known as SAIF) can help.
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.
Annually Remembering - In Memoriam
Remember loved ones In Memoriam. We encourage people who have been bereaved to consider activities on offer at this time of remembering. We also offer some advice to help bereaved people with their grief.
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.
Bereavement Support - Befriending
Loneliness is often something we experience following the death of someone important to us and can happen at any age. This article provides links to services that can help by offering bereavement support.
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.
Someone Has Died Suddenly by Mary Williams
FACTUAL: Written by Mary Williams the CEO of BRAKE, the road safety charity. This is a book about the sudden loss of a loved one through a traffic accident.
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.
In the Springtime of the Year by Susan Hill
REFLECTION: Susan Hill's book is a true account of a lyrical exploration of love and loss and grief and mourning.
The Cremation Society of Great Britain
WEBSITE: Organisation committed to best practice and promotion of cremation.
Suicide Bereavement UK Training
TRAINING COURSES: Consultancy and post-vention assisting those bereaved by suicide (PABBS) to help professionals build their confidence and skills.
A Death in the Lives Of
ARTS/THEATRE (FACTUAL FILM): 20 minute film shows a group of young people aged 13-16, from a range of backgrounds talking about the kind of support they needed to help them cope with bereavement.
The Boys Are Back in Town by Simon Carr
BIOGRAPHY/AUTOBIOGRAPHY: A father bringing up boys after the death of his wife.
Every Time We Say Goodbye by Anna Blundy
BIOGRAPHY/AUTOBIOGRAPHY: Anna Blundy's book is an honest account of her personal experience of losing her father.
And When Did You Last See Your Father? by Blake Morrison
BIOGRAPHY/AUTOBIOGRAPHY: Blake Morrison's book is a portrait of family life, father-son relationships and bereavement.
Living on the Seabed by Lindsay Nicholson
BIOGRAPHY/AUTOBIOGRAPHY: Lindsay Nicholson looks at the grieving process and offers a roadmap to help all of us navigate a path none of us chooses but all of us must walk.
Leaving a Legacy and - Reducing Your Tax Liability
Leaving a legacy including a part or your entire estate to a charity can reduce, and in some situations, eliminate your Inheritance Tax liability.
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.
The Grief Goes On - A Gift for a Bereaved Friend
Dr Marianne Trent, a Clinical Psychologist and Author of 'The Grief Collective', talks about mourning and letting other people know you are bereaved. She also explains the AtaLoss Remembering Someone badge which we think makes a good gift for a bereaved friend.
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.
What Is Effective - Bereavement Support?
This article explores effective bereavement support, how we can learn to offer it, and what it looks like.
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.
Writing a Will or Handling One When Bereaved
You might have to deal with the Will, money and property of the person who's died if you're a close friend or relative, or the executor of the Will. If you are anticipating your death you may be considering writing a will. We’ll talk about both aspects of Wills.
Registering a Death - What to do When Someone Dies
Need to know what to do when someone dies regarding registering the death? The death certificate is the official record that their life has ended and is the formal government record of that fact. We’ll explain how to proceed.
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.
Dealing with Belongings - What to do When Someone Dies
This article outlines what to do when someone dies and you need to deal with their belongings, it also covers what the legal rules may be.
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.
Five Tips for Supporting - a Grieving Young Person
Here are five tips for supporting young people who are bereaved.
Cancelling Mail
This is our guide to cancelling mail. Receiving post for the person who has died can be very difficult. Depending on the type of mail, there are a variety of practical measures you can take to deal with the problem.
How to Easily Cancel Official Documents - What to do When Someone Dies
Do you need to cancel official documents? We’ll tell you what to do when someone dies. Using the Government's ‘Tell Us Once’ service will ensure all government departments are informed. This includes passports, driving licenses, pensions, benefits, national insurance, tax and blue badges.
Benefits - and Bereavement
If you have been affected by bereavement there may be Government benefits you are now eligible for, especially if you are a partner or child of the deceased. Depending on which of your loved ones has died your tax allowances, National Insurance and benefits may change.
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.
The Grief Recovery Handbook by John W. James and Russell Friedman
FACTUAL: Incomplete recovery from grief can have a lifelong negative effect on the capacity for happiness. Drawing from their own histories as well as from others’, the authors illustrate how it is possible to recovery from grief and regain energy and spontaneity.
