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Loss & Bereavement Support

Everyone experiences loss and breavement differently and copes in their own way. A child or young person might feel sad, scared, shocked, angry, or even feel nothing at all; these are all normal emotions, there is no right way to feel. Sometimes, a child or young person might need to speak to a trained professional about how they’re feeling. Within this section you’ll find information, advice and guidance to help you support a child or young person.

Resources

Winston’s Wish

Information, advice and guidance on supporting bereaved children and young people, families and professionals.

Childline

When someone dies, there’s no right or wrong way to feel. Everyone experiences loss or bereavement differently. But children and young people don’t have to cope alone.

Hope Again

Is the youth website of Cruse Bereavement Care. It is a safe place where children and young people can learn from other young people, how to cope with grief, and feel less alone.

YoungMinds

When a child loses someone close to them, it’s natural to feel sad, depressed, worried or angry. Everyone reacts in their own way. If they’re finding it hard to cope, YoungMinds can help them find support.

Child Bereavement UK

Support children and young people up to the age of 25 who are facing bereavement.

The Coat I Wear

Mel Maxwell’s comforting book helps children deal with their grief after the loss of a loved one.

Services

Kooth

Kooth is a FREE, safe anonymous online counselling and support service for children and young people. Kooth can offer confidential 1 to 1 online counselling, self help resources, peer to peer forums and interesting articles written by young people for young people.

  • Age range: 10-25 years
  • Opening hours: open until 10pm every evening, 365 days a year

Open Minds (CAMHS)

If you have experienced persistant or overwhelming feelings of unhappiness, and you have tried other emotional health and wellbeing/mental health strategies and services which haven’t worked for you, you may need to consult First Point of Contact to make a referral into Open Minds (CAMHS) who provide FREE specialist mental health support for children and young people.

  • Age range: 5-18 years
  • Contact details: 01422 300 001 or fill out this form
  • Opening hours: Mon-Fri, 9am-5pm
  • Out of hours: If you need to speak to someone urgently then you can ring out of hours support before 8pm on 07385 399840, after 8pm on 01924 316830

Noah’s Ark Centre 

Noah’s Ark Centre offers a safe and confidential space to talk freely and openly to someone who is not a family member or a friend.

  • Age range: 5-21 years
  • Contact details: Email yp@noahsarkcentre.org.uk. Phone 01422 366911
  • Opening hours: Mon & Fri, 10am-5pm. Tue & Wed, 10am-8pm. Thu 1pm-8pm.

Rainbows – Noah’s Ark Centre

Rainbows is a structured programme for children who are experiencing loss such as death or divorce in their family. The Rainbows programme helps by providing a safe setting with adult facilitators and materials, storybooks, games and creative activities to help lead them gently through the grieving process.

Childline

Childline offers FREE confidential support over the telephone or online with a 1-1 councillor. No problem is too big or small.

  • Age range: under 19 years
  • Contact details: 0800 1111
  • Opening times: Mon-Fri, 7.30am-midnight. Sat-Sun, 9am-midnight. 365 days a year

West Yorkshire and Harrogate Health and Care Partnership grief and loss support service

The WY&H HCP Grief and Loss Service offers FREE information and advice to anyone struggling with feelings of loss, whether as a result of bereavement or other loss such as loss of a way of life, normal contact opportunities, social and work interactions. 

  • Age range: All ages
  • Contact details: 0808 196 3833, chat online griefandlosswyh.co.uk
  • Opening hours: Mon-Sun, 8am-8pm.

Grief Encounter

Grief Encounter is here to help with the confusion, fear, loneliness and pain, providing a lifeline to children and young people to cope with FREE, immediate, one-to-one support.

Samaritans

Samaritans offer a FREE safe space for you to talk any time you like in your own way about whatever’s getting to you. You don’t have to be suicidal.

  • Opening times: 24 hours a day, 356 days a year
  • Contact details: 116 123 FREE from any phone Email jo@samaritans.org