Bereavement in Adults
Bereavement, grief and loss can cause many different symptoms and they affect people in different ways. There’s no right or wrong way to feel. Experiencing the loss of someone close to us through death is a difficult process emotionally and mentally as well as coping with the practical changes that we may have to manage. Below is a list of organisations that can help you navigate your feelings.Compassionate Communities (University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire)
Support group and 1:1 services for over 18s. Open to all, regardless of when their bereavement occurred, or the circumstances
- Online:
- A weekly Zoom support group, Mondays 13.00-14.30.
- To access this, contact [email protected]
- Befriending:
- 1:1 support via telephone or, outside lockdown, face to face. These are companionship visits, weekly, for as long as the person requires.
- Open to all. To access this, contact UHCW Bereavement Services on 02476 965131 or [email protected]
- December Drop-ins in Rugby:
- Weekly drop in at Moriarty’s Cafe on Regent Street, 2.00-3.30 on Tuesdays. People can simply come along, no need for referral.
- To find out more contact UHCW Bereavement Services on 02476 965131 or [email protected]
Cruse Bereavement Care
Coventry and Warwickshire Cruse offer help and support to those who have lost a loved one, whether recently or a long time ago. They support men, women, children and young people. Their work is led by run mainly by volunteers, all who receive regular ongoing training and are supervised by qualified supervisors. Cruse may be able to offer one-to-one counselling sessions. They also offer group and telephone support plus information evenings.
Bereavement Advice Centre
Bereavement Advice Centre is a free helpline and web-based information service provided by Co-op Legal Services. They provide practical information and advice and signposting on the many issues and procedures that face us after the death of someone close.
Bereavement and Grief Self-Help Books
Bereavement and grief self-help books are available from Warwickshire Libraries.
Find the list on the Library catalogue
- How to borrow the books:
- Some of the books are available as eBooks
- You can also borrow the books from all our libraries in Warwickshire. You will need a Warwickshire library card to borrow the books. Find more information on joining the Library.
Way Up
Way Up is a national online self-help group aimed at providing mutual support to those who have been widowed primarily, but not exclusively, in their 50s and 60s. It is a member’s only forum which is free to join and can help people feel much less isolated and alone.
SAMM Support after murder and manslaughter
SAMM Support after murder and manslaughter is a national UK charity supporting families who have been bereaved through murder or manslaughter. The charity also provides advice and training to professionals who support the traumatically bereaved. It is important that you do not feel alone. You will talk to people who will care for you and understand your grief. There is no membership fee and their database is completely confidential and not shared with anyone.
Assist Trauma Care
Assist Trauma Care provides therapeutic help to adults and children, individuals and families, affected by a wide range of traumatic occurrences. Based at a central clinic in Rugby, ASSIST therapists use evidence-based models to help sufferers rebuild their lives and move on following a traumatic experience that has impacted them.
Child Bereavement UK
Child Bereavement UK supports children and young people (up to age 25), parents, and families, to rebuild their lives when a child dies.
Freddie’s Wish
Freddie’s Wish provides a support service for grieving parents in Coventry and Warwickshire. The support service will be held on the first Thursday and third Tuesday of each month at Long Lawford and Boughton Leigh Children and Family Centres in Rugby. Email: [email protected]
Rosie Crane Trust
Rosie Crane Trust supports bereaved parents through their grief after the loss of a son or daughter of any age. They offer a 24-hour Listening Ear Helpline which can be accessed on 01460 55120.
Support for expectant and new parents
This page provides further information about specialist support for the loss of a baby.
Marie Curie telephone bereavement support line
This is a free national listening support service for people who have been bereaved due to terminal illness. Tel: 0800 090 2309.
Omega
Omega is a registered charity dedicated to reducing social isolation and loneliness. We offer chatterbox. a free telephone befriending service and Letterbox a free penpal befriending service.
Although Omega was founded as a specialist end of life care charity in 2007, our work has gradually refocused over the years, to reflect the needs of our clients. we discovered that while not all of them are dealing with end of life issues, the one main thing that unites them is a daily struggle with feelings of isolation and loneliness.
Omega is run from a small head office in Shrewsbury, Shropshire, but or services are open to clients throughout the UK. Our work is made possible by an ever-growing team of generous and varied volunteers.
Chatterbox
Chatterbox is a free telephone befriending service for socially isolated and lonely people. .Our clients are carefully matched to DBS-checked volunteer befrienders, with whom they exchange supportive, friendly phone calls. They chat about their lives, families and interests.
Letterbox
Letterbox is a free penpal befriending service for socially isolated and lonely people. Our clients are carefully matched to volunteer befrienders, with whom they exchange supportive, friendly letters. They share stories about their lives, families and interests.
Telephone: 01743 245 088
Email: [email protected]
Bereavement in Children
Grief can express itself in many different ways, often with very powerful, frightening and confusing feelings. Each person within a family will grieve in their own particular way and at their own pace. Children and young people who have lost a loved one can be particularly vulnerable and while family and friends will be a major support for many families, some people might want additional support. Below is a list of organisations that can help you and your family to navigate.
- Child Bereavement UK supports children and young people (up to age 25), parents, and families to rebuild their lives when a child grieves.
- The Laura Centre offers bereavement counselling to anyone affected by the death (or anticipated death) of a child and for any child or young person up to the age of 25 who is affected by the death (or anticipated death) of a parent or carer.