Love Untethered: How to Live When Your Child Dies by Vanessa May
BIOGRAPHY/AUTOBIOGRAPHY: Vanessa May gives a moving account of what she went through after the unexpected death of her son, demonstrating that it's possible to survive such a shattering and traumatic loss, even when that might feel impossible.
Welldoing.org
WEBSITE: Therapist-matching and coach-matching service for in-person and online therapy.
Baby Mail Preference Service
WEBSITE: Free service which allows you to register not to receive baby related mailings.
Your Last Gift: Getting Your Affairs in Order Before You Die, by Matthew Hutton
FACTUAL: 'Your Last Gift' is a practical step-by-step guide to getting your paperwork together, to help your loved ones deal easily with the 'sadmin' after your death. It has received excellent reviews.
Your Last Gift: Getting Your Affairs in Order by Matthew Hutton
FACTUAL: A practical guide to making life easy for your family and friends after your death. It will help you rest easy too knowing you have done everything to help them. A great book to read during 'Dying Matters' Week.
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.
Change, Loss and Bereavement in Highland
Striving for better outcomes for children and young people who have experienced change, loss and bereavement
A Heart That Works by Rob Delaney
BIOGRAPHY/AUTOBIOGRAPHY: An intimate, unflinching and fiercely funny exploration of loss by a man who lost his toddler son to a brain tumour.
Coping With - a Tragedy
ARTICLE: When a death is senseless, involves multiple losses or children, or when it could have been avoided, there is a deeper sense of trauma and grief.
Tell Us Once
WEBSITE: A Government service which informs central and local government services of the death all at one time.
Bereaved by Addiction or Substance Abuse
ARTICLE: Finding support and how to give support to anyone bereaved by addiction and substance abuse
Grief Works App
APP: Bereavement app that is used with or in place of therapy, at a fraction of the cost of a single therapy session.
Keeping Your Feet on the Ground When a Loved One Dies
ARTICLE: Deep breathing can guide you through the storm of emotions following the loss of a loved one. Our Ambassador Sabine offers advice and recommends a book to read.
Bereavement, Loss and Grief
WEBSITE: help and support for professionals including school staff
The Foundation for Infant Loss Training
TRAINING COURSES: Training for professionals in all areas of pregnancy and infant loss.
Cat Guardians by the Cats Protection
Cats Protection can care for your cat when you pass away.
First Hand - Witness to Suicide Support
WEBSITE: Support for anyone who has witnessed the suicide of an unknown victim.
An Expert’s Guide on How to Talk to Children About Death
FACTUAL: The guide details how to approach the subject of death with children.
Cooking for One by Simon Beckett Allen
BIOGRAPHY/AUTOBIOGRAPHY: This new book is designed to help newly bereaved people learn to love cooking for themselves at a time when they may have lost interest in food or never learned to cook.
Talking About Death with Your Little One (CBeebies and Child Bereavement UK Video)
ARTS/THEATRE: Cbeebies video about talking to children about death.
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.
Activities for Families to Do Together After the Death of a Loved One
FACTUAL: A printable PDF of ideas and activities for families after a bereavement. Produced by Balloons Charity.
Suzie Goes to a Funeral by Charlotte Olson
NOVEL/STORY: A simple story to help and show what children might experience at a funeral.
Someone Close to You Has Been Bereaved (Downloadable Leaflets)
FACTUAL: Leaflet aimed at helping concerned relatives or friends understand what a bereaved person might need and want. Produced by Dying Matters.
Supporting Young Children and Families Through Bereavement (Free eBook)
FACTUAL: A guide for early years professionals.
Estate Planning in a Digital Age Before You Die
WEBSITE: Register a life or a death - Life Ledger provides an easy-to-use paid service that helps families simplify the death notification process before death and a free service for anyone registering a death.
Understanding Bereaved Parents and Siblings by Dr Cathy McQuaid
FACTUAL: Dr Cathy McQuaid's 'A Handbook for Professionals, Family, and Friends' offers us a useful guide about how to support bereaved parents and siblings
Stay Alive App
APP: Suicide Prevention Application. For those at risk of suicide and people worried about someone.
Step by Step by Samaritans
WEBSITE: Providing practical support to help schools prepare for and recover from a suspected or attempted suicide.
The Smart Grief Guide
WEBSITE: Developed to help young people find a way through their feelings .
