The death of a relative or friend can be a difficult and confusing time with lots of details to sort out. We would like to offer our condolences to you at this time and reassure you that help is available if you need it. 

This information can offer you help and guidance about what to do next.

The first steps

You will need to obtain a Medical Certificate of Cause of Death (MCCD). 

To obtain the MCCD

Please call the bereavement line on 0151 318 8653 between 10:00 and 13:00 (10:00am-1:00pm) on the next working day (i.e. not weekends or bank holidays). They will then guide you through the process and advice you on the next steps.
 
If you need an interpreter, just ask - the bereavement line or ward can arrange this for you.

Registering a death

Before you can register a death, you will need a Medical Certificate of Cause of Death (MCCD). Call our bereavement line on 0151 318 8653 between 10:00 and 13:00 (10:00am-1:00pm) on the next working day (i.e. not weekends or bank holidays) to obtain the MCCD.  

The Bereavement Officer sends the MCCD electronically to Liverpool Register Office at St George's Hall. 
 
The Medical Examiner Team review all MCCDs and case notes to make sure the paperwork is correct. 
 
The Register Office will contact the person's nominated next of kin at the earliest opportunity to arrange an appointment to register the death.
 
You must register the death in the area that the death occurred. 

The Register Office for this area is located in: 

St George's Hall, 
The Heritage Entrance, 
St Georges Place,
Liverpool, 
L1 1JJ. 

The Register Office is open Monday to Friday, 09:00 to 16:30 (9:00am-4:30pm). 

If we cannot provide a MCCD

Sometimes the MCCD cannot be issued at the hospital - for example, if your relative or friend’s death was sudden or the doctor was not certain of the cause of death. The hospital doctor will have to refer the death to the Coroner and this may cause a delay. The Bereavement Officer will inform you if the case has been referred to the Coroner.
 
The Coroner will then take responsibility for issuing the MCCD or necessary paperwork. The Coroner’s Office will contact the nominated next of kin or appropriate person to explain the process. You can find more information in the Coroner Information section of this page.

How to register a death

You will need to register the death in person by booking an appointment and going to the Register Office at St George's Hall. 

How to register a death (Gov.uk)

Things to remember

When you register the death, you will need to pay (by card) for any death certificates you wish to purchase. These will be given to you before you leave the Register Office.

You might need more than one copy of the death certificate to provide to companies who will be dealing with insurance policies, pensions etc. Some companies won't accept photocopies. 

Once the death has been registered

The registrar will provide:

  • Death Certificate(s).
  • Certification of Burial or Cremation: This certificate is green in colour. The registrar's office will scan it directly to the burial or cremation site's office or the funeral director you have chosen.
  • Certificate of Registration / Notification of Death (Form DB8): This is a white form. You might need to send this to the Department of Work and Pensions if the person was on certain benefits.
  • 'Tell Us Once' leaflet: Tell Us Once is a service that lets you report a death to most government organisations in one go. The registrar's office will email this leaflet to you or, if you prefer, they will post it to you. For more information visit www.gov.uk/tell-us-once.

Others who might need to know 

You might also need to inform other people or organisations about someone's death. For example:

  • Religious or faith leader (depending on the person's specific faith or beliefs) 
  • Family doctor / GP
  • Executors of their estate
  • Solicitor
  • Insurance companies
  • Jobcentre Plus (if the person was on benefits)
  • Department of Work and Pensions
  • Social services (home helps, home care)
  • Place of work (about their occupational pension)
  • Residential or nursing home
  • HM Revenue & Customs (tax office)
  • Landlord, housing department or mortgage provider
  • Bank, credit card or loan companies
  • Any other financial contractual commitments
  • Council tax offices
  • Electricity, gas, telephone, water companies
  • The Post Office (to redirect their mail)
  • DVLA Swansea (driving licence)
  • Careline (if the person had a personal alarm)
  • Social media companies (about the person's social media accounts)
  • Cancel any appointments they were due to attend

If your relative / friend lived alone, you might need to make sure their home is secure and remove any signs that their home is empty. You might also need to collect spare keys from anyone who has them.

