Across Cumbria there are many organisations that offer bereavement support and it is important that following a death we are able to signpost and guide people for appropriate help.

Grief can affect us in so many different ways and there is never a ‘one size fits all’, but remember you don’t have to be alone. General bereavement support organisation details are available below, we hope that these are useful resources for difficult times. These lists are not exhaustive and we are not endorsing or approving any specific organisation just providing a signpost to various options.

All of us will experience sadness at the loss of a loved one or someone that had impacted on our life. We may wonder how we should feel, sometimes doubting if we are ‘normal’. Everyone’s experience will be different.

The following is a list of nationally produced online information, which families and carers can be signposted to about grief, funerals and support in exceptional times. If you are a resident of the Morecambe Bay area select here for further local resources. 

Bereavement support across Cumbria and Nationally

The Good Grief Trust:
Website - https://www.thegoodgrieftrust.org/

Grief Chat:
Website - www.griefchat.co.uk
Webpage to Chat with a bereavement counsellor - www.griefchat.co.uk/chat

CLIC / Boost - Let's Talk Bereavement - Cumbria Support:
Website - http://www.theclic.org.uk/improve/lets-talk-bereavement/

Hospice at Home West Cumbria:Tel: 01900 233110
Website - https://hospiceathomewestcumbria.org.uk/service/family-bereavement-services/

Cruse Bereavement Suport (Cumbria):Voicemail 0300 6003434 - SELF REFERRALS only
Cumbria Branch email cumbria@cruse.org.uk
Website - www.cruse.org.uk

Eden Valley Hospice:
Tel. 01228 810801
Website - https://www.edenvalleyhospice.org/our-care/

Hospice at Home Carlisle and North Lakes:
Tel. 01228 810801
Website - https://www.edenvalleyhospice.org/our-care/patient-and-family-support/counselling/bereavement-support

North Cumbria Integrated Care NHS Foundation Trust Bereavement Services:
Tel 01228 616878 or 01946 523309

St John's Hospice (South Lakes):
Tel. 01524382538
Website - www.sjhospice.org.uk/

St Mary's Hospice (Furness):
Tel. 01229 580305
Website - https://www.stmaryshospice.org.uk/our-care/forfamilies/bereavement-support/

Network Health:
Website - https://network-health.org.uk/

Interfaith and Multi-faith:
Website - https://www.interfaith.org.uk/contact

Marie Curie:
Website - https://www.mariecurie.org.uk/help/support/bereaved-family-friends

Age UK:
Website - https://www.ageuk.org.uk/information-advice/health-wellbeing/relationships-family/bereavement/
Website - https://www.cumberland.gov.uk/births-deaths-marriages-and-ceremonies/deaths-and-stillbirths/bereavement-services

Cumberland Council:
Website - https://www.cumberland.gov.uk/health-and-social-care/public-health/bereavement-support
Website - https://www.cumberland.gov.uk/births-deaths-marriages-and-ceremonies/deaths-and-stillbirths/bereavement-services

Westmorland and Furness Council:
Website - https://www.westmorlandandfurness.gov.uk/health-and-social-care/public-health/bereavement-support
Website - https://www.westmorlandandfurness.gov.uk/births-deaths-marriages-and-ceremonies/deaths-and-stillbirths/bereavement-services

Churches together in Cumbria (CTIC):
Website - https://www.churchestogethercumbria.org.uk/

Cancer Care (South Cumbria):
Tel. 03330 150 628
Website - https://cancercare.org.uk/assets/images/Bereavement-leaflet-Adult.pdf

Samaritans (Carlisle):
Tel. 116 123 free from any phone or 0330 094 5717 local call charges apply
Website - http://www.samaritans.org/branches/carlisle

Samaritans (West Cumbria):
Tel. 116 123 free from any phone or 0330 094 5717 local call charges apply
Website - http://www.samaritans.org/branches/whitehaven

Samaritans (Furness and South Lakes):
Tel. 116 123 free from any phone or 0330 094 5717 local call charges apply
Website: http://www.samaritans.org/branches/barrow/

Good Thinking:
Website - http://www.samaritans.org/branches/barrow/

Alzheimer's Society:
Website - https://www.alzheimers.org.uk/get-support/help-dementia-care/grief-loss-and-bereavement

Forget me know Dementia Loss:Website - https://m.facebook.com/groups/277151730075728/

Hospice at Home West Cumbria:
Tel. 01900 233110
Website - https://hospiceathomewestcumbria.org.uk/easy-read-information/

National Autistic Society:
Website - https://www.autism.org.uk/advice-and-guidance/topics/mental-health/bereavement/professionals

Autism Speaks:
Website - https://www.autismspeaks.org/grief-and-bereavement-resources

Marie Curie (Learning Disabilities bereavement support)

Homeless Palliative Care Toolkit:
Website - http://www.homelesspalliativecare.com/bereavement-2/

BEAD - Bereaved through Alcohol and Drugs:
Website - https://www.beadproject.org.uk/

DrugFam:
Website - https://www.drugfam.co.uk/bereavement/

NHS Scotland Support around death:
Website - https://www.sad.scot.nhs.uk/bereavement/supporting-lgbtplus-people-around-bereavement/

Bereavement by Suicide Support & Traumatic Death - local & national

NHS Every Mind Matter:
Website - https://www.nhs.uk/every-mind-matters/lifes-challenges/bereavement-and-traumatic-events/

Every Life Matter Cumbria:
Tel. 07588 016 166
Email: support@every-life-matters.org.uk
Website - https://www.every-life-matters.org.uk/affected-by-suicide/

Suicide Bereavement Support  Cumbria (& surrounding area):
Tel. 07572 975 721 or 07896 703 757
Email: hello@sbs.org.uk
Website - http://www.sbs.org.uk/

