Bereavement support
When a child dies and when a family grieves, we are here to connect you with the right support. Whether that’s through information and online resources, personalised text messages, trained bereavement support staff or a community of others going through similar experiences.
Making a referral call
Adults are welcome to call us, but we ask that children and young people are referred by a parent or carer with parental responsibility. All our calls are answered personally, by an experienced member of staff.
If you feel unable to make this call, please ask a support person to make this first contact with our service and we will support you further, such as providing an interpreter. This call will be with one of our bereavement support practitioners, who will ask you a few questions to guide next steps.
We work closely with our health and social care colleagues in the community, and we encourage you to discuss the decision to take up bereavement support with any professionals supporting your family.
Our referral line is here for anyone affected by the death of a child, whether it happened recently or a long time ago. The referral line number is: 07876807635
Our referral line is open Monday-Friday 11am until 3pm (except bank holidays).
How we can support you
We can offer individual support for adults and children between the ages of seven and 18 years, if:
- You have been bereaved for three months or more
- You are a parent/family caregiver, or brother or sister of a child who has died
- You live in West, North or East Yorkshire
Please note: if your child is younger than seven years old, we can support you, with how you can best support your child at home or in school.
GriefChat
If you need immediate bereavement support, you can chat online with a specially trained bereavement counsellor by clicking on the GriefChat box below. GriefChat is a completely free service and is available Monday - Friday, 9am-9pm (except Bank Holidays).
GriefChat counsellors are experienced in supporting bereaved people and will listen to your story, explore how your grief is affecting you and help you to find any additional support you might need.
GriefChat provides emotional support for bereaved people, access to trained bereavement counsellors and referral into other specialist bereavement services.
Memorial events
Light up a Life
We hold Light up a Life services across the region during December. This provides further opportunities for family members to remember their loved ones.
Remembrance Day
Every year, we have a Day of Remembrance at the hospice for children that have died within the last two years.
What our service can provide for you?
- Free confidential bereavement support by online chat, by phone, over video (Zoom/Microsoft Teams) or in-person.
- Information to help you understand what is happening, step by step.
- Support to parents/carers for example, how to tell other children within the family that a child has died or how to help prepare a child for attending a funeral.
- Written information to read.
- Individual and group support where we can help you to create the space you need and support you to build on your own strengths to help you to cope.
- Connection with other families who are grieving.
- Remembering practices and memorial events.
Helpful contacts
Child Death Helpline
Freephone service for all of those affected by the death of a child.
0800 282 986
0808 800 6019
childdeathhelpline.org.uk
Child Bereavement UK
Supports families when a baby or child of any age dies or is dying, or when a child is facing bereavement.
0800 028 8840
childbereavementuk.org.uk
Samaritans
Free 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
116 123