Items that may need returning:

  • Passport
  • Driving licence
  • Membership cards
  • National Insurance papers
  • NHS equipment - please contact the team that supplied this equipment to arrange for its collection from your home

A coroner is a special judge who is responsible for finding out how and why someone has died when:

  • the cause if death is not known, or
  • the death was violent or unnatural, or
  • the person died in certain settings (e.g. prison)

When a death is referred to the coroner, they may ask for a post mortem examination. 

The coroner will decide whether an inquest is needed to establish the cause of the death. An inquest is a ‘fact finding’ exercise which normally aims to determine the circumstances of someone’s death. 

We will inform you if we have referred the death to the coroner.

If we do not refer a death to the coroner, but you have concerns about the treatment we provided, you can ask the coroner to consider holding an inquest. It is important to do this as soon as possible after your loved one has died, as any delay might mean opportunities for the coroner to hold a post mortem are lost. 
 
We can provide you with contact details for the appropriate coroner’s office. If you are seeking or involved in an inquest, you may wish to find further independent information, advice or support. We have included information about where to find help at the end of this section.

What if I do not want the coroner to do a post mortem? 

The coroner knows this can be a very difficult situation for families and will only carry out a post mortem after careful consideration. The family can appeal against this by writing to the coroner, giving their reasons - they should let the coroner know as soon as possible if they intend to appeal.

However, the coroner makes the final decision. If necessary, they can order a post mortem even when a family does not agree. Please note that the body of your loved one will not be released for burial until any post mortem is completed, although a coroner will do their best to minimise any delay to funeral arrangements. 
 
You can speak directly to the local coroner’s office about having a post mortem and/or inquest.
 
Everything will be done to ensure that this process is carried out quickly and observes the dignity, respect, religious and cultural traditions of the person who has died.
 
If the death was not due to natural causes, the coroner will hold an inquest but they can usually issue a certificate so that burial or cremations can take place before the inquest.

Coroner's office

You can contact the local Coroner's Office by:

Tel: 0151 233 5770 during their office hours, 09:15 to 16:15 (9:15am-4:15pm), Monday to Friday (excluding bank holidays)

Post: 
Gerard Majella Courthouse
Boundary Street
Liverpool
L5 2QD and can be contacted on Coroner's office -

Visit the Coroner's Office - Liverpool City Council webpage for more information. 

Additional support and information

Coroners' Courts Support Service

An independent voluntary organisation whose trained volunteers offer emotional support and practical help to bereaved families, witnesses and others attending an Inquest at a Coroner’s Court.

INQUEST 

Provides free and independent advice to bereaved families on investigations, inquests and other legal processes following a death in custody and detention. This includes deaths in mental health settings. Further information is available on its website including ‘The INQUEST Handbook: A Guide For Bereaved Families, Friends and Advisors’.

The Patients Association

Provides advice, support and guidance to family members with a national helpline offering specialist information, advice and signposting. This does not include medical or legal advice. It can also help you make a complaint to the CQC. 

The coroner knows this can be a very difficult situation for families and will only carry out a post mortem after careful consideration. The family can appeal against this by writing to the coroner, giving their reasons - they should let the coroner know as soon as possible if they intend to appeal.

However, the coroner makes the final decision. If necessary, they can order a post mortem even when a family does not agree. Please note that the body of your loved one will not be released for burial until any post mortem is completed, although a coroner will do their best to minimise any delay to funeral arrangements. 

What is a post mortem?

A post mortem examination, also known as an autopsy, is the examination of a body after death. The aim of a post mortem is to determine the cause of death. Post mortems provide useful information about how, when and why someone died. 
 
Post mortems are carried out by pathologists (doctors who specialise in understanding the nature and causes of disease). The Royal College of Pathologists and the Human Tissue Authority (HTA) set the standards pathologists work to.

Post mortems are carried out for two main reasons:

  1. At the request of a coroner - because the cause of death is unknown or when a death happens unexpectedly or suddenly.
  2. At the request of a hospital - to provide information about an illness or cause of death or to advance medical knowledge.

What a post mortem can provide 

  • When a person has recently died, a post mortem can give valuable information about an illness and its effects on the body.
  • It might provide information that contributes to medical knowledge.
  • It might provide more information about precisely why a person died, although a post mortem might not be able to answer every question. 
  • Sometimes information found at a post mortem can help the person's relatives come to terms with their death.