Talking to Children (ARC)
FACTUAL: How to talk to children about a fetal anomaly termination.
Help is at Hand
FACTUAL: A resource for people bereaved through suicide or other unexplained death, and for those supporting them.
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.
Living in the Mourning Light by Andrea Corrie
REFLECTION: A combination of reflection and autobiography, the book contains a variety of reflections about our inner strength and innate ability to overcome the worse of situations specifically in this case, bereavement.
The Grief Collective by Dr Marianne Trent
BIOGRAPHY/AUTOBIOGRAPHY: Stories of life, loss & learning to heal.
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.
Understanding Bereavement - The Welsh Version
FACTUAL: A Welsh language short leaflet introducing Cruse Bereavement Care and providing information about bereavement.
Guidelines for Delivering Bereavement Support Groups
FACTUAL: A guide to delivering grief support groups complied by the National Bereavement Alliance and Support After Suicide Partnership.
Coping with Special Occasions
FACTUAL: This leaflet that you van download from Compassionate Friends provides information on how to cope with special occasions following the loss of a child.
Bereaved Through Suicide a Guide for Northern Ireland Residents
FACTUAL: A useful guide following the loss of a loved one through Suicide.
Following the Suicide of a Child by The Compassionate Friends
FACTUAL: This downloadable PDF leaflet, by The Compassionate Friends, provides practical and emotional support following the suicide of a child.
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.
Dying to be Free by Beverly Cobain
FACTUAL: A guide for families who are healing from the loss of suicide.
Please be Patient: I’m Grieving by Gary Roe
FACTUAL: A guidebook for caring for and supporting those with a grieving heart.
The Baby Loss Guide by Zoe Clark-Coates
FACTUAL: Practical and compassionate support with a day-by-day resource to navigate the path of grief.
Grieving Parents: Surviving Loss as a Couple by Nathalie Himmelrich
BIOGRAPHY/AUTOBIOGRAPHY: A collection of 26 honest essays written by grieving parents.
The Unspeakable Loss: How Do You Live When a Child Dies? by Nisha Zenoff
REFLECTION: A guide to hope and healing after the death of a child.
Once More We Saw Stars: A Memoir by Jayson Greene
NOVEL/STORY: A gripping and beautiful book about the power of love in the face of unimaginable loss.
Bereaved Parents and their Continuing Bonds: Love After Death by Catherine Seigal
FACTUAL: A counsellor shares her experience of working with bereaved parents
Finding the Words - Support After Suicide
FACTUAL: How to support someone who has been bereaved and affected by suicide.
Loss of a Parent by Theresa Jackson
BIOGRAPHY/AUTOBIOGRAPHY: The author lost her father in 2007 and struggled to come to terms with the loss. With a career in medical communications and a Master's degree in clinical research, Theresa Jackson has combined the most effective resources, healing practices for grief and expert guidance on bereavement.
Books Beyond Words - Mini Bereavement Set
FACTUAL: A collection of four books which cover bereavement and death suitable for people who find pictures easier than words, including learning disabilities and those whose first language is not English.
When Someone Very Special Dies by Marge Heegaard
NOVEL/STORY: Children can learn to cope with grief (Drawing Out Feelings Series).
Forward For Life - Suicide Prevention
WEBSITE: Suicide Prevention training website and charity.
The Bereavement Journey®: Offer the Programme
TRAINING COURSES: A proven way to help bereaved people in your community, with all the resources, information and support you need provided to make delivery easy.
Stillbirth Stories
BIOGRAPHY/AUTOBIOGRAPHY: Stillbirth Stories is a unique collection of filmed interviews with parents and clinicians talking about their experiences of stillbirth.
Life, Loss, Learning, Legacy Project
WEBSITE: Video storytelling website about grief, bereavement and death.
No Place to Lie: Secrets Unlocked, a Promise Kept by Helen Garlick
NOVEL/STORY: No Place to Lie tells the story of corrosive family secrets with an ultimately uplifting conclusion.
Our Missing Peace
WEBSITE Provides support to bereaved parents all over the world by creating a unifying symbol, signposting service and educating the public about child loss.
Coroners and Inquests: What to Expect
ARTICLE: If your loved one died unexpectedly, by suicide, in an accident or in unexplained causes, the death will be referred to a Coroner. Find out everything you need to know about this process here.
