Charities and Organisations
Below are some incredible charitable organisations that offer bereavement-related support.
Some are specifically aimed at students or young people, some at specific types of loss like suicide, and some are mental health charities.
From offering free counselling sessions, over-the-phone support, and online communities, to in-person events, the amazing work that these charities do ultimately aligns with our goal: to make the world a better place for young adults who have experienced the loss of a parent.
Student Minds
@studentmindsorg
The UK’s student mental health charity, and an online space to help students through the uncertainty of university life.
A section on their website deals with grief and loss, with short articles and videos dedicated to different aspects of coping with grief at university.
Find advice and resources for exam stress on the Student Space section of their website, a Cost of Living hub, and a Student Minds Blog.
The Student Grief Network
@studentgriefnetwork
‘A healing and inspiring space for students experiencing grief’.
What they offer:
A Grievers and Friends Supper Club in London in collaboration with Good Grief, bringing together a community of bereaved students with good food.
Events and workshops for grief writing, self-compassion, balancing grief with student life, supporting a friend, and more…
A blog on their website where students share their experiences of navigating grief at uni.
An engaging Instagram page that facilitates important student connection in times of grief and loss.
Let’s Talk About Loss
@talkaboutloss
Provides a safe space to talk about grief and loss for 18–35-year-olds.
The charity organises 37 meet-ups across the UK, connecting individuals who have experienced loss.
Find your local meet-up here:
Their website has a blog that covers a whole range of topics related to experiencing grief as a young person.
They have published a book called ‘Letters from the Grief Club: How We Live with Loss’ edited by Beth French and Kate Moreton.
Click to purchase:
Young Minds
@youngmindsuk
The UK’s leading mental health charity for young people.
Offers support and advice for young people, parents, and professionals for coping with emotions, difficult life circumstances, mental health conditions, medication, supporting a friend, and how to access treatment from the NHS.
They also share real-life stories from young people on their website.
As mental distress often goes hand in hand with grief, utilising support from charities focused on mental health can be beneficial to our healing journies.
Winston’s Wish
@winstonswish
‘Winston’s Wish is a charity that helps children, teenagers and young adults (up to the age of 25) find their feet when their worlds are turned upside down by grief. Through information, on-demand services, bereavement support and counselling, we support young people to understand their feelings, process their grief and find ways to move forward with hope for a brighter future. All of our support is available online, so we can support children and young people across the UK no matter where they live. We also help the adults who are caring for young grieving people including parents, school staff and healthcare professionals’ – Emma from Winston’s Wish.
Winston’s Wish has advice on their website for coping with grief at university:
Support by phone: Call 08088 020 021 (open 8am-8pm, weekdays)
Support by email: ask@winstonswish.org
Support by live chat: Available on winstonswish.org (open 3-8pm, weekdays)
Information and resources for young people: https://www.winstonswish.org/supporting-you/grief-support-young-people/
Cruse Bereavement Support
@crusesupport
The UK’s leading bereavement charity.
Over 80 local branches deliver services locally across England, Wales, and Northern Ireland.
Offers support after someone dies: one-to-one sessions with a trained bereavement supporter, usually over the phone or via video call.
Their website provides information on understanding different aspects of grief:
Effects of grief
Grief experiences
Managing grief
Supporting other people
Call the Cruse Helpline for immediate support on:
0808 808 1677
Grief Encounter
@griefencounter
‘We care passionately about helping bereaved children, young people and their families find hope and healing after the death of someone close’.
Grief Encounter offers all-family bereavement support with specialist counselling sessions, workshops, programmes, information, and advice.
They also have a free, confidential national grief helpline that operates 9am-9pm, Monday to Friday.
By phone: 0808 802 0111
Webchat: go to website
Email: contact anytime at grieftalk@griefencounter.org.uk
Also offers grief guides, workshops, residential weekends, training, a choir, and family days.
The New Normal
@tnncharity
TNN is a peer-to-peer support charity that connects people through their grief and mental health.
‘We feel that very simply, the best form of therapy is always to talk. We facilitate conversations between individuals who find themselves in very similar positions’.
TNN hosts virtual and online ‘Good Grief’ meet ups:
These offer mental health spaces for men (Boys Talk) and Women (Girls Talk), and spaces specifically dedicated to black and brown grievers, queer grievers, carers, over 40s, and students.
Click this link to sign-up for their meetings:
Suicide & Co
@suicideandco
A UK-based charity supporting those bereaved by suicide.
Provides a ‘Help Hub’ with helpful information and resources.
Offers a one-to-one counselling service of up to 12 free sessions via video call or by telephone for those 18 and over.
Provides a ‘Conversation Guide’ with advice and guidance on how to have conversations about suicide-related grief. Can access guidance as someone who has been bereaved, or for supporting someone who has been bereaved.
Papyrus
@papyrus_uk
Papyrus is a UK charity for the prevention of young suicide. They believe that ‘no young person should have to struggle alone with thoughts of suicide’.
Their digital platform HOPELINK allows its callers to make a suicide safety plan for moments of extreme mental distress, which can be revisited and updated online.
They also offer education and training for individuals, workplaces and communities across the UK focused on suicide prevention.
Call HOPELINE247 on 0800 068 41 41, text 07860 039967, or email pat@papyrus-uk.org.
The Loss Foundation
@thelossfoundation
The Loss Foundation is the only UK charity dedicated solely to providing bereavement support following the death of a loved one to cancer, whether that be your spouse, family member, friend or colleague. They provide a variety of support events to help you at any point following your loss, and they create opportunities for you to meet others who have experienced something similar. They also educate and empower others to support those who are grieving via their workshops and training.