Outside Resources
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We're here to help you find the right resources for you. Whether it's through our trusted guides or an outside resource, we simply want you to find the right information, support and community for you. The Funeral Companion is an independent, free community resource. Where we link to external organisations or community groups, we are signposting you to their services rather than providing or representing them.
Age UK — Advice and Support
Age UK — information, advice and support for later life
Age UK provides information and advice for older people and their families, including support around bereavement, grief, what to do when someone dies, finances and benefits.
Their bereavement information looks at the emotional and practical effects of losing someone, including coping with grief, loneliness and looking after yourself. They also provide information about practical matters such as registering a death, arranging a funeral and dealing with financial affairs.
Age UK Advice Line: 0800 678 1602
Free to call, 8am–7pm, 365 days a year. Age UK also has local services across the country, so you can find out what support may be available in your area.
Looking for advice or support?
Age UK – Official website
Age UK - Bereavement information
Age UK provides information and advice for older people and their families, including support around bereavement, grief, what to do when someone dies, finances and benefits.
Their bereavement information looks at the emotional and practical effects of losing someone, including coping with grief, loneliness and looking after yourself. They also provide information about practical matters such as registering a death, arranging a funeral and dealing with financial affairs.
Age UK Advice Line: 0800 678 1602
Free to call, 8am–7pm, 365 days a year. Age UK also has local services across the country, so you can find out what support may be available in your area.
Looking for advice or support?
Age UK – Official website
Age UK - Bereavement information
Child Bereavement UK
Child Bereavement UK — support for children, young people and families
Child Bereavement UK provides support and information for children and young people who are bereaved or facing the death of someone important to them. They also support parents and carers when a baby or child has died or is expected to die.
Their website provides information, guidance, videos and other resources to help children, young people and families understand and cope with grief.
Helpline: 0800 02 888 40
Bereavement specialists are available Monday to Friday, 8am–8pm, excluding bank holidays. Support is also available by live chat, email, text and WhatsApp.
Looking for support for a child, young person or family?
Child Bereavement UK – Official website
Child Bereavement UK – Support for children and young people
Child Bereavement UK provides support and information for children and young people who are bereaved or facing the death of someone important to them. They also support parents and carers when a baby or child has died or is expected to die.
Their website provides information, guidance, videos and other resources to help children, young people and families understand and cope with grief.
Helpline: 0800 02 888 40
Bereavement specialists are available Monday to Friday, 8am–8pm, excluding bank holidays. Support is also available by live chat, email, text and WhatsApp.
Looking for support for a child, young person or family?
Child Bereavement UK – Official website
Child Bereavement UK – Support for children and young people
Citizens Advice
Citizens Advice — practical advice when you need it
Citizens Advice provides free, independent advice on a wide range of issues that can arise when someone dies.
Their information can help with things such as what to do after a death, arranging a funeral, money and debts, benefits, wills, probate and dealing with the financial affairs of someone who has died.
They also provide information about what to do if you're struggling with your own finances or finding things difficult after a bereavement.
Looking for practical advice?
Visit Citizens Advice →
Citizens Advice – Official website
Citizens Advice has dedicated information covering what to do after a death, funeral arrangements and dealing with the financial affairs of someone who has died.
Cruse Bereavement Support
Cruse Bereavement Support is here to help you through grief.
Cruse provides bereavement support and information to people who have been affected by the death of someone they care about. You can contact them however long you have been grieving.
Cruse Helpline: 0808 808 1677
Free to call from UK landlines and mobiles.
Their trained bereavement volunteers can give you space to talk about how you're feeling and how you're coping. Cruse also provides local support, including one-to-one and group support, depending on what's available in your area.
Cruse also has information about understanding grief, managing grief and supporting someone else who is grieving.
Need bereavement support?
Cruse - Get support
Cruse provides bereavement support and information to people who have been affected by the death of someone they care about. You can contact them however long you have been grieving.
Cruse Helpline: 0808 808 1677
Free to call from UK landlines and mobiles.
Their trained bereavement volunteers can give you space to talk about how you're feeling and how you're coping. Cruse also provides local support, including one-to-one and group support, depending on what's available in your area.
Cruse also has information about understanding grief, managing grief and supporting someone else who is grieving.
Need bereavement support?
Cruse - Get support
GOV.UK — What to do after someone dies
GOV.UK — official government information
GOV.UK provides official information about what to do after someone dies. It brings together the practical steps you may need to take, from registering the death and telling government services through to arranging the funeral, checking bereavement benefits, dealing with the estate and applying for probate.
GOV.UK also provides information about Tell Us Once, which allows you to report a death to most government organisations in one go.
If you're not sure what you need to do after someone has died, their step-by-step guide is a useful place to start.
Looking for official government information?
GOV.UK – What to do after someone dies
GOV.UK provides official information about what to do after someone dies. It brings together the practical steps you may need to take, from registering the death and telling government services through to arranging the funeral, checking bereavement benefits, dealing with the estate and applying for probate.
GOV.UK also provides information about Tell Us Once, which allows you to report a death to most government organisations in one go.
If you're not sure what you need to do after someone has died, their step-by-step guide is a useful place to start.
Looking for official government information?
GOV.UK – What to do after someone dies
Marie Curie
Marie Curie — support around dying, death and bereavement
Marie Curie provides information, advice and support for people affected by terminal illness, dying, death and bereavement.
Their website includes information about grief, bereavement, practical things you may need to do after someone dies and arranging a funeral. They also provide support for people who are caring for someone with a terminal illness.
