Child Loss Bereavement Support
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Name of the Service |
Brief Description |
Contact Details |
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Sands - Stillbirth and Neonatal Death Charity |
At Sands, we understand how devastating it is when a baby dies as many of us have been through the experience ourselves.
We know that everyone grieves differently and there is no right or wrong way to grieve. Each person needs different types of support and this can change over time. Some people may be happy to talk, others might take comfort from quietly reading about others experiences, while some may prefer to meet face to face and share their experience. |
-Helpline- the Sands National Helpline provides a safe, confidential place for anyone who has been affected by the death of a baby. Whether your baby died long ago or recently, we are here for you.
The telephone helpline is free to call from landlines and mobiles on 0808 164 3332.
The team are available to speak to from 10am to 3pm Monday to Friday and 6pm to 9pm Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday evenings.
The helpline team can also be contacted at helpline@sands.org.uk
-Sands Support Chat- Sands Support Chat service is available Monday to Friday, 9am to 9pm.
Losing a baby before, during or shortly after birth is one of the hardest things anyone can face. What takes many people by surprise is how strong the emotions can be, how they can change very quickly, and how long they last. People around you may think you should be ‘back to normal’ after a few weeks or months. At Sands we know that the grief journey can take you to a whole new vision of normality, where your baby's precious life is included.
Everyone grieves in a way that is unique to them.
We know that no-one can understand exactly what losing your baby feels like to you. But we do understand that it’s sometimes easier to talk to someone outside of your friends and family about grief and the impact of bereavement of your life and this is why we offer the Sands Support Chat service, alongside Sands’ Helpline and our other support services.
We are working in partnership with GriefChat to offer you our Sands Support Service. By clicking on the Sands Support Chat box below, you can chat directly to a specially trained bereavement counsellor. 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 in our behalf. Sands Support Chat is a completely free service and is available Monday-Friday, 9am-9pm. You can email or message Sands outside of these hours.
Sands Support Chat provides emotional support for bereaved people, access to trained bereavement counsellors and referral on to Sands’ specialist bereavement services.
-Local Support Groups/ Online Support Meetings: https://www.sands.org.uk/support-you/how-we-offer-support |
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Child Death Helpline |
As bereaved parents, we know how it feels to lose a child and we’re here when you want to talk. We know from personal experience that the pain of losing a child can be so overwhelming that it makes everyday life very difficult. That’s why, as bereaved parents, we’re uniquely placed to offer support to anyone affected by the death of a child of any age, under any circumstances, and however recently or long ago. First and foremost, we’re here to listen. We can’t take away your pain, and we won’t try to tell you how to grieve, but we can offer a confidential, safe environment where you can talk freely about your child's life and death. You can express your feelings to someone who understands the day-to-day struggle, who recognises the need to re-tell your story, and who won’t judge you. "The helpline offered the opportunity for me to talk openly about my son's life and death. It was such a relief to talk to someone who recognised and accepted what I was going through, and was able to reassure me that my feelings are normal."
We offer support primarily to parents, siblings, grandparents and the wider family, but we’re also here for professionals, such as teachers, emergency services staff and care givers. We want to help anyone who has been affected by the death of a child, and may find it helpful talking to a bereaved parent.
You can contact our helpline for support at times of crisis, or for your ongoing needs. Whenever you feel able to talk, we're ready to listen.
If you’re here because you’re looking for ways to support a grieving family member or friend, and you think our helpline can help them, please download and pass on our leaflet.
Whilst most of our services are provided over the phone, we can offer support by email. If this is something you would like, please use the ‘Contact Us’ page to tell us how we can help. |
A freephone service for all those affected by the death of a child Our confidential helpline is open every day of the year.
Monday to Sunday 19:00 to 22:00
Monday, Thursday and Friday 10:00 to 13:00
Tuesday and Wednesday 10:00 to 16:00
Call our freephone helpline on 0800 282 986. |
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The Lullaby Trust |
We offer confidential bereavement support to anyone affected by the sudden and unexpected death of a baby or young child. The Lullaby Trust helps families who experience the sudden loss of a baby, providing emotional and practical support. We can also connect them with others who have experienced a similar bereavement through our Befriender scheme. We work to ensure that families are fully supported through this devastating experience.
