Expert grief support for children
and young people

Winston’s Wish offers free, accessible online grief support to children and young people (aged 25 or under) across the UK who are bereaved or facing the death of someone important to them.

Grieving children and young people can speak to a bereavement specialist right away via phone, email, live chat or text/WhatsApp (details below). No appointments, no long wait times, just real-life support. For the majority of young people, and the adults supporting them, that is all that’s needed to be able to confidently move forward.

Get immediate support from a Bereavement Specialist

Start a conversation with our bereavement team today. You can speak to us between 8am and 8pm, Monday to Friday (except bank holidays).

Call free on 08088 020 021.

Email us on ask@winstonswish.org or fill out our contact form and we’ll reply within two working days.

Click the blue ‘Chat with us’ button at the bottom right of your screen.

Text or WhatsApp us on 07418 341 800. (You must be 13 or older to receive support via WhatsApp).

If you need to speak to us in a language other than English, we can use interpreters over the phone, and we can use the Relay UK app if you have hearing or speech difficulties. For urgent support in a crisis, please call 999.

Refer for additional bereavement support services

If a child or young person is really struggling with their grief, our bereavement specialists will explore the child’s needs and assess if they could benefit from additional support. This includes connecting bereaved children and young people through facilitated online groups, and/or one-to-one sessions with bereavement specialists and counsellors. You can refer yourself or a child you’re supporting for additional bereavement support by completing our referral form below.

There is no one-size-fits-all, so we will get to know and understand each individual grieving child before delivering tailored support and services that will suit them best.

Below are links to our referral forms. Choose the one that relates to you, answer the questions and click submit. Our bereavement specialists will check all of the information you have provided to decide how best to help, and guide you towards support that fits with your unique needs. Someone will be in touch within five working days to talk about the next steps.

We believe in empowering young people to take ownership of their grief support journey. That’s why we encourage young people to reach out to us directly. Anyone aged 25 or under can refer themselves for additional bereavement support services. Parents, carers and professionals can submit a referral on behalf of a bereaved young person aged 12 or under. Winston’s Wish is unable to accept referrals without the agreed consent of the young person for whom support is being sought.

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