Good Grief- Embracing Life at a Time of Death, by Catherine Mayer and Anne Mayer Bird
BIOGRAPHY/AUTOBIOGRAPHY: Mother and daughter Catherine and Anne, face widowhood on the eve of the pandemic. Sandi Toksvig says this is "The most life-affirming book ever written about death."
COSCA - Counselling and Psychotherapy Professional Body in Scotland
WEBSITE: Scotland’s professional body for counselling and psychotherapy
Why Not Me?: A Story of Love and Loss by Barbara Want
BIOGRAPHY/AUTOBIOGRAPHY: Ruthlessly honest memoir of a widow's pain in coming to terms with the death of her husband.
Tax Help for Older People
WEBSITE: Free, independent and expert help and advice for older people on lower incomes who cannot afford to pay for professional tax advice. With over 420 volunteers and a national call centre, we can help you, wherever you are in the UK.
My Dad and Me by Daxa Manhar Patel
BIOGRAPHY/AUTOBIOGRAPHY: A journey of love... loss...and life. Daxa bravely shares the story of her love and grief for her inspirational father.
What to Do When Someone Dies: National Bereavement Service
FACTUAL: A very helpful little guide to everything you need to do following a bereavement and a handy checklist on the back.
Fevered Sleep
ARTS/THEATRE: Fevered Sleep are an arts project on a mission to make the world a more caring, curious, compassionate place - one unlikely art project at a time…
Life. Death. Whatever.
WEBSITE: Life. Death. Whatever. is an initiative to redesign the dialogue around death and dying, to open it up and find new approaches to this important subject. This project ran from 2016 and has now closed. The website remains online as an archive, preserving all the wonderful submissions and contributions received over the years.
Open to Hope
WEBSITE: An online website where people can share inspirational stories of loss and love. We encourage our visitors to read, listen and share their stories of hope and compassion.
Languages of Loss by Sasha Bates
BIOGRAPHY/AUTOBIOGRAPHY: Languages of Loss: A psychotherapist's journey through grief.
The Swan Song Project
ARTS/THEATRE: The Swan Song Project gives people facing end of life and those surrounding them the opportunity to write and record their own original song.
Barber Talk (Mental Health Training for Barbers)
TRAINING COURSES: Free online training for barbers to help them start conversations with men who may be contemplating suicide
Funerals: Organisations That Can Help
WEBSITE: Organisations, both faith-based and secular, that can help and advise about loved ones' funerals and help you find a celebrant.
Vicky Angel by Jacqueline Wilson
NOVEL/STORY: This moving but amusing story illustrates how hard it is to carry on with everyday life after a tragic accident.
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.
Government Departments You Need to Notify About a Death
WEBSITE: Useful links to Government departments to notify them about a death.
What Does Dead Mean? by Caroline Jay and Jenni Thomas
REFLECTION: A book for very young children to help explain death and dying.
Saying Goodbye: Malin Andersson Podcast
WEBSITE: Listen to former Love Island star Malin Andersson talking about the loss of her mother and her baby daughter and why it is so hard to talk about death.
The Empty Room by Elizabeth DeVita-Raeburn
BIOGRAPHY/AUTOBIOGRAPHY: A memoir about sibling loss.
The Web Of Grief by Rhiannon Jones
BIOGRAPHY/AUTOBIOGRAPHY: After the loss of her brother the writer reflects on life and how to recover.
I’ll Write Your Name on Every Beach by Susan Auerbach
BIOGRAPHY/AUTOBIOGRAPHY: A Mother’s quest for comfort, clarity and courage after suicide loss.
The Grief Garden Path by Julie New
REFLECTION: The Grief Garden Path is easy to read, with plenty of practical advice, which you can dip into whenever you have time.
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.
Goodness Gracious Grief Podcast by Kady Braine
WEBSITE: Looking at how we can help each other grieve.
Where are you Lydie? by Emma Poore
NOVEL/STORY: A true and uplifting story for young children about love, loss and hope.
Suicide Bereavement UK Research
ARTICLE: Research papers for professionals on Postvention Assisting those Bereaved by Suicide.
Rosedale Bereavement Training
TRAINING COURSES: Professional bereavement training courses provided by the training arm of Rosedale Funeral Directors.
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.
