Patients, family members/carers, and colleagues within Hertfordshire and West Essex who may be going through grief or bereavement can access the following resources for bereavement:
Below is a list of specialised bereavement services from Children and Young People across Hertfordshire, West Essex and the UK offering advice, guidance and support on how to deal/cope with grief.
We divided this information into local services (available across Hertfordshire, West Essex, Bedfordshire, and Buckinghamshire) highlighting specific services available in these areas.
In addition, we have also included services that provide nationwide support for people experiencing bereavement, loss and grief. Please click on the individual links that will direct you to the homepage of your desired organisation.
Children and Young People Bereavement Services available across Hertfordshire (includes East and North Hertfordshire and South and West Hertfordshire)
Below is a list of organisations offering bereavement advice and support for children and Young People across Hertfordshire.
Please note that some services also cover West Essex and Buckinghamshire areas, so it’s important to review each service before choosing which one you would like to receive support from.
- ASPECTS – Family Support
ASPECTS is a family and student support service engaging communities in Bishop’s Stortford, Sawbridgeworth and surrounding villages. - Carers in Hertfordshire – Bereavement & Emotional Support
We offer bereavement support in group sessions, as well as telephone support for people who do not wish to attend a group or cannot access one. - Cheshunt Young People’s Centre – information, advice and support
Cheshunt Young People’s Centre is part of Hertfordshire County Council and provides youth work projects, information, advice, guidance, work related learning and wider support for young people. - CHUMS Bereavement Service
Mental Health and Emotional Wellbeing Service supporting Children, Young People and their families, with other services specifically supporting adults; Babyloss Bereavement Service and Bedfordshire Suicide Bereavement Service. We also offer a Specialist Bereavement Service in Kent and Medway. - CRUSE Bereavement Service – Supporting Children and Young People
A Service which supports the well-being of bereaved people and enables anyone suffering bereavement caused by death to understand their grief and cope with their loss. Local resources can be found for Hertfordshire. The link directs you to an information/resource page for supporting children and young people. - Hertfordshire County Council — Directory of Service — Bereavement Services
Information page on the Hertfordshire County Council website offering a list of bereavement services across Hertfordshire. - HABS – Family Support Team
The HABS Family Support Team is part of a Local Schools Partnership that consists of 19 local primary and secondary schools that employ a team of highly trained Family Support workers, and counsellors, to support our local schools and the community offering a diverse package of support from counselling, to working on projects in the community to help improve the lives of families living within Hoddesdon, Broxbourne, Turnford, Wormley and Watford. The link directs you to an information/resource page for supporting children and young people. - Hope Again (for young people)
Hope Again is the youth website of Cruse Bereavement Support. It is a safe place where you can learn from other young people, how to cope with grief and feel less alone. - Haven House Hospice – Children’s Hospice
Haven House Children’s Hospice cares for seriously ill babies and children (up to 18) by creating a loving and warm environment for them and their families while they endure the toughest times. This link directs you to an information/resource page for bereavement services provided by Haven House Hospice. - Isabel Hospice
Isabel Hospice is a registered charity which provides free palliative care and support for patients and their families. We care for hundreds of people across eastern Hertfordshire. - Just Talk
Emotional wellbeing information and resources to help young people in Hertfordshire. - Keech Hospice – Children’s Services bereavement support
Keech Hospice provides free, specialist care for adults in Luton and Bedfordshire, and children from Bedfordshire, Hertfordshire and Milton Keynes living with a life-limiting illness. This link directs you to an information page highlighting their bereavement services for children. - SET CAMHS (Southend, Essex and Thurrock Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service)
The Southend, Essex and Thurrock Child and Adolescents Mental Health Service (SET CAMHS) provides advice and support to children, young people and families who are in need of support with their emotional wellbeing or mental health difficulties. The following link directs you to a resource page for services which provide child bereavement support. - Rennie Grove Hospice
A charity providing free, patient-centred palliative care and bereavement support to adults and children with a life-limiting illness in Hertfordshire and Buckinghamshire. They support and empower people from diagnosis to live the best quality of life possible. The link directs you to an information/resource page for supporting children and young people. - Stand-by-Me- Bereavement Support
North Hertfordshire Bereavement Service works with bereaved children, young people (aged 18 and under) and their families in North Hertfordshire and Stevenage. The link directs you to an information/resource page. - St Claire Hospice
Clare Hospice is a local charity and each year they care for hundreds of people across West Essex and the East Hertfordshire border. They provide free, compassionate care and support to adults who are living with a life-limiting illness, facing the end of life or experiencing bereavement. - The Hospice of St Francis
The Wellbeing and Family Support team provides a range of services for individuals, families, and children of Hospice patients, in West Hertforshire and South Buckinghamshire, who are affected by a loved one’s life-limiting illness both pre- and post-bereavement. - Tilehouse Counselling
Tilehouse Counselling provides professional counselling for young people in Hitchin and surrounding areas. This service is offered to young people between the ages of 13 and 18 who are suffering from emotional difficulties and feel the need to talk to someone.
