Grief Encounter
Grief Encounter
Established in 2003 by Dr Shelley Gilbert MBE, Grief Encounter is one of the UK’s leading bereaved child charities, providing free, pioneering services and support to bereaved children, young people and their families.
Rebuilding a new life after the death of a loved one is hard for everyone, but especially for children and young people. Once the shock and trauma of a life changing event such as bereavement has been managed, finding a way to move forward must begin.
Children have an overwhelming sense of confusion, fear and anxiety, alongside their grief, which must be cared for in order for them to continue into adulthood with a sense of confidence and long lasting happiness.
Welcome to ‘grieftalk’, the brand new helpline from Grief Encounter, providing support for you, when you need it.
Are you a child, teenager or adult who has recently experienced the death of a loved one? Do you need to talk? You can call, email or instant chat with trained professionals at grieftalk, 5 days a week, 9am – 9pm.
On average one child in every classroom will experience the death of a parent or sibling before they reach 16 years of age; 44,000 dependent children bereaved a year. Adolescent grief has a devastating impact that can last for life, with research showing links to mental health issues, social and behavioural problems and more. We’re here to offer you support, and help you on your bereavement journey.
Ways to access help
Grief Encounter offers a flexible and accessible service, which aims to professionally care and respond to bereaved children, young people and their families via counselling, group activities, family fun days, residential camps and interactive online services.
Our unique E-counselling service serves the demand of the young, digitally apt community. Young people suffering from bereavement, who would like to contact Grief Encounter from across the UK, can get in contact via electronic methods including e-mail and Skype. Communicating with young people online allows us to access them whenever they need to talk to someone, or when they reach out for advice and guidance. It also allows Grief Encounter to extend our reach across the whole of the UK, and not be limited by location. Contact ecounselling@griefencounter.org.uk for more information.