Losing someone important to you is one of the hardest things you’ll ever have to go through. Whether it’s a parent, sibling, friend, teacher or someone you admired from afar, suddenly not having them in your life can feel scary and upsetting.
There is no right or wrong way to grieve. And there’s no set formula to ‘get over’ it. In fact, grief isn’t something you can simply get over. Instead, we can learn to live with our grief and build a life around our bereavement.
At Winston’s Wish, we’re here to help. We are a charity that helps children, teenagers and young adults (up to the age of 25) find their feet when their worlds are turned upside down by grief. Through information, on-demand services, bereavement support and counselling, we support you to understand your feelings, make sense of your grief and find ways to move forward with hope for a brighter future.
All of our support is available online, so no matter where you live you can still get the help you need.
Information and advice
We produce a range of content, including videos, blogs, books, talks and workshops all designed to help you learn and understand more about grief.
Advice and stories
Professional advice, tips and guidance from our Bereavement Support team, as well as real life stories, accounts and encouragement from other grieving young people just like you.
Live grief talks
Our monthly online ‘Growing with Grief’ talks for 16 to 25 year olds can help you learn more about grief, how it impacts you and some coping strategies.
Activities
Download our free activities to help you explore and express your feelings and emotions and discover ways to remember the person who has died.
Social media
Our social media channels are full of videos about grief, including advice and information from our bereavement support team and real life stories and tips from grieving young people.
On-demand grief support
Whenever you need you can speak to our bereavement team using one of our confidential on-demand services. You can chat to us anonymously if you wish and we guarantee nothing is off limits. We promise to listen and not judge and can offer advice and guidance if needed. You can speak to us as little or as often as you want.
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.
Live chat. Chat online between 3-8pm, weekdays by clicking on the blue ‘Chat with us’ at the bottom right of your screen.
Email us on ask@winstonswish.org or fill out this contact form. We’ll aim to reply within two working days.
Call. Call us for free on 08088 020 021 between 8am-8pm, weekdays.
Text. If it’s urgent, text WW to 85258 to speak with someone from our trusted partner, Shout.
Bereavement support
If you’d like more focused support with your grief, we offer a series of one-to-one sessions with a Winston’s Wish Bereavement Support Worker. Here, you’ll be able to talk openly and safely about your feelings and together you’ll find the coping mechanisms that will work for you.
We also make it possible for you to connect with other young grieving people who get what you’re going through. Our grief support groups offer the opportunity to share your experiences, reduce feelings of isolation and build connections.
One-to-one and group support is by referral only. If you’re aged 13 or over, you can submit your own referral. If you’re 12 or under, please speak with a trusted adult (parent, guardian, teacher etc) and let them know you’re interested in referring to Winston’s Wish. Someone from Winston’s Wish will then assess your individual circumstances to ensure the service is the right fit for you. If it’s decided this isn’t the right service for you, a member of our team will guide you towards the right support.
Bereavement support
If you have experienced severe, traumatic and/or multiple bereavements, or if you have complex personal circumstances, it may be that speaking with a grief counsellor will be most helpful.
Counselling can help you discover the tools and perspective to navigate the tough times and find healthy ways to manage life moving forward.
Grief counselling is by referral only. If you’re aged 13 or over, you can submit your own referral. If you’re 12 or under, please speak with a trusted adult (parent, guardian, teacher etc) and let them know you’re interested in referring to Winston’s Wish. Someone from Winston’s Wish will then assess your individual circumstances to ensure the service is the right fit for you. If it’s decided this isn’t the right service for you, a member of our team will guide you towards the right support.
Join our Youth Team
Your experiences as a bereaved young person can help give hope to others who are struggling with the death of someone important.
We’re proud to have an active youth team that help us to raise awareness, challenge the myths and misconceptions about grief, share their stories and help to shape the future of youth bereavement services in the UK.