Marie Curie's Bereavement Support Service offers free telephone support for adults who are grieving after someone has died from a terminal illness. You can have up to six sessions with a bereavement support volunteer.
Marie Curie Support Line: 0800 090 2309
Free information and emotional support is available by phone, with current opening times listed on the Marie Curie website.
Looking for information or support around dying, death or bereavement?
Marie Curie – Official website
Marie Curie provides information, advice and support for people affected by terminal illness, dying, death and bereavement.
Their website includes information about grief, bereavement, practical things you may need to do after someone dies and arranging a funeral. They also provide support for people who are caring for someone with a terminal illness.
Marie Curie's Bereavement Support Service offers free telephone support for adults who are grieving after someone has died from a terminal illness. You can have up to six sessions with a bereavement support volunteer.
Marie Curie Support Line: 0800 090 2309
Free information and emotional support is available by phone, with current opening times listed on the Marie Curie website.
Looking for information or support around dying, death or bereavement?
Marie Curie – Official website
Mind
Mind — mental health information and support
Mind provides information and support for people experiencing mental health problems, as well as for people supporting someone else.
Their website has information about mental health conditions, treatment and medication, coping with everyday life, legal rights, finding support and what to do if you're worried about someone.
Mind Infoline: 0300 123 3393
Open Monday to Friday, 9am–6pm, except bank holidays. Mind's Infoline can provide information about mental health problems, treatment options, advocacy services and where to find help near you.
Mind also has a network of local Minds across England and Wales, providing different types of support within local communities.
Looking for mental health information or support?
Visit Mind's website → Mind – Official website
Mind provides information and support for people experiencing mental health problems, as well as for people supporting someone else.
Their website has information about mental health conditions, treatment and medication, coping with everyday life, legal rights, finding support and what to do if you're worried about someone.
Mind Infoline: 0300 123 3393
Open Monday to Friday, 9am–6pm, except bank holidays. Mind's Infoline can provide information about mental health problems, treatment options, advocacy services and where to find help near you.
Mind also has a network of local Minds across England and Wales, providing different types of support within local communities.
Looking for mental health information or support?
Visit Mind's website → Mind – Official website
NHS — Grief and Bereavement
NHS — health information and support
The NHS provides information about grief, bereavement and loss, including some of the feelings and experiences you may have after someone dies.
Everyone experiences grief differently, and there is no single right or wrong way to grieve. The NHS also explains when it may be helpful to seek further support, including speaking to your GP or accessing NHS talking therapies.
You can also find information about bereavement affecting children and young people, as well as advice about looking after your mental health following a loss.
Looking for NHS advice about grief and bereavement?
NHS – Grief after bereavement or loss → NHS – Official website
The NHS provides information about grief, bereavement and loss, including some of the feelings and experiences you may have after someone dies.
Everyone experiences grief differently, and there is no single right or wrong way to grieve. The NHS also explains when it may be helpful to seek further support, including speaking to your GP or accessing NHS talking therapies.
You can also find information about bereavement affecting children and young people, as well as advice about looking after your mental health following a loss.
Looking for NHS advice about grief and bereavement?
NHS – Grief after bereavement or loss → NHS – Official website
Samaritans
Samaritans are there to listen.
Whatever you're going through, you can contact Samaritans for emotional support. You don't have to be suicidal or in crisis to get in touch — sometimes you simply need someone to talk to.
Call 116 123 — free, day or night.
Samaritans also have helpful listening guidance for anyone who wants to support someone else. Their SHUSH listening tips offer five simple reminders for becoming a better listener: showing you care, having patience, using open questions, reflecting back what you've heard and having the courage to allow someone the space to talk.
Want to learn how to listen better?
Visit Samaritans' SHUSH listening tips.
Samaritans - Official website
Samaritans - SHUSH listening tips
Whatever you're going through, you can contact Samaritans for emotional support. You don't have to be suicidal or in crisis to get in touch — sometimes you simply need someone to talk to.
Call 116 123 — free, day or night.
Samaritans also have helpful listening guidance for anyone who wants to support someone else. Their SHUSH listening tips offer five simple reminders for becoming a better listener: showing you care, having patience, using open questions, reflecting back what you've heard and having the courage to allow someone the space to talk.
Want to learn how to listen better?
Visit Samaritans' SHUSH listening tips.
Samaritans - Official website
Samaritans - SHUSH listening tips
Sue Ryder — Grief Support
Sue Ryder — support for people affected by grief
Sue Ryder provides free-to-access information, advice and support for people who are grieving, as well as for those supporting someone who has been bereaved.
Their website includes information about coping with grief, supporting someone who is grieving and the practical things that may need to be done after someone dies.
Sue Ryder also offers an Online Bereavement Community, where people can share experiences, ask questions and talk with others who understand what they are going through. Their Grief Guide provides self-help tools and information to help people cope with grief.
Sue Ryder does not currently provide a bereavement support helpline, but its online grief and bereavement services provide different forms of support.
Looking for grief support or information?
Sue Ryder – Official website
Sue Ryder provides free-to-access information, advice and support for people who are grieving, as well as for those supporting someone who has been bereaved.
Their website includes information about coping with grief, supporting someone who is grieving and the practical things that may need to be done after someone dies.
Sue Ryder also offers an Online Bereavement Community, where people can share experiences, ask questions and talk with others who understand what they are going through. Their Grief Guide provides self-help tools and information to help people cope with grief.
Sue Ryder does not currently provide a bereavement support helpline, but its online grief and bereavement services provide different forms of support.
Looking for grief support or information?
Sue Ryder – Official website