Bereavement support for residents of Leicester and Leicestershire
There are many sources of bereavement support for people living in Leicester and Leicestershire, both through national and local support organisations.
It is very easy to feel isolated following a bereavement. If you would like to have an opportunity to have more social contact, there are many local organisations which will you to engage in an activity you are interested in, whilst meeting like minded people.
General and national bereavement support
See below links to resources for the residents of Leicester and Leicestershire
ACC’s Counselling Support Service (Association of Christian Counsellors)
Set up to help anyone over the age of 16 years who is experiencing difficult feelings, thoughts, and circumstance because they:
work within an NHS setting (medical and ancillary staff) and are being impacted by caring for people who have COVID-19
work within a residential care home setting and are being impacted by caring for people who have COVID-19
have been bereaved at this time, whether due to COVID-19 or another reason.
024 7644 9694
Age UK (Leicestershire and Rutland)
Offers information, advice and support to older people ( 50+) and their carers. Also have social events where new friendships can be formed
0116 299 2233 or call the national helpline on 0800 009966
At A Loss
National charity providing a one-stop bereavement support and signposting website. Aims to ensure that every bereaved person in the UK can find bereavement support when they need it.
BAMEStream Bereavement Support
BAMEStream is an alliance of practitioners, therapists, policy specialists, organisations, activists and academia who specialise in the areas of mental health and wellbeing and whose core purpose during the Covid-19 pandemic is to bring the mental health needs of the Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic community into the mainstream.
Bereavement Advice Centre
Offers support and advice on practical issues when someone dies.
0800 634 9494
Bereavement Hubs, LOROS
The LOROS Bereavement Hubs offer drop-in sessions that aim to provide those who are bereaved with a place where they can access information, talk to others and share their thoughts and feelings.
email. bereavementsupport@loros.co.uk.
Locations:
LOROS Hospice, Groby Road, Leicester, LE3 9QE
South Wigston, Elliott Hall, Albion Street, South Wigston, LE18 4SA
Loughborough, Round Table Room, John Storer House, Ward’s End, Loughborough, LE11 3HA
Stanton under Bardon, St Johns Cole Crescent, Main Street, LE67 9AE
Birstall, Birstall Methodist Church, Wanlip Lane, Birstall LE4 4JS
Thurmaston, Thurmaston Health Centre, 573A Melton Road, Behind Manor Medical, LE4 8EA
Hinckley, The New Plough Inn, 24 Leicester Road, Hinckley, LE10 1LS
Bereavement Trust
Confidential volunteer listening and support helpline for those bereaved.
0800 435 455
Compassionate Friends
Supports bereaved parents and their families with a helpline and local support groups.
0345 123 2304 or email emaihelpline@tcf.org.uk
Cruse Bereavement Care
Offers an impartial ear with no agenda – support via one-to-one counselling sessions. All services are offered to everyone free of charge.
0808 808 1677 or email helpline@cruse.org.uk
Cruse Leicestershire
Offers local support and one to one counselling sessions.
0116 288 4119 or email leicester@cruse.org.uk
Cruse Northamptonshire
Offers local support and one to one counselling sessions.
07772 428532 or email northamptonshire@cruse.org.uk
Farming Community Network
Support for the farming community. The helpline takes calls on any issue, including bereavement and grief. Volunteers have farming backgrounds and offer face to face practical and pastoral support.
03000 111999
Grief Chat
Offers online support for bereaved people between Monday–Friday, 9am–9pm.
Hope Again: Young People Living After Loss
A youth website, which is part of Cruse Bereavement Care. A safe place is provided for young people to learn from other young people how to cope with grief and feel less alone.
0808 8081677 or email hopeagain@cruse.org.uk
Maggie's Centres
Emotional support for people with cancer and their families (meetings and also on line support), and those bereaved through cancer (groups in Nottingham).
Marie Curie
A free national listening support service line for people who have been bereaved due to terminal illness. Callers can be matched with a trained volunteer to have regular bereavement support sessions over the telephone.
0800 090 2309 or email support@mariecurie.org.uk
Mencap
Provides information for people with learning disabilities who are bereaved.
NHS England
Information on grief after bereavement or loss
National Bereavement Partnership Covid-19 hub
Bereavement support for all those bereaved, whether the death was due to COVID-19 or another reason
National helpline 0800 448 0800 (Monday to Sunday - 07:00 to 22:00)
SMS helpline 0786 002 2814 (texts are charged at your standard rate)
Email helpline@nationalbereavementpartnership.org
SSAFA
Bereavement support for the military. Provides helpline and group support.
0800 731 4880
Silverline
24/7 call line for those in need of someone to talk to. Offers information, friendship and advice for older people 50+.
0800 4 70 80 90 for free or call 03004 70 80 90 on mobiles at local call rate
Sudden
A charitable service for suddenly bereaved people, and for anyone caring for them, either as a family member, friend or as a professional.
