Family support Archives

Talking to children about a new relationship after the death of a parent

2nd June 2025 Advice

As a widowed parent, there may come a time when you find a new partner and want to introduce them to your children. This is a daunting situation for everyone involved – you, your children and your new partner. Your children will probably feel lots of complicated emotions, including fear, ...

How to tell children and young people that someone is seriously ill

1st June 2025 Advice

Whether someone in your family has cancer, heart disease or another serious illness, telling a child or young person that someone they love is seriously ill is one of the most difficult conversations you will face. You may feel that you are protecting them by not telling them but, based on ...

When should children return to school after a bereavement?

29th April 2025 Advice

A question we are often asked following the death of a parent, sibling, or other important person, is “should my child go back to school yet?” There are many things to consider when deciding when your child should return to school after a bereavement, including how your child feels about school, ...

White mum using smartphone with daughter at home.

How to help bereaved children understand grief

28th April 2025 Advice

Often, people will talk about the ‘different stages of grief,’ suggesting that everyone’s grief follows the same path through the stages of grief and that their grief will get smaller over time. We know from our experience that it’s not that simple and we prefer to look at it another ...

Hands holding a polaroid photo of a child with their dad

How to use a memory box with bereaved children and young people

28th March 2025 Advice

One of the things that is most important to the young people we work with is staying connected to the memories of the person who died. Many young people worry that memories will be forgotten, or don’t know how to begin to think about or talk about the person after ...

Young child looking to parent who is talking to them.

Telling a child someone has died – our support and guidance

28th March 2025 Advice

Telling a child someone has died may be the hardest thing you ever do and often one of the first questions is ‘how much should I tell them?’ It’s normal to worry about making things worse by saying too much or the wrong thing but remember the worst has already ...

Two girls sitting on a hammock - manage grief over summer holidays - Photo by SI Janko Ferlic on Unsplash

5 ways to manage grief in the summer holidays

17th July 2023 Advice

We know that the summer holidays can be a difficult time for grieving families, children, and young people. Losing the consistent routine of school or college can affect people and bring up lots of different emotions. Our team of Support Workers share five ways to manage grief and emotions over ...

How can military families remember someone who has died?

1st November 2022 Advice

There are many occasions when children, young people and families will remember someone who has died. Maybe on their birthday, anniversaries, religious festivals and any days that are significant to them. For military families, there are also public days, including Remembrance Day and Armed Forces Day, when you will think ...

Parent using tablet device with child with SEND.

How to tell a child with special educational needs and disabilities that someone has died

29th October 2020 Advice

Telling a child or young person that someone close to them has died is one of the most difficult things you will ever have to do. It’s natural to want to protect them from any pain and when your child has special educational needs or disabilities you may wonder whether ...

Preparing children for the death of a parent

How to prepare children for the death of a parent

29th September 2020 Advice

Preparing children for the death of a parent is an incredibly difficult thing to do. Whether this is from a long-term illness, like cancer or MS, or a more sudden circumstance, such as an accident or stroke, this is a heartbreakingly sad situation for the whole family. There is no right ...

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