Losing Someone you Love: When a Brother or Sister Dies by Elizabeth Richter
BIOGRAPHY/AUTOBIOGRAPHY: For young and older teenagers about losing siblings.
..Tough Stuff Journal: Someone has died
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.
Tough Stuff Journal: Parents Splitting Up
REFLECTION: A resource to help young people express and share their emotions and feelings of loss when parents separate.
On Grief and Grieving by David Kessler and Elisabeth Kubler Ross
FACTUAL: A well respected book that outlines some experiences that some bereaved people may experience.
Children and Grief by William Worden
FACTUAL: Drawing upon extensive interviews and assessments of school-age children who have lost a parent to death, this book offers a richly textured portrait of the mourning process in children.
Beyond Grief by Carol Staudacher
REFLECTION: A guide for recovering from the death of a loved one.
Option B: Facing Adversity, Building Resilience and Finding Joy by Sandberg & Grant
REFLECTION: After the sudden death of her husband, Sheryl Sandberg felt certain that she and her children would never feel pure joy again.
Love and Loss: The Roots of Grief and It’s Complication by C Parkes Murray
FACTUAL: By understanding the nature and pattern of loving can we begin to understand the problems of grieving.
Young People Bereavement Training by Listening People
TRAINING COURSES: Listening People 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.
Continuing Bonds by Klass, Silverman & Nickman
FACTUAL: Many modern theories hold that the function of grief and mourning is to cut bonds with the deceased, freeing the survivor to develop new relationships.
Zero Suicide Alliance
WEBSITE: A collaboration of NHS Trusts, businesses and individuals focused on suicide prevention through training courses.
ABSCo (Association of Bereavement Service Coordinators)
WEBSITE: ABSCo was formed to meet the need for a network for support and information for bereavement and palliative care industry professionals who coordinate and manage bereavement support services within hospices and palliative care settings, for both adults and children.
Childhood Bereavement Network
WEBSITE: A hub for those working with bereaved children and young people across the UK
Understanding Grief- An Introduction by Richard Gross
FACTUAL: A comprehensive and accessible 'one stop' introduction to all the major models of grief.
Somerset County Council, Advice on Attitudes to Death and Grieving in Different Faith and Belief Communities
FACTUAL: A guide with general advice about how to respect different community approaches to death and bereavement.
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.
It’s Not Raining, Daddy. It’s Happy. by Benjamin Brooks Dutton
BIOGRAPHY/AUTOBIOGRAPHY: A book about surviving grief. A father and son start again after the tragic loss of a wife and mother.
Writing and Researching Wills
WEBSITE: Websites giving advice about writing a will, finding someone's will and finding a will writer.
Organ Donation
WEBSITE: Useful website and contact information about organ donation in all regions of the UK.
Digital Legacy Association
WEBSITE: Helps people make arrangements for their digital legacy.
Natural Death Centre
WEBSITE: Informative website about planning a woodland or green burial.
Humanist Funerals
WEBSITE: Website contact details for arranging a humanist funeral in the UK.
Action on Pre-eclampsia
WEBSITE: The Action on Pre-eclampsia website offers stories, research and education to support those affected by Pre-eclampsia.
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: Preventing Posthumous Identity Fraud
ARTICLE: Information from the AtaLoss.org website about protecting yourself and your family from fraud in the event of your own death or after the death of a loved one.
Ataloss.org: Being a Bereaved Parent Supporting a Bereaved Child
ARTICLE: Information on the AtaLoss.org website about being a bereaved parent
Funny People Talking about Death - Griefcast, a Podcast by Cariad Lloyd
WEBSITE: An award winning series of podcasts by Cariad Lloyd, exploring death and grief with comedians who discuss their own losses.
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.
A Valley Journal Resources through blogs, articles and books on grief and how to handle it.
WEBSITE: A Valley Journal is a website which encompasses bereavement advice, dates to book bereavement “Living with Loss” retreats, poetry, blogs and more. It is curated by Abi May.
BBC News Article, If You Die Early, How Will Your Children Remember You?
ARTICLE: A useful article about how bereavement affected Gaby Eirew and how she used 'legacy' to look forward.
With the End in Mind: Dying, Death and Wisdom in an Age of Denial by Kathryn Mannix
BIOGRAPHY/AUTOBIOGRAPHY: A book of stories from the bedsides of patients facing death, Kathryn shares the experiences that have enabled her to see dying as something we can plan for.
