Ask Me: Education Bereavement Plan and Resources
Will you help make nurseries, schools, colleges and universities places where grieving students feel seen, understood and supported?
Right now, at least one child or young person in every classroom across the UK is grieving the death of a parent or sibling. And they’re demanding change!
4 in 5 bereaved students said they don’t feel supported in education and 72% of bereaved students who were bereaved while in education also said they have never been asked what support they need.
It’s time to ASK and stop assuming.
It’s time to replace one-size-fits all policies with real student choice.
Because grief doesn’t have to erase their potential.
Do you work in education? Will you tear up outdated, one-size-fits-all policies and pledge to see each bereaved student as an individual? Will you ask students one simple but powerful question: “What do you need, and how can we support you?”
Download our free bereavement plans, guides and other resources to help you offer personalised grief support to every bereaved child or young person in your care.
Bereavement Plans
A way to offer children and young people the space to share their experiences of loss and explore what could be done to support them in your education setting.
Guides for education professionals
A guide to help adults to understand how the bereavement plan works, plus practical and immediate support guides for schools following a bereavement
Child booklet
A space for the child to share and express how they feel and what they would like adults to know.
Ask Me: Education Training Course
Learn the tools and techniques to more effectively support young people who are bereaved or facing the death of someone important to them. Take an in depth look at how to use the bereavement plan with a grieving student with our experienced trainers. You’ll learn the power of listening to bereaved students, giving them a voice and choice in how they are supported through grief and gain the confidence and tools to do this.
I had no support whatsoever. They (school) refused to acknowledge what happened and just labelled me as ‘troubled’ and ‘naughty’.
Bereaved Student
The help I was given by one specific teacher and the school counsellor was invaluable and I don’t know where I would be without them – my teacher was very generous in always giving her time and emotional energy to listen to how I was feeling and helping me to communicate with other teachers and peers about what was going on.
Miranda, Bereaved Student
I asked a teacher if I could leave, but he said not until I finish the questions about death and decomposition. I know my dad’s decomposing, and this isn’t a nice thought to be thinking.
Zunera, Bereaved Student
My college has been amazing – offered support and authorised time off.
Bereaved Student
I was being basically bullied because of my dad dying, and school weren’t doing anything about it. They were more looking at prosecuting my mum for not sending me to school than anything else.
Sophie, Bereaved Student
Sign the Ask Me: Education Manifesto and download the Bereavement Plan
Stand with bereaved students and show your commitment to asking instead of assuming by signing the Ask Me: Education Manifesto and join a growing community of education professionals standing up for bereaved students across the UK.
By signing you’ll commit to listen to bereaved students, to give them a voice and choice in how they are supported through grief. You’ll promise to ditch the ‘one size fits all’ approach and offer compassionate, tailored grief support to students who need it.
It’s time for real change. Be part of a national movement to change the futures of bereaved children and young people for the better.
have already signed the manifesto!
Grief shouldn’t erase my potential. This is why Ask Me: Education matters
In a recent survey of over 300 bereaved students (aged 8 to 25):
72%
said they did not feel adequately supported during education
79%
rated the support they received as 5 or less out of 10
72%
said they were never asked what support they needed
Further support for education professionals
Winston’s Wish helps adults supporting bereaved children and young people, including teachers, teaching assistants, pastoral care and anyone else working in an education setting, to provide the best support possible. We offer guidance from bereavement specialists, publications, resources and activities, training on supporting bereaved students and free PSHE lesson plans.
Contact us
Want to know more about Winston’s Wish and the Ask Me: Education campaign? Send us an email at education@winstonswish.org or call 01242 515 157. If you’re looking for guidance and support for a bereaved child or young person you can speak to a bereavement specialist by calling 08088 020 021, email ask@winstonswish.org, use our live chat or text or WhatsApp us on 07418 341 800.
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