Bereavement and funerals

On this page:

Bereavement support 

Ataloss

Support services, information, helplines and helpful reads for anyone who has been bereaved, whatever their age, loss or background. Includes a searchable list of local, national and specialist services across the UK. A free, professional counselling web chat is also available.
ataloss.org  

Bereavement Advice Centre 

Offers a free helpline for people who are bereaved and for professionals. It also has information on its website about practical matters and coping with grief.
0800 634 9494
bereavementadvice.org  

Beyond Words

Books, e-books and downloadable resources for people who find it easier to understand pictures than words, including people with learning difficulties. Topics like 'Getting on with cancer', 'When Mum died' and 'When Dad died'.
booksbeyondwords.co.uk  

Childhood Bereavement Network

Aims to improve the quality and range of bereavement support for children, young people, their families and other caregivers. Offers information about support services.
020 7843 6309
childhoodbereavementnetwork.org.uk  

Compassionate Friends

A charitable organisation of bereaved parents, siblings and grandparents dedicated to the support and care of other bereaved parents, siblings, and grandparents who have suffered the death of a child or children.
Helpline: 0345 123 2304 
tcf.org.uk  

Cruse Bereavement Care

Provides bereavement support, either face-to-face or over the phone, from trained volunteers around the UK. Calls to this helpline are free.
0808 808 1677 
cruse.org.uk  

Cruse Bereavement Care Scotland

Provides bereavement support, either face-to-face or over the phone, from trained volunteers in Scotland. Calls to this helpline are not free.
0808 802 6161
crusescotland.org.uk

Dying Matters

Find information to help you support those who’ve been bereaved. Includes a helpful leaflet called Being there.
020 7520 8200
www.hospiceuk.org  

Grief Encounter

A leading UK bereavement charity offering free, professional support to bereaved children, young people and their families. This includes face-to-face and online therapeutic services, a free national helpline open weekdays from 9am – 9pm, and training for schools, professionals and organisations.
0808 802 0111
griefencounter.org.uk   

GriefShare

Support group in Northern Ireland led by people with personal experience of bereavement.
0800 395 5755
griefshare.org  

Hope Again

A website designed for young people by young people who have been bereaved (part of Cruse Bereavement Care).
0808 808 1677
hopeagain.org.uk  

Sibling Support

A website tool which provides resources for children who are coping with the death of a brother or sister.
0800 02 888 40
siblingsupport.co.uk  

Together for short lives

Provides information and support for children with terminal illnesses and their families.
0808 8088 100
togetherforshortlives.org.uk  

Untangle

Provides personalised information, advice, services and support to navigate life after a death. Has a companion app to help you with everything from connecting with others who have lost, getting therapy, investing inheritance through to administering an estate.
untanglegrief.com  

WAY (Widowed & Young)

WAY is the only national charity in the UK for men and women aged 50 or under when their partner died. It’s a peer-to-peer support group run by a network of volunteers who have been bereaved at a young age. It runs activities and support groups for people coping with grief.

0300 201 0051
widowedandyoung.org.uk  

Winston’s Wish

A child bereavement charity which offers specialist practical support and guidance to bereaved children, their families and professionals.
08088 020 021
winstonswish.org.uk  

Funerals 

Association of Green Funeral Directors

An organisation which can help you find a funeral director in your area with eco-friendly funeral options.
0330 221 1018
greenfd.org.uk  

The Buddhist Society

The Buddhist tradition is very diverse and there is no single funeral service or ritual common to all Buddhists. The Buddhist Society may be able to advise or suggest local contacts who are able to help with organising Buddhist funeral services.
020 7834 5858
thebuddhistsociety.org  

Child Funeral Charity

Financial support for families struggling to meet the cost of a child’s funeral. Applications need to be made before the funeral arrangements are finalised.
01480 276 088
childfuneralcharity.org.uk  

Funeral Choice

An organisation which offers advice around organising funerals, including a directory of local funeral directors. The website includes information around planning, attending and paying for funerals.
01983 754387
yourfuneralchoice.com  

Humani (Northern Ireland)

The Humanist Association of Northern Ireland. It can provide a celebrant for a non-religious funeral.
07818036404
humanistni.org  

Humanist Society Scotland

Find a humanist funeral celebrant in your area if you live in Scotland.
0300 302 0680
humanism.scot  

Humanists UK

Humanists UK can help if you want a non-religious funeral ceremony. Find a celebrant in your area.
020 7324 3060
humanists.uk

Institute of Civil Funerals

The IoCF can explain what is involved in arranging a civil funeral, how to find a celebrant, the history of this form of ceremony and how funeral professionals can work with IoCF members.
014808 61411
iocf.org.uk  

Muslim Council of Britain

Contact the Council for advice on Muslim funeral ceremonies and customs.
0845 26 26 786
mcb.org.uk  

National Association of Funeral Directors

Find a registered funeral director near you or get some advice about organising a funeral.
0121 711 1343
nafdeducation.org.uk

National Society of Allied and Independent Funeral Directors

Find an independent funeral director in the UK.
0345 230 6777
saif.org.uk  

Natural Death Centre

If you’re looking for help, support, advice or guidance planning a funeral, either for yourself or for someone close to you, the Natural Death Centre Charity can help. The website includes a list of green burial sites and advice on woodland burials.
01962 712 690
naturaldeath.org.uk  

One Spirit Interfaith Foundation

A national organisation that can provide representatives to help plan tailor-made ceremonies, with or without a spiritual element.
interfaithfoundation.org  

Quaker Social Action: Down to earth

Supports people to identify and arrange an affordable and meaningful funeral. They can do this face to face, over the phone or by email.
020 8983 5055
quakersocialaction.org.uk/we-can-help/helping-funerals/down-earth  

United Synagogue

Offers advice and support for planning a Jewish funeral ceremony.
020 8343 8989
theus.org.uk/burial  

Which?

Consumer rights research and comparison website including pre-paid funeral plans and other financial products.
029 2267 0000
which.co.uk  

Reporting a death

Bereavement Service (Department of Work and Pensions)

Call the helpline to find out if any bereavement benefits are due and notify the DWP about the death. 
0800 731 0469
Textphone: 0800 731 0464
Welsh language: 0800 731 0453
Welsh textphone: 0800 731 0456

Bereavement Register

By registering with this free service, the names and addresses of the person who has died are removed from mailing lists, stopping most advertising mail within six weeks.
020 7089 6403
Automated phone registration: 0800 082 1230
thebereavementregister.org.uk  

Bereavement Service Northern Ireland

0800 085 2463
nidirect.gov.uk/contacts/bereavement-service  

Digital Legacy Association

Provides resources for healthcare professionals and the public. Helps people make arrangements for their digital legacy.
020 8133 8116
digitallegacyassociation.org  

HMRC probate helpline

Call HMRC for advice on probate and Inheritance Tax following a death.
0300 123 1072

MyWishes

Information and resources for sorting out your digital legacy, including tutorials for people who want to put plans in place for their online accounts at the end of life.
mywishes.co.uk  

National Records of Scotland

Find your local register office in Scotland and order copies of the death certificate.
General: 0131 202 0451
nrscotland.gov.uk  

Scottish government

The Scottish government website. Find information about what to do after a death and local contact details. Also includes local legislation information about new medical certificates.
gov.scot  

Tell Us Once

A free service that lets you report a death to most government organisations in one go. When you register the death, the registrar will let you know if the service is available in your area and give you the phone number. They can also give you a unique reference number if you would prefer to use the Tell Us Once online service.
gov.uk/tell-us-once