We are here for all family members at any time, whether the bereavement was very recent or many years ago. |
-Helpline- Call 0808 802 6868 or email support@lullabytrust.org.uk
Calls to our helpline are free from all landlines and most mobile phone networks. The helpline is open:
Monday – Friday: 10am to 2pm Weekends and public holidays: 6pm to 10pm
The helpline does not offer a formal counselling service but is a listening service. Open every day of the year, our Helpline Advisers answer during office hours, and at weekends and public holidays the calls are answered by bereaved parents, grandparents, and other relatives. Everyone who contacts our bereavement support line will be offered the chance to be put in touch with a Befriender.
-Befriending Service- Our Team of Befrienders are bereaved parents, grandparents and adult family members, who offer support, which is arranged via the Support Team.
We know how isolating it can feel to be bereaved by sudden infant death, and sometimes speaking to someone who has been through something similar can be a comfort. Our Befrienders offer support via email or telephone and can stay in contact for as long as you both agree to.
If you are interested in getting in contact with one of our Befrienders please contact our Bereavement Support service by calling 0808 802 6868 between 10am and 5pm on working days, or email support@lullabytrust.org.uk. |
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Tommy’s |
Baby loss information and support: Sadly, some babies are lost during pregnancy, birth, or shortly afterwards. We have information and support for anyone who has experienced the loss of a baby, whether through miscarriage, stillbirth, neonatal death, or termination for medical reasons. |
-Baby loss support group on Facebook https://www.tommys.org/baby-loss-support -Information and online resources |
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2 wish |
When a family loses a child or young adult the effects are devastating for all who knew and loved them. It is important that support is available if and when required.
It is important families know that they are not alone and that the feelings they are experiencing are often normal. It is important that there is communication between the family, hospital staff and members of the police force so families understand what is going to happen in the days and weeks following their loss.
2wish support anyone affected by the sudden and unexpected death of a child or young person aged 25 and under:
-Families – We support the whole family, not just the immediate family, to ensure that every family member who is affected by the loss of the child or young person is supported and able to access our support and services. -Individuals – We don’t just support families. We feel it is important to ensure anyone affected by the sudden death of a child or young person is supported as and when they need to be. -Witnesses – Sadly, members of the public often witness, or are the first person to find a young person after they have died and it is a traumatic and scary experience. We will offer support to those witnesses and ensure they are supported to process their experience and feelings around the death. --Professionals – It may be assumed that because a professional encounters death as part of their job role, they are ‘used to it’ and it ‘doesn’t affect them’. However, we know this is not necessarily the case. We provide support to any professional who has ever been affected by the sudden and unexpected death of a child or young person. Historic deaths – We don’t put a time frame on bereavement and loss. Anyone affected by the sudden death of a child or young person, even if the death occurred many years ago, can access our support and services. |
-We offer a range of support from our memory boxes and immediate support whereby we contact families within 24-48 hours of receiving the referral. We offer Counselling, Play Therapy and Complementary Therapy, as well as Focus Support Groups, residential weekends and monthly events. We understand that every family is different, and we strive to ensure we are able to provide support that is tailored for the individual needs of each family unit.
We welcome self-referrals from those who have been directly affected and would like support, as well as referrals from friends and family of those who needs support. To make a referral on behalf of someone else, we just need to know that the person being referred has given their verbal consent for the referral to be made. You can make a referral via phone on 01443 853125 or via email support@2wish.org.uk |
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The Compassionate Friends |
The Compassionate Friends (TCF) is a charitable organisation of bereaved parents, siblings and grandparents dedicated to the support and care of other similarly bereaved family members who have suffered the death of a child or children from a month old and and from any cause.
Many people who have suffered the loss of a child feel a bond with others in the same situation and wish to extend the hand of friendship. We offer support, both directly to bereaved families, and indirectly by fostering understanding and good practice amongst professionals concerned with child death and by increasing public awareness. |
-UK National Helpline Open every day of the year from 10:00 – 16:00 and 19:00 – 22:00
Also by email at helpline@tcf.org.uk
Our volunteers are all bereaved parents and are here to:
-Listen and care when you need someone to talk to -Offer emotional support and an opportunity to talk through your feelings -Put you in touch, where possible, with your nearest Local or Group Support Contact -Offer supportive leaflets and newsletters by email or post -Signpost you to other services and useful sources of information
We are here whether you wish to ring the Helpline once, many times or simply from time to time. You may have been bereaved for just a few weeks or months, or five, 10, 20 years or more. Everyone’s loss and way of grieving is unique so please do phone when you feel the need. If either number is busy, please leave a message clearly stating your name and number and we will get back to you.
