Welcome to our page for those of you who have been through the pain of losing a child. We hope you find some comfort, information that is right for you and the support you need whenever you are ready to reach out. We feature video stories and articles from other families who have lost a child, both at a young age and in adulthood and we share initiatives from the professionals who support them.
Please know that you are not alone in your grief, we all want to be able to help you find the support you need, so please look at the specialist organisations we have listed below. You will also find support organisations near you on our UK Map.
Visit these pages for important information which may help now.
Carolyn Harris MP: Losing my 8-year-old son
Rhian: my focus on child death bereavement units
Rhian lost her little boy and husband within 5 days of each other. Here she discusses the charity she set up, 2wish, and why it’s needed
Camilla: Having a baby after losing Rex
Do you need to speak to someone now?
24 HOUR SUPPORT LINES
| Samaritans | 116 123 (UK) | For anyone at anytime for any reason |
| Childline | 0800 1111 | Support for 18yrs & under and their relatives |
| Silverline | 0800 470 8090 | Support for the over 50's |
DAY/EVENING SUPPORT LINES
| National Bereavement Service | 0800 0246 181 | Mon - Fri 09:00 - 18:00, Sat 10:00 - 14:00, Sun – CLOSED |
| Cruse | 0808 808 1677 | Nationwide bereavement support |
| Cruse Bereavement Care Scotland | 0808 802 6161 | Mon - Fri 9am-8pm and Sat/Sun 1-4pm |
| Child Bereavement UK | 0800 02 88840 | Helpline (9 - 5pm) |
| Child Death Helpline | 0800 282 986 0808 800 6019 | Every evening 7-10pm Mon/Thurs / Fri - 10am - 1pm Tues/Wed - 10am - 4pm |
| Bereavement Advice Centre | 0800 634 9494 | Practical advice (9 - 5pm) |
| DrugFam | 0300 888 3853 | Drug and Alcohol addiction The helpline line is available between 9am and 9pm seven days a week. |
| Sands | 0808 164 3332 | 10am-3pm Mon to Fri daytimes and 6pm-9pm Tues to Thurs evenings Free confidential helpline for anyone affected by pregnancy loss or the death of a baby. |
| Survivors of Bereavement by Suicide | 0300 111 5065 | 9am-9pm every day |
| Breathing space Scotland Helpline for when it becomes difficult to cope | 0800 838587 | Monday to Thursday - 6pm - 2am Friday 6pm - 6am |
| The Compassionate Friends | 0345 123 2304 | Open every day 10 am – 4 pm, 7-10 pm |
| The Lullaby Trust | 0808 802 6868 | Monday - Friday, 10 am – 5 pm |
| Marie Curie | 0800 090 2309 | Open Monday - Friday, 8am – 6pm Open Saturday, 11am – 5pm on Saturday Practical and clinical information and support on all aspects of end of life and bereavement. |
| The Greater Manchester Suicide Bereavement Information Service
| 0161 983 0700 | Open Monday – Friday, 10am-4pm |
Useful links
| Child Bereavement UK | Support for families when a baby or child dies, or when a child is facing bereavement |
| Compassionate Friends | Support for bereaved parents run by those who have lost a child |
| Lullaby Trust | Support for the sudden loss of a baby |
| Sands | Stillbirth and neonatal support for families |
| SUDC UK | Support and information following Sudden Unexplained Death in Childhood |
| Citizens Advice Bureau | What to do after a death |
| Tamba, twins and multiple birth association | Support following death of multiples, at pregnancy, birth or beyond |
| The Miscarriage Association | Support following miscarriage, molar or ectopic pregnancy |
| 2wish | Support for families following the sudden or traumatic death of a child |
| Ectopic Pregnancy Trust | Supporting people who have suffered early pregnancy complications |
| Care for the Family | Bereavement support for families after a loss |
| Tommy's | Support following miscarriage, premature or still birth |
| Bliss | Support following a premature birth |
| 5 ways to help a bereaved parent | Practical advice on helping bereaved parents |
| Little Hearts Matter | A national UK charity offering help to anyone affected by the diagnosis of single ventricle heart condition |
| Sands Memory Boxes | Free boxes to save treasured memories of their baby |
| Bereaved parent support day | Support days for all those who have lost a child at any age |
| 4 Louis | Helping keep memories of babies alive, memory boxes for babies and children up to 16, and cuddle cots following death of a baby |
| Much Loved | A site allowing you to create an online tribute/memorial to a loved one, which you can invite friends and family to contribute too also |
| Bereavement Advice Centre | Information and advice regarding the involvement of a coroner, if a death is unexplained, unexpected, unnatural or violent |
| Aching Arms | Aching Arms is a baby loss charity run by a group of bereaved mothers who have experienced the pain and devastation of baby loss. |
| Teddy's Wish retreats for bereaved parents | A charity for supporting bereaved parents after baby death. They run retreats for bereaved parents. Please contact them for details of future FREE retreats |
Find local support
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Automated translations
A wish list from bereaved parents to help friends and family support them
Dealing with the unexpected loss of baby Alissa (article)
Supporting families who have lost a child (article)
Camilla: How finding other grieving parents helped me cope (video)
Bereavement midwife, Lydia, discusses rainbow babies (video)
Time is precious: Victoria; surviving life as a widow and bereaved mother (video)
How we survived losing our beloved Josh abroad (video)
The difference between fathers and mothers dealing with grief (article)
Say their name (video) www.tcf.org.uk
Tony: What helped us with our loss (video)
Why I started SUDCUK – Sudden Unexpected Death in Children charity (video)
A poem by Donna Ashworth