Bereavement Support

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The loss of someone close to us, is understandably a challenging and difficult time. Our aim is to be on hand to help and guide you through the process around funeral arrangements, and to make it as stress free as possible.
There are a number of organisations who are also on hand to help you with your bereavement, should you wish to receive it. These are:

Grief Chat

Most people expect to be very upset or distressed when someone close to them has died. 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 seem to think you should be ‘back to normal’ after a few weeks or months. You might appear to be your usual self to other people, but you know that on the inside, you’re not even sure what normal is anymore. 

Everyone grieves in a way that is unique to them and their relationship with the person who has died. Well-intentioned people may say to you, ‘Time is a great healer.’ Sometimes, however, it can seem that life is more difficult as the weeks and months go by. We know that no-one can understand exactly what your loss 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 GriefChat service. GriefChat was created by bereavement experts and by clicking on the GriefChat link 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. GriefChat is a completely free service and is available Monday-Friday,9am-9pm(except Bank Holidays).

GriefChat provides emotional support for bereaved people, access to trained bereavement counsellors and referral into other specialist bereavement services.

Access GriefChat here.

MHM - Mental Health Matters - 07850927064

Local Barnstaple centre for support when you need it, when other services are closed. The centre is open Thursday to Sunday 6pm - Midnight at The Mooring, Braddon House, Princess St, Barnstaple, EX32 7EU (St John's Ambulance building)
The Mooring @ Braddon House offers a welcoming, safe, comfortable, non-judgemental and non-clinical environment. The emphasis is on reducing immediate distress, and supporting visitors to access services and opportunities to them in the wider community. You are welcome to come just for a cup of tea and a chat, or you can access one-to-one emotional support from trained mental health professionals. They also offer help in creating staying well and crisis plans.

Cruse Bereavement Care - 0808 808 1677 

Cruse Bereavement Care was founded in 1959 and is a national charity providing free advice, information and support to adults, young people and children who are struggling to cope with grief arising from bereavement, when or however the death occurred. 

Families In Grief - 01237 479027

Families In Grief supports children, young people and their families who have experience the death of someone close to them.

S.A.N.D.S. - 0808 164 3332 

Sands is the stillbirth and neonatal death charity. We operate throughout the UK, supporting anyone affected by the death of a baby, working to improve the care bereaved parents receive, and promoting research to reduce the loss of babies’ lives.  

The National Bereavement Service - 0800 0246 121 

Most people will have to take responsibility for all the practical arrangements after a death, at least once in their lives. For others, it can be many more times. In any circumstance, loss is a difficult and often distressing time.

The National Bereavement Service offers practical and emotional support to guide you through what needs to be done. We can introduce the bereaved to trusted partner organisations in both private and charitable sectors, as well as provide information on the statutory requirements following loss, such as the registration of death and probate.

The National Bereavement Service have put together some guides you find helpful:

What To Do When Someone Dies

Coping With Grief

Probate What Is It All About?

SAIF Care - 0800 917 7224

We have also teamed up with the National Society of Allied and Independent Funeral Directors (SAIF) to offer further support and advice to people experiencing grief.

As a member of the trade association, SAIF Care allows us to provide our clients with exclusive access to a free bereavement care helpline and an online chat service, both of which are staffed by trained bereavement specialists.

The SAIF Care team is there to offer a listening ear and give reliable information about a range of help and services available near you. 

Each person’s bereavement journey is unique and there’s no right or wrong way to grieve. If you feel that you are struggling following the death of someone close, please contact us and we will be able to assist in getting you the support you need. 

We have selected a few digital handbooks that offer bereavement advice and guidance. The first guide is aimed at those who are having to deal with the coroner. The further two guides offer advice to those who are bereaved by suicide, and offer advice family, friends and work colleagues.

These guides were put together by 'Support After Suicide'