0800 2600 400 or email help@sudden.org.
Sudden Death
UK charity supporting people bereaved and carers after a sudden death.
0800 1216510
Sue Ryder
National charity providing palliative, neurological and bereavement support.
The Good Grief Trust
Charity providing reassurance and support to the bereaved. Run by the bereaved for the bereaved.
Email hello@thegoodgrieftrust.org
The Loss Foundation
National charity providing free bereavement support after the loss of a loved one and also now offering specific COVID-19 loss support.
0300 2004112 or email info@thelossfoundation.org
The Samaritans
Available 24 hours a day to provide confidential emotional support for people who are experiencing feelings of distress or despair.
0116 270 0007 or call the national helpline on 08457 909090
Thorpe Hall Sue Ryder
Offering one to one and group counselling and support.
01733 225 900
Children and young adults
Babyloss Support LLR
A collaboration of bereaved parents and healthcare professionals, who want to break down the barriers to accessing bereavement support that so many of our parents still face.
07400 402744 or email info@babylosssupport.org.uk
Cardiac Risk in the Young (CRY)
Cardiac Risk in the Young (CRY) has a network of Bereavement Supporters who have themselves been affected by a young sudden cardiac death. They offer support over the telephone to others.
01737 363222 or email cry@c-r-y.org.uk.
Child Bereavement UK
Support, information and guidance for children and young people (up to the age of 25), parents and families to rebuild their lives when a child grieves or a child dies.
0800 0288840
Child Death Helpline
There to support anyone affected by the death of a child of any age, in any circumstances. Trained volunteers who have had experience of child bereavement.
0800 282986 or email contact@childdeathhelpline.org
Childhood Bereavement Network
Support for professionals working with bereaved children and young people. There is a searchable directory of local childhood bereavement services and other helpful information.
Hope Support
Offers online, text and skype support to young people (11-25) when someone close to them has a life threatening illness or has died.
01989 566 317 or email help@hopesupportservices.org.uk
RIP-RAP
Online advice and support service for young people (12-16) who have lost a parent through cancer.
SANDS Stillbirth & Neonatal Death Charity
The Sands National Helpline provides a safe, confidential place for anyone who has been affected by the death of a baby.
0808 164 3332 or email helpline@sands.org.uk
The Bodie Hodges Foundation
Supports families who have been bereaved of a child of any age. Provides a safe place that families can retreat to and spend time together after the death of their child (Bodie’s Boathouse, Tallington).
The Good Grief Project
Supports families grieving after the untimely death of a loved one, particularly the death of a child, by encouraging a creative response to grief and by looking for new ways of expressing the pain of loss with various art forms and media.
The Laura Centre
Offers free professional counselling for parents and carers of children who have died, as well as offering counselling to children who have lost a parent or loved one. Their website also gives information relating to needs which may be specific to bereaved children and teenagers.
0116 254 4341
The Lullaby Trust
Offers confidential bereavement support to anyone affected by the sudden and unexpected death of a baby or young child.
0808 802 6868 or email support@lullabytrust.org.uk
Winston’s Wish
Helps children rebuild their lives after the death of a parent or sibling.
08088 020 021 or email info@winstonswish.org.uk
Support after a violent death
AAFDA - Advocacy After Fatal Domestic Abuse
We draw on our personal and professional experience of major criminal justice processes like Domestic Homicide Reviews, and other related inquiries and provide emotional, practical and specialist peer support to those left behind after fatal domestic homicide.
Contact: email. help@aafda.org.uk. T. 07887 488 464
Alliance of Hope - Suicide Loss Survivors Support
Provides support for survivors of suicide loss and can offer phone/skype counselling.
Bereavement Support for the Military
Provides helpline and group support.
0800 731 4880
SAMM (Support after Murder or Manslaughter)
Supports families bereaved by murder and manslaughter.
0121 472 2912 or email info@samm.org.uk
SOBS: Survivors of the Bereavement by Suicide
Offers support via helpline and local support groups for people who are bereaved following a suicide.
0300 111 5065 or email support@uksobs.org
Support After Suicide
Support to people bereaved by suicide and information about relevant resources. The website is provided by the Suicide Support Partnership (an alliance of organisations with a focus on providing timely support to anyone bereaved or affected by suicide.
Specific local bereavement support services
Al-Anon Family Groups
Provides help and support for families and friends of those who have died of alcohol related illness. Support groups meet Hinckley every Thursday and Leicester City every Wednesday.
020 7403 0888.
Anything Goes
Helps socially isolated, disadvantaged and vulnerable older people by bringing together small groups and working with them to design bespoke activities which help them remain connected to their community. Available in the Belgrave, Evington, Spinney Hills, Thurncourt and Wycliffe areas of the city.
0116 299 2270.