When you ring the Helpline, you will be connected to the bereaved parent who is on the rota for that session – this could be either a bereaved Mum or a bereaved Dad. If you are a bereaved Dad who would prefer to speak with another bereaved Dad or you are bereaved Mum who would prefer to speak with a bereaved Mum, please mention this to the Helpline Volunteer so they can let you know when a male/female volunteer is next on the rota. Alternatively, you may wish to email helpline@tcf.org.uk so we can facilitate your request.
-For the most up to date details of more support in your local area call our Helpline on 0345 123 2304 or email us helpline@tcf.org.uk |
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Beresford Centre |
Pregnancy choices, post-termination issues & baby loss Are you facing unplanned pregnancy, dealing with unexpected post-abortion feelings, or struggling to cope with the loss of a baby?
If so, and you're in the South Wales area, you'll find free help, information and support, along with a friendly listening ear, at the Beresford Pregnancy Counselling Centre in Newport.
We recognise that it can be really difficult to take the first step of contacting someone to talk to. We aim to give you a safe confidential place to explore your thoughts and feelings. As we are a registered charity we are able to see you free of charge.
You may feel a mixture of emotions and have a tangle of different thoughts. We hope to help you understand, heal, learn what is right for you and grow. The role of the counsellor is to help you through this process without telling you what to do. If she offers you information, options, or suggestions, they are for you to consider whether they are helpful to you.
At The Beresford Centre you will find a caring listening ear, a calm unhurried space and accurate impartial information. If you are in need of a pregnancy test, we can do this free of charge, give you the result confidentially and immediately and offer you the opportunity to talk through your situation with someone trained to help.
Your counsellor will have a genuine desire to work with you and to provide commitment, honesty and utmost respect for you as an individual. |
Free face to face counselling – unlimited sessions. -email via form the website http://www.beresfordcentre.org.uk/contact |
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The Junction |
The Junction Cardiff is a non-judgmental counselling service that provides a caring and safe atmosphere for you to talk confidentially to one of our trained advisors, whether you are experiencing a crisis pregnancy or any form of baby loss. We are located in Llanedeyrn , East Cardiff, South Wales, UK and are part of the HOPE charitable trust.
The Junction offers a range of services in relation to baby loss or crisis pregnancy – see separate page for more details of services offered. The service is available for men and women of any age and is free of charge.
The Junction offers two types of service:
-Miscarriage, Post Abortion and other forms of Baby Loss Counselling Pregnancy Crisis Counselling Miscarriage, Post Abortion and other forms of baby loss counselling The effects of pregnancy loss are often misunderstood or not recognised. Years after you may still experience a number of symptoms, which may include emotional numbness, tearfulness, feelings of regret, or guilt, anger or low self worth.
The Junction uses a programme called ‘The Journey’ to work through the process of recovery. There is no set timescale for this process although it usually lasts for around 10 sessions.
-Pregnancy Crisis Counselling If you know you are pregnant but find yourself in a crisis situation, there is an opportunity to talk to a friendly member of our team about the options that are available. The service is non-judgemental and confidential and aims to help you to make a decision in a safe and supportive environment. Please note that we are unable to refer clients directly for a termination of pregnancy. |
How can I access these Services? If you would like to access any of the services we offer then you can contact us in any of the following ways:
Telephone – 07807 608009 If you get through to the answer machine then a member of our team will get back to you as soon as possible. All calls are treated confidentially and with respect.
Email – info@thejunctioncardiff.org You can make any form of email enquiries and a member of our team will respond as soon as possible.
By Appointment You can make an appointment by telephone or email. The address is Glenwood Wellbeing Space, Circle Way West, Llanedeyrn, Cardiff, CF23 6UW. You will be greeted by one of our team and have an opportunity to talk in one of our confidential counselling rooms. Should you want any further appointments after this initial meeting, this will be discussed and negotiated with our team member. |