Inquest and bereavement resources
Here we help you to find the information you need when someone close to you has died, whether you’re looking for guidance on what to do, how to process an inquest, or how to handle a bereavement.
Go right to the resources section you need by clicking the links below:
Practical steps for after someone dies
- Government guidance on the practical steps to take after a loved one dies including advice on how to register the death and arrange the funeral. This guide includes information on why a death might be reported to a coroner and details about what could happen next.
- Guidance from the Money Advice Service on the organisations you should inform after someone dies.
Inquest resources
INQUEST
INQUEST provides specialist support and advice for bereaved people following a state related death, with the influence to achieve change in legislation, policy and practice.
T: 020 7263 1111 (option 1)
W: https://www.inquest.org.uk/
Twitter: @INQUEST_ORG
Rethink Mental Illness
Rethink Mental Illness provides support to people affected by mental illness. It gives advice in relation to the inquest process, the role or the coroner and post-mortem examinations.
T: 0300 5000 927
https://www.rethink.org/carers-family-friends/what-you-need-to-know/inquests/inquests
Twitter: @Rethink_
The Coroner’s Courts Support Service
The Coroner’s Courts Support Service offers emotional support and practical help to bereaved families, witnesses and others attending an Inquest at a Coroner’s Court.
T: 0300 111 2141
W: https://coronerscourtssupportservice.org.uk/
Twitter: @CCSSOrg
AvMA (Action Against Medical Accidents)
AvMA offers self-help guides containing clear explanations of the inquest procedure. They can sometimes offer expert representation at an inquest where there are reasonable grounds to believe that the death occurred as a result of medical care.
T: 0845 123 2352
W: https://www.avma.org.uk/help-advice/inquests/
Twitter: @avmauk
Bereavement Advice Centre
Bereavement Advice Centre provides a free helpline and web-based information service. It gives practical information, advice and signposting on the issues and procedures that face us after the death of someone close. Bereavement Advice Centre gives basic advice in relation to inquests.
T: 0800 634 9494
W: https://www.bereavementadvice.org/topics/death-certificate-and-coroners-inquest/
- Useful terms for navigating the inquest procedure.
- A useful government guide for bereaved people and those attending or affected by an inquest.
Bereavement Support
Samaritans
Samaritans is a telephone service providing support for people in difficult circumstances. You don’t have to be suicidal to contact the Samaritans.
T: 116 123
W: https://www.samaritans.org/
Twitter: @samaritans
Cruse Bereavement Care
Cruse Bereavement Care offer support, advice and information to children, young people and adults when someone dies. The charity has a number of specialist projects providing assistance to those affected by military bereavement and bereavement through drugs and alcohol or suicide. Face-to-face, telephone, email and website support is available.
T: 0808 808 1677
W: https://www.cruse.org.uk/ and http://hopeagain.org.uk/ (specifically for children and young people)
Twitter: @crusecare
Child Bereavement UK
Child Bereavement UK supports families when a baby or child of any age dies or is dying. It also provides assistance when a child is facing bereavement. Alongside this work, Child Bereavement UK works to educate professionals to help them meet the needs of grieving families.
T: 01494 568 900
E: support@childbereavementuk.org
W: https://childbereavementuk.org/
Twitter: @cbukhelp
Winston’s Wish
Winston’s Wish was the first childhood bereavement charity in the UK. It provides support across the UK for bereaved children and their families. Specialist resources are available for those bereaved through serious illness, homicide, suicide and the military. Winston’s Wish runs local drop-in services across the South West as well as online and telephone support.
T: 08088 020 021
W: https://www.winstonswish.org/
Twitter: @winstonswish
The Loss Foundation
The Loss Foundation provides help following the loss of a loved one to cancer. It organises free support groups in London which are run by psychologists and other professionals. Therapy groups, student groups, weekend retreats and social events are also available through The Loss Foundation.
T: 0300 200 4112
W: https://www.thelossfoundation.org/
Twitter: @LossFoundation
WAY Widowed & Young
WAY is a support group for people aged 50 or under when their partner died. It is a peer-to-peer support group run by volunteers with personal experience of being bereaved at a young age. WAY offer social groups and a members-only website to meet others who have been widowed at a young age.
W: https://www.widowedandyoung.org.uk/
Twitter: @WidowedAndYoung
Dying Matters
Dying Matters aims to help people talk more openly about dying, death and bereavement, and to make plans for the end of life. It manages a directory of services for the people in the last years of life, their families, carers and friends. There are a range of resources to assist with conversations about death on the website.
T: 0800 021 44 66
W: https://www.dyingmatters.org/
Twitter: @DyingMatters
Together for Short Lives
Together for Short Lives offers support to families caring for seriously ill children. It aims to support children’s palliative care services. Assistance is available via the helpline and resources on the website.
T: 0808 8088 100
W: https://www.togetherforshortlives.org.uk/
Twitter: @Tog4ShortLives
Bliss Baby Charity
Bliss Baby Charity offers emotional and practical support for families with premature or sick babies. It provides face-to-face, phone and email support. Support from people with similar experiences is also available on the Bliss message board.
T: 0808 801 3022
Twitter: @Blisscharity
SANDS (Stillbirth and Neonatal Death Charity)
SANDS operate through the UK and support anyone affected by the death of a baby. It operates a helpline, online message boards and a range of resources. SANDS has a UK-wide network of support groups.
T: 0808 164 3332
Twitter: @SandsUK
SOBS (Survivors of Bereavement by Suicide)
SOBS supports adults bereaved by suicide. It offers a helpline, email assistance, local support groups and retreats. The services are run by volunteers who have been bereaved by suicide.