Befriending and Mentoring Service
A free service offering a daily or weekly phone call to those who live alone in the Belgrave, Evington, Spinney Hills, Thurncourt and Wycliffe areas of the city. Also available for all those who live alone in the City wards who are housebound.
0116 223 7364 / 0116 223 7363
Citizens Advice Centre
60 Charles Street, Leicester LE11FB
0300 330 1025
Community Champions
Operates across Harborough District in South Leicestershire and is aimed at helping isolated or lonely people (over 60) to change their lives for the better. Volunteers will help clients:
Access information, groups and support
Build new friendships
Support to enjoy new opportunities
Support to speak to services
01858 439262
Contact the Elderly
Monthly group which brings friendship to lonely and isolated people over 75. Volunteers pick up a group of individuals and they are taken to a volunteer’s house for afternoon tea. Individuals must be able to walk the short distance from their front door to the volunteer’s car. Currently operating in Blaby (LE8 or LE18), Enderby (LE9 or LE19), Hinckley (LE10), Leicester (LE2, LE3, LE4, LE5), Loughborough and Melton Mowbray.
0800 716 543 or email prabina.lord@contact-the-elderly.org.uk
Coping with Cancer
Offers counselling, befriending services, disease specific support groups and complimentary therapies to anyone affected by cancer within Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland. They also run a solicitor’s surgery if you are struggling with any legal issues or would like some advice. You may refer yourself, a friend or ask your GP to make a referral.
0116 223 0055
Crisis Helpline
Offers people easier access to support and guidance if they experience a mental health crisis.
0808 800 3302
Give and Take
Friendship Buddies – many service users simply want someone visit their home to have a cup of tea and a chat or to be an art and crafts or games companion. It might include basic admin work, making phone calls or help with reading newspapers and books.
Travel Buddies / Shopping Buddies - volunteers can accompany service users to travel with them to lunch clubs and community events, appointments, to the shops or even dog walking.
ICT Support Buddies - the volunteer can support the service user to become confident to use a mobile telephone, tablet or home computer. It might include filling in forms online, doing research, contacting friends & family or online shopping.
Sitting with a loved one- giving the family carer free time to catch up on errands or just time to themselves.
0116 249 8851 / 07846 516 017 or email emily.cross@leicesterageingtogether.org.uk
Leicester Ageing Together c/o Vista, 16 New Walk, Leicester LE2 6UB
Haven Counselling Centre
Counselling for bereavement, stress and depression for people in the Ashby and Loughborough areas.
01530 560 921 or email thehavencounselling@btconnect.com
Leicester Counselling Centre
A charity that aims to provide affordable, high quality, professional counselling to the communities of Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland. Nominal charge only. Unlimited counselling sessions.
0116 255 8801
Leicester Women's Counselling Centre
Private counselling service for women and girls of age 13yrs and over. Unlimited 1-1 sessions.
3 Museum Square, Leicester LE1 6UF
03333 444 304
Let's Talk
Psychological care, offers clinics in many places across the city. Contact your GP for a referral or complete an online self-referral form
Let's Talk Leicester City
Patients living in Leicester City can access it by calling 0116 292 7010 or going online
Let's Talk Leicestershire and Rutland
Patients living in Leicestershire and Rutland can contact the service by calling 01509 56 1100 or go online
The Compassionate Friends
Bereaved parents provide support for other parents and siblings after the death of a child of any age.
0345 123 2304
The Jolly Dollies
Social network for widows, puts you in touch with other widows whether that is via community pages, social media or you join your local Jolly Dollies group (monthly meets). The Jolly Dollies has many and varied benefits and our group members are dedicated to arranging and organising social events eg walks, visits, theatre, lunches, or just meet for coffee.
The Shama Centre
Offers free bereavement counselling support for men women and families with special emphasis on minority ethnic communities. They have multi-lingual staff and a Bereavement to Achievement scheme for women.
0116 262 5876 (to book a confidential counselling session)
0116 251 4747 (for general enquiries)
Where a death is due to COVID-19, they are here to help on their support line. The qualified experienced Bereavement Counsellors can support you through this difficult time. Please ring to speak to one of their Counsellors:
Rajni 07928 830 390, Wednesdays - 9.15am-2.00pm
Zubeda 07715 423 452, Thursdays - 9.30am-3.00pm
Shaheena 07595 966 464, Fridays - 10.00am-6.00pm
The Tomorrow Project Team
Supporting those bereaved by suicide. Contact within 72hrs of receipt of referral to provide an information pack ‘help is at hand’, signpost and provide a named worker.
The Tomorrow Project, c/o Harmless, 1 Beech Avenue, Sherwood Rise, Nottingham, NG7 7LJ
0115 880 0280 or email bereavement@tomorrowproject.org.uk
Way Up
National organisation for widows and widowers, with an online community and local Leicester / Leicestershire meets. Share experiences, receive support, organise social meets and outings. All have experienced bereavement.