A Child Of Mine
A Child Of Mine is here to help and support anyone affected by the death of a child, in as many ways as they possibly can. Their website will always continue to be a main focus as a valuable resource for families after a child’s death, but as time has moved on A Child Of Mine has grown too, and they now do much more work behind the scenes to improve bereavement care for parents and families who have lost a child.
>Website: achildofmine.org.uk
>Email: hello@achildofmine.org.uk
>Tel: 01785 283 434
Advance Decisions Assistance
Advance Decisions Assistance is a charity working to raise awareness of Advance Decisions (‘living wills’) and to help people complete them. They can assist you in writing your Advance Decision and also provide training on Advance Decisions for GPs and other healthcare professionals; and are involved in research.
>Website: adassistance.org.uk
>Email: info@adassistance.org.uk
>Tel: 01768 775566
Andy’s Man Club
Andy’s Man Club is a Men’s Mental Health Charity – Offering free-to-attend talking groups for men and challenging the stigmas around Male Mental Health. They started as one group in the small, northern town of Halifax. That first night nine men turned up and spoke. There was a magic in that room that everyone knew had to be shared. Whilst not specifically bereavement support, they are a safe space for men to talk about their feelings.
>Website: andysmanclub.co.uk
>Berwick-upon-Tweed group: andysmanclub.co.uk/north-east-clubs
>Email: info@andysmanclub.co.uk
BEAD (Bereaved through Alcohol and Drugs)
BEAD’s aim is to be a source of information, support and hope for anyone whose loved one has died as a result of drug or alcohol use. The site has been set up by Cruse Bereavement Support, the UK’s leading bereavement charity, and Adfam, the national voice for families affected by drugs and alcohol.
>Website: beadproject.org.uk
Child Bereavement UK
Child Bereavement UK supports families and educates professionals when a baby or child of any age dies or is dying, or when a child is facing bereavement. The vision is for all families to have the support they need to rebuild their lives. They host a national helpline and their website has a live chat function.
>Website: childbereavementuk.org
>Email: support@childbereavementuk.org
>Tel: 0800 02 888 40
Counselling Directory
A useful resource for those looking for support or general advice about counselling. This website is a support network of UK counsellors and psychotherapists, with information on their training and experience, areas of counselling covered, fees and contact details.
The website also contains a number of sections on emotional disorders (types of distress section) and provides some useful statistics. Every counselor on the site who has submitted their profile has wither sent a copy of their qualifications and insurance cover, or is registered with a professional body online with recognised codes of ethics and practice.
>Website: counselling-directory.org.uk
Death Cafe Movement
At a Death Cafe people, often strangers, gather to eat cake, drink tea and discuss death. Their objective is ‘to increase awareness of death with a view to helping people make the most of their (finite) lives’. A Death Cafe is a group directed discussion of death with no agenda, objectives or themes. It is a discussion group rather than a grief support or counselling session.
Death Cafes are always offered:
On a not for profit basis
In an accessible, respectful and confidential space
With no intention of leading people to any conclusion, product or course of action
Alongside refreshing drinks and nourishing food – and cake!
PAPYRUS (Prevention of Young Suicide)
They are the national charity for the prevention of young suicide. They deliver awareness and prevention training, provide confidential support and suicide intervention through HOPELineUK, campaign and influence national policy, and empower young people to lead suicide prevention activities in their own communities.
>Website: papyrus-uk.org
>Email: admin@papyrus-uk.org
>Tel: 0800 068 41 41
The Miscarriage Association
The Miscarriage Association acknowledges the distress associated with pregnancy loss and strives to make a positive difference to those it affects, they:
offer support and information to anyone affected by the loss of a baby in pregnancy
raise awareness of miscarriage and
promote good practice in medical care.
The Natural Death Centre
The Natural Death Society brings together people who share the same belief in our human right to approach death with the same freedom that we live our lives.
Open to everyone to join, the Society has been created to spread the word about choice and to promote improvement, both in the process of dying and in the arrangements for funerals, to challenge society’s acceptance that we cannot care for our dead ourselves, and to take away the fear of the discussion of death and dying.
>Website: naturaldeath.org.uk
>Email: rosie@naturaldeath.org.uk
>Tel: 01962 712 690