Children and Young People Bereavement Services available nationwide
Below is a list of services and or organisations offering bereavement advice and support across the UK for children and young people.
Please note that some services also cover local catchment areas so it’s important to review each service before choosing which one you would like to receive support from.
- At A Loss
A Charity which raises awareness of the effect of bereavement and provides a central signposting and information service for everyone bereaved. The following link directs you to a resource page with several links and pages about child bereavement. - Barnardo’s – Child Bereavement Service
Adviceline support to parents/carers of children and young people up to the age of 18 years who have been bereaved. - Bereavement Advice Centre
A free helpline and web-based information service provided by Co-op Legal Services. They give practical information and advice and signposting on the many issues and procedures that face us after the death of someone close. The following link directs you to a information page for when a baby or child has died. - ChildLine
Childline is a service that’s run by the NSPCC. The link directs you to an information/resource page for supporting children and young people suffering from bereavement, grief, or loss. - Children Bereavement UK
Child Bereavement UK helps families to rebuild their lives when a child grieves or when a child dies. We support children and young people (up to the age of 25) when someone important to them has died or is not expected to live, and parents and the wider family when a baby or child of any age dies or is dying. - CRUSE Bereavement Care
We help people through one of the most painful times in life – with bereavement support, information and campaigning. The link directs you to an information/resource page for supporting children and young people suffering from bereavement, grief, or loss. - Child Death Helpline
The national freephone Child Death Helpline dedicated to provide a quality Freephone service to anyone affected by the death of a child of any age – whether they are parents, grandparents, siblings, family members, friends or involved professionals. - Childhood Bereavement Network
The Childhood Bereavement Network (CBN) is the hub for those working with bereaved children, young people and their families across the UK. - Grief Encounter
Founded by Dr Shelley Gilbert MBE, our mission is to give every child and young person access to the best possible support following the death of someone close. - Papyrus
PAPYRUS Prevention of Young Suicide is a UK charity dedicated to the prevention of suicide and the promotion of positive mental health and emotional wellbeing in young people. We believe that no young person should have to struggle alone with thoughts of suicide. The link directs you to an information/resource page for supporting children and young people suffering from bereavement, grief, or loss. - National Association for Children of Alcoholics (NACOA)
Nacoa (The National Association for Children of Alcoholics) was founded in 1990 to address the needs of children affected by a parent’s drinking or similar addictive problem. The link directs you to an information/resource page for supporting children and young people suffering from bereavement, grief, or loss. - Marie Curie
Marie Curie is the UK’s Leading end-of-life Charity. We provide expert hospice care and support over the phone, and we push for a better end of life for all by campaigning and sharing research to change the system. The link directs you to an information/resource page for supporting children and young people suffering from bereavement, grief, or loss. - MIND
MIND is a UK-based organisation that campaigns and provides services for people with mental health services. This service provides advice/guidance on bereavement for everyone of all ages. - National Bereavement Service – Child Bereavement Support
The National Bereavement Service team comes from a variety of professional backgrounds, such as the NHS, legal, estate agency, business and funeral services and is committed to providing experienced information and advice to bereaved people. - SANDS- Stillbirth and Neonatal Death Society
SANDS is a stillbirth and neonatal death charity in the UK and exists to reduce the number of babies dying and to support anyone affected by the death of a baby, before, during or shortly after birth, whenever this happened and for as long as they need support. - Supporting Gypsy and Traveller Families – Child Bereavement UK
This information page (provided by the Children Bereavement UK Service) provides advice and guidance for bereavement within Irish Traveller and Romany Gypsy communities. - The Mix
The Mix is a support service for young people. The link directs you to an information/resource page for supporting children and young people suffering from bereavement, grief, or loss. - The Loss Foundation
Is a UK charity dedicated to providing bereavement support following the loss of a loved one to cancer. - TCF (formerly The Compassionate Friends)
Support by telephone, befriending and local groups for anyone affected by the death of a child. Please note that this charity supports people irrespective of the age of the child at the time of death i.e. the child may have reached adulthood. - The Lullaby Trust
The Lullaby Trust raises awareness of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), provides expert advice on safer sleep for babies and offers emotional support for bereaved families - Talk Grief
Talk Grief is a dedicated online space for grieving teenagers and young adults (13 to 25), powered by the childhood bereavement charity Winston’s Wish. - The Good Grief Trust
Is a charity that connects people who have lost someone with local and national support services. - Winston’s Wish
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. - Young Minds
Mental Health Support Website for young people, families, and carers. The link directs you to an information/resource page for supporting children and young people suffering from bereavement, grief, or loss.