- Guy’s Gift provides support for bereaved children and young people aged between 5 and 25 and based in Coventry and Warwickshire. The aim of the service is to help children and young people through the grieving process in a safe, supportive and educational environment by increasing their knowledge, awareness and understanding of death and the grieving process, promoting open communication in the family and with peers and by providing coping strategies.
- Freddie’s Wish provides a support service for grieving parents in Coventry and Warwickshire. The support service will be held on the first Thursday and third Tuesday of each month at Long Lawford and Boughton Leigh Children and Family Centres in Rugby.
- Winston’s Wish provides support for children and young people have experienced the death of a loved one to help them come to terms with their loss. Parents and carers can call the national helpline 0808 802 0021 for advice on how to support a grieving child. There is also an email and online chat service for further advice.
- Assist Trauma Care provides therapeutic help to adults and children, individuals and families, affected by a wide range of traumatic occurrences. Based at a central clinic in Rugby, ASSIST therapists use evidence-based models to help sufferers rebuild their lives and move on following a traumatic experience that has impacted them.
- Warwickshire’s Family Information Service (FIS) brokerage service can offer one to one support for families with children up to the age of 25 and support them to access appropriate services where there are barriers, or they have complex needs. For more information, email [email protected] or via FIS helpline 01926 742274.
Counselling Services
Sometimes, despite our best efforts to look after our mental wellbeing, life events occur that affect our mental health in ways we cannot manage alone. The stresses and strains of everyday life ranging from physical illness, having financial pressures, or life changes like a new baby or a relationship breakdown can mean that we find ourselves not just feeling low but overwhelmed. Below is a list of some organisations that can provide counselling support where you can talk to a trained therapist who will listen to you and help you find ways to deal with these difficult times. Please note that there may be a cost associated with some of these services.
- Sycamore Counselling Service offers a confidential and professional counselling service for adults, children and young people in Warwickshire but especially covering the Nuneaton and Bedworth areas. They offer counselling around a whole range of difficulties, including bereavement and offer therapeutic play counselling to children and young people. They also work with schools in Warwickshire to provide this service.
- North Warwickshire Counselling Service is a voluntary organisation and a registered charity with committed highly trained voluntary counsellors. It exists to meet the needs of people who feel they would like the chance to sit down with someone who will really listen and try to understand their difficulties. Telephone: 024 7632 0095 or email [email protected]
- New Hope Counselling offers affordable one-to-one confidential counselling to residents in Warwick, Leamington Spa, Stratford upon Avon and Kenilworth. Appointments can be made by telephone: 07799 015650, or there is an online form you can complete and send.
- Assist Trauma Care – Therapeutic help to adults and children, individuals and families, affected by a wide range of traumatic occurrences. Based at a central clinic in Rugby, ASSIST therapists use evidence-based models to help sufferers rebuild their lives and move on following a traumatic experience that has impacted them. ASSIST therapists work with both the symptoms of Post-traumatic Stress Disorder and also with Traumatic Bereavement and Grief.
- Age UK Coventry & Warwickshire is a volunteer organisation and a registered charity. They offer a confidential and professional counselling service for individuals aged 65 and over. The counselling service can support people who may be experiencing mild to severe anxiety and depression, bereavement counselling and for carers who may be finding it difficult whilst undertaking their caring role. The service is currently being delivered by telephone or video calls. There is no charge, however, donations are welcome. Telephone 01926 458112 (leave a message) or 07436 108115 to make a referral on behalf of someone or self-refer.
There is also a range of mental health and wellbeing services and support available across Warwickshire that can help you and improve your wellbeing and support you during difficult times. These include face-to-face support, online and telephone support; with some services being available 24/7.
Suicide Bereavement Support
A sudden death or death by suicide is a difficult experience for those bereaved. It can leave people feeling isolated, confused and struggling to cope.
For many people, friends and family will be their main support, particularly in the immediate period after someone has died. However, you might want to contact some of the organisations listed below, especially if you would find it helpful to talk with others who have coped with a similar situation.
- Amparo offers practical and emotional support for anyone of any age bereaved by suicide in Coventry and Warwickshire. It is free to access and completely confidential and support can be provided one-to-one, to family groups, groups of colleagues or peers.
- Facing the Future groups provides support groups run by Samaritans and Cruse Bereavement Care. A group is currently set up in Coventry.
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 0208 939 9560 - First Hand is free resource is for anyone who has witnessed a suicide, particularly when they did not know the person who has died. This may be because someone happened to be at a particular location, or because their job involves responding to these incidents.”
- Kaleidoscope Plus Group offers one support group per month in Warwickshire to support people bereaved by suicide.
Phone: 0121 565 5605 - Papyrus offers signposting to a wide range of organisations that can provide bereavement support or support for people experiencing suicidal thoughts.
- Samaritans offers a free 24/7 telephone helpline for people who are feeling angry, depressed and suicidal.
Phone: 116 123 - Support After Suicide is a website providing a wide range of information about bereavement by suicide and also signposts to a number of organisations that can provide bereavement support or support for people experiencing suicidal thoughts.
- Support After Suicide – Help is at Hand is a written guide for people bereaved by suicide and is handed out by police when they notify anyone of a suspected death by suicide in Warwickshire
- Survivors of Bereavement by Suicide – Peer support groups available in Leamington Spa and Coventry. It should be noted that these are peer-led groups and do not link in with statutory organisations.
Leamington Group
Phone: 024 7630 2969
Email: [email protected]
Coventry Group
Phone: 07902 084 320
Email: [email protected] - Winston’s Wish
Support for children, young people and families who have been bereaved by suicide. Support is available via phone, email and online chat.
Phone: 0808 802 0021
Email: [email protected]