Survivors of Bereavement by Suicide:
Tel. 0300 111 5065
Website - https://uksobs.org/?doing_wp_cron=1667216182.2363789081573486328125

CRUSE:
Bereavement National Helpline: 0808 808 1677
Cruse Bereavement Suport (Cumbria) Local Branch Helpline: 0300 600 3434
Cumbria Branch email: cumbria@cruse.org.uk
Website - www.cruse.org.uk 

Samarians:
Website - https://www.samaritans.org/how-we-can-help/if-youre-having-difficult-time/support-groups-people-bereaved-suicide

BRAKE:
Tel. 0808 8000 401
Website - https://www.brake.org.uk/how-we-help/get-help-if-a-crash-victim/information-and-advice-after-road-death-or-serious-injury#coping-with-grief-when-someone-you-love-is-killed-in-a-road-crash

Sudden:
Website - https://sudden.org/help-for-adults/

Child Bereavement UK (Cumbria):
Face to face in Kendal & Carlisle. Elsewhere available by telephone/video/instant messenger.
Tel. 0800 02 888 40
Email: northsupport@childbereavementuk.org
Website - http://www.childbereavementuk.org/

Cumbria County Council:
Website - https://localoffer.cumbria.gov.uk/kb5/cumbria/fsd/advice.page?id=2imoH2hBqTs

North Cumbria Integrated Care NHS Foundation Trust Bereavement Services:
Website - https://www.ncic.nhs.uk/news/baby-loss-resources

Bluebell (South Cumbria):
Tel. 07516556081 or 07849400315
Website - http://www.bluebell.org.uk/

Eden Valley hospice and Jigsaw Children's Hospice:
Tel. 0122 881 0801
Website - https://jigsawhospice.org/

Stillbirth and neonatal death charity (Sands) East Cumbria, National helpline:
Local - http://www.facebook.com/East-Cumbria-Sands-2202217466682708
Sands helpline. 0808 164 3332
Email: helpline@sands.org.uk
Website - https://www.sands.org.uk/

Forget Me Not Centre - St John's Hospice Lancaster:
Tel. 01524 382538
Website - https://www.sjhospice.org.uk/forgetmenotcentreinfo/

Time to Share Bereavement Service CIC / a not for profit organisation:
Tel. 07926385262 (between 9am-3pm Mon-Fri)
Email: timetoshareberservice@gmail.com
Website - https://timetosharecopeland.co.uk/

Hope Again:
Website - https://www.hopeagain.org.uk/

Tigerlily Trust:
Email: enquiries@tigerlilytrust.co.uk
Website - http://www.tigerlilytrust.co.uk/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TigerLilyTrust/

Kooth:
Website - https://www.nenc-healthiertogether.nhs.uk/health-for-young-people/staying-healthy/kooth

Silent Footprints:
Gail Dobson Burns tel. 07825152936
Jenn Taylor tel. 07825223796
Email: silentfootprints2019@gmail.com
Website - https://www.silentfootprintsfoundation.org/

Bereavement in educational settings - a guide for schools:
Website - https://localoffer.cumbria.gov.uk/kb5/cumbria/fsd/advice.page?id=2imoH2hBqTs

Care for the family UK wide with some local teams:
Tel. 029 2081 0800
Website - https://www.careforthefamily.org.uk/?s=Bereavement

Lullaby Trust:
Tel. 0808 802 6868
Email: support@lullabytrust.org.uk
Website - http://www.lullabytrust.org.uk/bereavement-support/

Winston's Wish:
Tel. 08088 020 021
Email: ask@winstonswish.org
Website - https://www.winstonswish.org/supporting-you/

Ruth Strauss Foundation:Website - https://ruthstraussfoundation.com/support/#resources

Love Em:
Website - https://love-em.co.uk/

 

Please see below videos and resources that were featured as part of a 'Dying Matters Awareness Week'.
For more information and resources for Dying Matters visit: dyingmatters.org 

Why we need to talk more about death and dying Talking about death doesn’t bring death closer. It’s about planning for life, helping us make the most of the time that we have. However, starting the conversation, particularly with those close to you, is never easy. We don’t want to upset people, or sound gloomy. Still, families commonly report that it comes as a relief once the subject is brought out into the open. You are able to express your wishes about how you’d like to die, or what you’d like to happen after you die. 

 

 

Please visit this website for information on the 'Grief Kind tutorials' which will help increase understanding of grief and bereavement support.

In this series of five short video tutorials, experts talk you through what grief is like and how you can support others who are grieving.

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The Retreat Clinics - New Online Group

Grieving the loss of a loved one can feel overwhelming and isolating. At The Retreat Clinics, we understand how challenging this time can be. That’s why we’ve created a five-week online bereavement support group—designed to provide understanding, connection, and practical tools to help you manage your grief.

Starting Tuesday, 21st January 2025 at 4pm, this supportive program offers a safe space to learn about grief, share experiences, and connect with others who understand what you’re going through.
Reach out to secure a space or learn more about the program on: 01904 412551 
or e-mail: info@theretreatclinics.org.uk / visit: https://theretreatclinics.org.uk

'Let's Talk Bereavement' Project

Let’s talk bereavement was a 2 year collaborative project, involving the NHS and the Third Sector, funded through NHS Charities Together.

Whilst the project formally came to a close in March 2024, work is ongoing to ensure that support continues via:

  • train-the-trainer sessions;
  • grief cafes and bereavement hubs;
  • true collaboration and partnership working;
  • a single point of access; and
  • ongoing awareness-raising on this topic.

For further information about the Let's Talk Bereavement project, please click here.

If you would like to get involved with future plans for bereavement support, please contact Boost.

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