We know that every death is unique and the way that each person grieves is individual. Our Spiritual Care and Bereavement Team can support a family’s wishes throughout a child’s life and death, helping your family develop resilience and cope with the death of your child.
At the hardest of times, we can support you to make decisions around your child's death that keep what's important to you at the centre.
Our dedicated Spiritual Care and Bereavement Team can support those affected at any time they are grieving – before and after the death of a child.
Our registered Chaplains within our Spiritual Care and Bereavement Team can support you if your child has died following a life-shortening condition or has received end of life care in hospital, hospice or home. Our chaplains can offer support for all faiths or no faith, working alongside other teams to ensure families are well supported.
We offer support to people of all backgrounds, with or without a specific faith or belief, and will provide a space where you and your family members can be yourselves to express your hopes, fears and concerns.
Our Chaplains provide a listening ear, allowing you to reflect on your experience, discuss coping strategies and explore questions around meaning and purpose, beliefs and concerns.
Every family is different, and people react and grieve in various ways. We know that you may experience many different feelings and emotions in the weeks and months ahead.
Our Spiritual Care and Bereavement Team supports families at all stages of their journey. There is no time limit on when you can seek this support.
At the time of death our chaplains can support you with funeral arrangements, including conducting your child’s funeral and liaising with funeral directors. They can also connect you with a celebrant or faith leader who is most appropriate to meet your needs.
We care for the whole family and can support siblings, parents, carers, other family members and significant people in your child's life.
We can meet with you individually, as a couple, or in a group setting. This might be in your home, the hospice or in the community, wherever feels most comfortable.
We provide various opportunities for you to connect with other bereaved families at regular events, such as:
Our calendar of events is always evolving and more details on what's happening in the coming months can be found on our website. We also have a closed private Connecting Bereaved Families Facebook page.
At some point, you may be looking for some structured support. We can work with you to identify if you would benefit from one to one or group support with us. We can also help you to connect with other organisations providing services more tailored to your needs, if appropriate.
The Bereavement Service supports those affected:
My Bereavement Worker has helped me so much and continues to support me with coping skills after the loss of my teenage son. The team are a valuable part of support, they do an amazing job. Whether it's in-person or online video calls.
Rosie, Reece's mum
Collaborating with other care teams, we ensure seamless support.
From the early days of diagnosis throughout the child’s life, when they die and beyond, CHAS will stand by families, helping them to navigate and cope with the journey ahead.
