Further help

The following are links to some websites which provide helpful information you may find useful. I have grouped the websites into sections; counselling, support and help, bereavement, for children, funeral celebrants and officiants, funerals and information about funerals of pets.

Counselling, support and help

AGE UK
ageuk.org.uk
For information and advice on all aspects of old age. Telephone helpline. Free booklets and downloads

ALZHEIMER’S
alzheimers.org.uk
Helpline and downloads on all aspects of Alzheimer’s

BRITISH HEART FOUNDATION
bhf.org.uk
Helpline, free booklets and downloads on all aspects of advanced cardiac disease

CARERS
carersuk.org
Advice and support for carers

CITIZENS ADVICE BUREAU
citizensadvice.org.uk
Free confidential and impartial advice on rights and responsibilities

COMPASSION IN DYING
http://compassionindying.org.uk
For advice on Lasting Powers of Attorney, Advanced Decisions and planning ahead

DEMENTIA UK
dementiauk.org
Helpline and downloads on all aspects of Alzheimer’s

DIGNITY IN DYING
dignityindying.org.uk
Campaigning for choice and control at end-of-life. Pioneers of Advanced Decisions.

DEPARTMENT FOR WORK & PENSIONS
direct.gov.uk
One phone call to resolve pension and benefits entitlements when someone dies

DIGNITAS
dignitas.ch
Swiss organisation supporting assisted suicide for the terminally ill

DYING MATTERS
www.dyingmatters.org
Helpline and free leaflets including 5 Things To Do Before I Die

LIVING WELL DYING WELL
lwdwtraining.uk
Empowering people on matters related to dying

MACMILLAN CANCER SUPPORT
macmillan.org.uk
Support for cancer patients and their families

NATURAL DEATH CENTRE
naturaldeath.org.uk
Authors of The Natural Death Handbook

OFFICE OF THE PUBLIC GUARDIAN
publicguardian.gov.uk
How to make a Lasting Power of Attorney. Help if you have concerns about a vulnerable person

PROBATE REGISTRY
www.hmcourts-service.gov.uk
What needs to be done after a death. Advice on dealing with insolvent estates after death.

SAMARITANS
samaritans.org
24 hour confidential support for those in despair, distressed or suicidal

UK TRANSPLANT
uktransplant.org.uk
Helpline and downloads on all aspects of organ donation

Bereavement

BEREAVEMENT REGISTER
thebereavementregister.org.uk
Free registration service which removes dead people’s details from mailing lists

COMPASSIONATE FRIENDS
tcf.org.uk
Support and care for bereaved parents, siblings and grandparents

CRUSE
cruse.org.uk
Advice, counselling, training, publications for all who have suffered bereavement

DRUG FAM
drugfam.co.uk
Supporting families bereaved by addiction and carers and friends affected by substance misuse

GRIEF IN COMMON
griefincommon.com
Providing support and a place to grieve

MISCARRIAGE ASSOCIATION
miscarriageassociation.org.uk
Support and information on all aspects of pregnancy loss

NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF WIDOWS
nawidows.org.uk
Run by widows for widows (men and women): offers support, friendship and understanding

SURVIVORS OF BEREAVEMENT BY SUICIDE
uk-sobs.org.uk
Meeting the needs and breaking the isolation of those bereaved by suicide. Emotional and practical support

WAY FOUNDATION
widowedandyoung.org.uk
Self-help social and support network for widowed men and women, married or not, aged under 50, and their children

For children

CHILD BEREAVEMENT CHARITY
childbereavement.org.uk
Supports families and young people when a child dies or is bereaved

CHILD DEATH HELPLINE
childdeathhelpline.org.uk
Trained volunteers offer free telephone counselling and emotional support to anyone affected by the death of a child or young adult

HOPE AGAIN
hopeagain.org.uk
The youth website of Cruse Bereavement. How to cope and where to turn to

TEENAGE CANCER TRUST
teenagecancertrust.org
Specialist services for young people with cancer

WINSTON’S WISH
winstonswish.org.uk
Charity for bereaved children which helps young people re-adjust to life after the death of a parent or sibling.
See also http://help2makesense.org

Funeral celebrants and officiants

YOUR OWN RELIGIOUS MINISTER – CIVIL FUNERAL CELEBRANT
iocf.org.uk
A personalised funeral ceremony, based on your requirements

HUMANIST CELEBRANT
humanism.org.uk
For the non-religious

INDEPENDENT CELEBRANT
independentcelebrants.com
Find an independent celebrant in your area

INTERFAITH FOUNDATION
interfaithfoundation.org
Find an interfaith minister in your area

THE CELEBRANT DIRECTORY
thecelebrantdirectory.com
Find a celebrant in your area

Funerals

DEPARTMENT OF WORK AND PENSIONS
dwp.gov.uk
Information about what you must do and the help you can get when someone dies

DIRECT CREMATION
funeralguide.co.uk/direct-cremation
Low-cost option as the body is cremated without a service

DIY FUNERAL
naturaldeath.org.uk
Doing it yourself. Funerals without a funeral director

FUNERAL ADVISOR
funeraladvisor.org.uk
Online directory of UK Funeral Directors with reviews by the public. Recommended by the Natural Death Centre

FUNERAL INSPIRATIONS
funeralinspirations.co.uk
Advising and encouraging people to take an active role in planning and preparing for a funeral

FUNERAL MAP
funeralmap.co.uk
Provides listings of Funeral Directors in the UK

SCATTERING ASHES
scattering-ashes.co.uk
Web resource on many aspects of cremation ashes.
See also the Environment Agency’s leaflet Funeral practices, spreading ashes and caring for the environment

WOODLAND BURIALS
woodlandburials.co.uk
Information on an environmentally friendly, cost effective alternative to traditional funerals, cemeteries and graveyards

WOODLAND TRUST
woodlandtrust.org.uk
Dedicate a tree to one of 23 woods across the UK

Pets

ASSOCIATION OF PRIVATE PET CEMETERIES AND CREMATORIA
www.appcc.org.uk
Find a local service that complies with the Association’s Code of Practice

BLUE CROSS PET BEREAVEMENT SUPPORT SERVICE
www.bluecross.org.uk
Charity helpline offering support and understanding to people who have lost a pet

CINAMMON TRUST
www.cinammon.org.uk
Care for pets of the elderly and terminally ill

HOME FOR LIFE
www.rspca.org.uk
The RSPCA’s free service that will find a new, loving home for your pet if you die