T: 0300 111 5065
Twitter: @SOBScharity
Group B Strep Support
Group B Strep Support operates a helpline providing general information and guidance on group B Strep. It is working to stop group B Strep infections, including meningitis, in babies.
T: 01444 416 176
Twitter: @GBSSupport
Marie Curie
Marie Curie offers support to people suffering from terminal illnesses and to their families. It operates a helpline, an online community and publishes a range of resources online. Marie Curie also provides information on nursing and hospice services.
T: 0800 090 2309
W: https://www.mariecurie.org.uk/
Twitter: @mariecurieuk
TCF (The Compassionate Friends)
TCF is a charitable organisation of bereaved parents, siblings and grandparents that provide support to similarly bereaved family members who have suffered the death of a child. Assistance is available through the helpline or online.
T: 0345 123 2304
Twitter: @saytheirname
Baby Loss Awareness
Baby Loss Awareness Week is held annually from 9 to 15 October and is a collaboration between charities in the UK. It provides an opportunity for bereaved family and friends to commemorate the lives of babies who died during pregnancy, at or soon after birth and in infancy.
T: 020 3897 6092
W: https://babyloss-awareness.org/
Twitter: @BLA_Campaign
Life After Loss
Life After Loss helps anyone affected by the loss of a baby. Support is available through an online forum. There are a number of local support groups in Northern Ireland and one in Warrington.
W: http://www.lifeafterloss.org.uk/site/
Twitter: @lifeafterloss
The Lullaby Trust
The Lullaby Trust aims to reduce the number of SIDS deaths and support bereaved families. Support is available by phone or email. The Lullaby Trust also provides a Befriender service which connects people with others who have had similar experiences.
T: 0808 802 6868
E: support@lullabytrust.org.uk
W: https://www.lullabytrust.org.uk/
Twitter: @LullabyTrust
Child Death Helpline
Child Death Helpline offers a confidential, safe environment within which the caller can talk openly about the death of a child of any age. It aims to support anyone affected by the death of a child including parents, grandparents, siblings, family members, friends and involved professionals.
T: 0800 282 986
E: contact@childdeathhelpline.org
W: http://childdeathhelpline.org.uk/
Twitter: @ChildDeathHelp
Bereavement UK
Bereavement UK operates a support forum and a chat room where people who have lost loved ones can support each other.
W: http://www.bereavementuk.co.uk/
Jessie May
Jessie May is a Bristol-based charity providing nursing care at home for children and young people with life limiting conditions who are not expected to live past the age of 19.
T: 0117 958 2174
W: https://www.jessiemay.org.uk/
Twitter: @jessiemaytrust
The Grief Encounter
The Grief Encounter provides free services and support to bereaved children, young people and their families. Among the services available are e-counselling and specially created Grief Relief Kits designed to facilitate children’s grieving.
T: 020 8371 8455
E: contact@griefencounter.org.uk
W: https://www.griefencounter.org.uk/
Twitter: @griefencounter
Balloons Charity
Balloons works with pre and post bereaved children, young people and their families in Exeter, Mid and East Devon. One-to-one support is available alongside the helpline. Balloons also organises activity days and family events.
T: 01392 826 065
W: http://balloonscharity.co.uk/
Twitter: @fund4balloons
The Good Grief Trust
The Good Grief Trust supports all bereaved people in the UK. It provides guidance to local services and a number of online resources.
Twitter @goodgrieftrust
The Grief Journey
The Grief Journey provides education, community training and resources.
Twitter: @GriefJourneyUK
Leeds Suicide and Bereavement Service
Leeds Suicide and Bereavement Service supports people who have been bereaved by suicide in Leeds. It offers individual peer support, group peer support, family support and counselling. It also arranges annual events and memorials.
T: 0113 3055803
Twitter: @LeedsSBS
Care for the Family
Care for the Family aims to promote strong family life and help those who face family difficulties, including bereavement. Through online resources they try to provide help and practical support.
T: 029 2081 0800
W: https://www.careforthefamily.org.uk/
Twitter: @Care4theFamily
Childhood Bereavement Network
Childhood Bereavement Network is a bub for those working with bereaved children, young people and their families. There are resources available on the website to assist anyone supporting a bereaved child.
W: http://www.childhoodbereavementnetwork.org.uk/
Twitter: @CBNtweets
Suicide Bereavement UK
Suicide Bereavement UK conducts suicide bereavement research and provides consultancy on supporting those affected.
T: 01706 827 359
W: https://suicidebereavementuk.com/
Twitter: @SBUK11
SeeSaw Charity
SeeSaw Charity support children in Oxfordshire when a parent or sibling has died. It offers face-to-face support for children and telephone consultations for concerned parents. Home visits are also available.
T: 01865 744 768
Twitter: @SeeSawCharity
SAMM (Support After Murder & Manslaughter)
SAMM offers support for families bereaved by murder and manslaughter. The helpline volunteers are specially trained and have been bereaved in this way. SAMM also organises retreats for the bereaved.
T: 0121 472 2912
BEAD (Bereaved through Alcohol and Drugs)
BEAD provides assistance to those bereaved through alcohol and drugs. There are useful resources on the website. One-to-one and group support are also offered.
T: 0808 808 1677
E: Help-line@cruse.org.uk
W: https://www.beadproject.org.uk/
Inquest solicitors
- Article 2 Inquests
- Do you need to instruct a solicitor for an inquest?
- Funding an inquest
- Inquest and bereavement resources
- Inquest or fatal claim?
- Inquests for deaths involving police
- Inquests into death following medical treatment
- Inquests into deaths in prison
- Inquests into infant loss
- Inquests into mental health deaths
- Inquests into military deaths
- Inquests: a glossary of legal terms
- What is a pre-inquest review hearing?
- What is an inquest, and what happens during an inquest hearing?
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