You'll Get Over It: The Rage of Bereavement by Virginia Ironside
REFLECTION: A book drawing on the author and other experiences tackling the death of a loved one.
Grief Works: Stories of Life, Death and Surviving by Julia Samuel
BIOGRAPHY/AUTOBIOGRAPHY: In Julia Samuel's book we hear stories from those who have experienced great love and great loss - and survived.
The Path Not Chosen (CWR) by Wendy Bray
REFLECTION: A beautifully illustrated full-colour booklet for the bereaved.
Losing a Child by Elaine Storkey
FACTUAL: A series of pocketbooks designed for those involved in pastoral care and counselling.
Living through Grief by Harold Bauman
FACTUAL: A carefully crafted book gently explains the experience of grief and suggests practical steps for learning to live again.
What a Wonderful World, An Anthology of Joy by Fiona Castle
BIOGRAPHY/AUTOBIOGRAPHY: Book writing about the depths of grief and the hope that emerges.
Acquainted with Grief, Encouraging Meditations for Times of Loss by Faye Landrum
FACTUAL: This is a great gift book for anyone who is hurting from a death, divorce, or separation.
Children and Bereavement by Wendy Duffy
FACTUAL: Children and Bereavement is essential reading for parents, teachers, clergy and others who may be involved in helping a child or teenager come to terms with a death.
First Steps Through Bereavement by Sue Mayfield
REFLECTION: First Steps through Bereavement is an indispensable guide through the process of mourning a loved one.
Living With Bereavement by Sue Mayfield
REFLECTION: A helpful guide about living with bereavement.
Insight into Bereavement by Wendy Bray & Diana Priest
REFLECTION: An insight into bereavement gives practical advice for these times in our lives and points to the eternal hope we have in God.
Joy Comes in the Morning by Bob Gass
BIOGRAPHY/AUTOBIOGRAPHY: Beautiful book to refer to when coping with grief from Christian minister Bob Gass.
Our Greatest Gift: A Meditation on Dying and Caring by Henri Nouwen
REFLECTION: In this book of personal reflections, the author hopes to encourage those who are dying to die well and those who care for the dying to care well.
Straight Talk About Death for Teenagers by Earl A Grollman
FACTUAL: A book written for teenagers to help explain what to expect when you lose someone you love.
Facing Grief: Bereavement and the Young Adult by Susan Wallbank
FACTUAL: A compassionate book that examines in detail the particular needs and experiences of bereaved young adults.
Alan D. Wolfelt, Healing your Grieving Heart – For Teens
FACTUAL: A book of simple tips for understanding and expressing your grief for teens.
Beyond the Rough Rock (Suicide) by Stubbs, Stokes & Baker
BOOK: A book to help with supporting a child who has been bereaved through suicide.
After You by Natascha McElhone
BIOGRAPHY/AUTOBIOGRAPHY: After You is a triumphant testament to the resilience of the human spirit after Natascha's loss of her beloved husband.
The Year of Magical Thinking by Joan Didion
BIOGRAPHY/AUTOBIOGRAPHY: A portrait of a marriage and a life – in good times and bad – that will speak to anyone who has ever loved a husband or wife or child. A stunning book of electric honesty and passion.
Alison Wertheimer, A Special Scar: The Experiences of People Bereaved by Suicide
FACTUAL: A 'Special Scar' looks in detail at the stigma surrounding suicide and offers practical help for survivors, relatives and friends of people who have taken their own life.
The Long Sleep: Young People and Suicide by Kate Hill
FACTUAL: This book is an exploration of the origins, symptoms and meanings of young peoples' suicidal crises.
Night Falls Fast: Understanding Suicide by Kay Redfield Jamison
BIOGRAPHY/AUTOBIOGRAPHY: A book about the difficult subject of suicide with references to the authors own experience.
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.
I’m Grieving as Fast as I Can (On Being Widowed) by Linda Feinberg
REFLECTION: A book about how Young Widows and Widowers Can cope and heal following bereavement.
Vigor Mortis – the End of the Death Taboo by Kate Berridge
FACTUAL: This book is a provocative account of how and why we have tamed the thing we most fear - death.
Death and How to Survive it by Kate Boydell
REFLECTION: This book is a unique and practical guide to coming to terms with the loss of your partner.