Types of post mortem

Coroner's post mortem examination

This type of post mortem is required by law in certain circumstances. It does not need anyone's consent. It is performed to investigate:

  • Sudden and unexpected deaths
  • Deaths where the cause is unknown and the doctor cannot issue a death certificate
  • Deaths where the cause is known or suspected to be from a cause which is not a natural disease - for example, an accident or industrial disease

 Find out more in the Coroners section of this page.

Hospital post mortem examination

Sometimes the person's doctor - or their partner or relative - might ask for a post mortem to find out more about their illness or cause of death. Hospital post mortems can only be carried out with consent. Read more about hospital post mortems (NHS.uk).

When making a will, people usually think about their finances, property and possessions. Traditionally, people kept photo albums, letters, certificates and important documents that were passed on to loved ones when they died.

These days, much of our personal information and records are stored digitally - for example, in email accounts, voice notes, social media, cloud storage, electronic devices and other places.
 
It is important to think about all our digital and online accounts. This includes online banking, photographs, social media accounts, streaming services, magazine subscriptions, blogs, PayPal accounts, email accounts and any online interactions. 

Planning ahead for your digital legacy  

Many accounts - including someone's social media - can be difficult to access without legacy planning.

A digital legacy is the digital information that you leave behind online after your death. Many companies now offer different options on how data is accessed or used after death. Each service will have its own privacy policy or end of life policy.  

Your relative / friend might already have let you know their wishes regarding their digital legacy and assets. If not, in time you’ll probably want to decide what to do about their social media and online accounts. It can help to discuss this with other family members and friends to see how they feel before going ahead.

People's digital assets and digital legacies often include:

  • Services e.g. social media, websites, emails, online banking, and cloud services
  • Devices e.g. mobile phones, tablets, laptops, hard drives and computers

Information and advice

Marie Curie

The Marie Curie website has useful information about what to do with someone's social media accounts after they die. 

Digital Legacy Association 

The Digital Legacy Association provides information, advice and guidance about the most popular digital devices and online services. It also offers resources, education and training to health and care staff.

My Digital Legacy

The SunLife Insurance website has useful information about recording your digital wishes. 

Apple

In December 2021, Apple introduced legacy contacts - you can nominate one or more trusted people to access your account after your death. You generate and share an access key with your nominated contact(s).

After you die, your contact will need to contact Apple to ask for access to your account. They will need to provide the access key you shared with them, and upload your death certificate to access your Apple account.

Facebook 

Facebook allows you to add a legacy contact on your account. Facebook’s policy is to memorialise the account of a person who has died, preserving it as a place for friends and families to share memories of the deceased. It also secures the account, stopping any unauthorised users from gaining access to it.
 
What Facebook won't do is hand over the log-in details for an account, even to someone who is next of kin. If you want someone to have access to all the information in your account, you will need to leave the log-in details somewhere safe. And if you have two-factor authentication turned on, you'll need to make sure they can access the authentication method too.

Your account can be deleted at the request of an immediate family member, once their identity has been verified.

Instagram

Instagram's policies mirror those of Facebook, turning your Instagram account into a digital memorial. Proof of death is needed before Meta - the company that runs Facebook and Instagram - will turn an account into a memorial, such as a link to an obituary or news article.

Twitter / X

Twitter / X doesn’t have any specific procedures for the accounts of people who have died. Instead, it will deactivate accounts at a family member's request

Twitter / X won't allow access to an account when someone dies but will work with someone acting on behalf of the estate or a verified immediate family member. If you want your account removed after your death, your executor can do so once they have fulfilled Twitter / X’s verification procedures, including a copy of their ID and the account holder’s death certificate.

 Microsoft

You don’t have to let Microsoft know that someone has died, and the company won’t share any information with next of kin regardless. Leaving the account credentials for your next of kin will allow them to log in and shut down the account.

Otherwise, the Microsoft account will be shut down once it has been inactive for two years.

Outlook.com and OneDrive accounts are frozen after a year of inactivity and messages and files stored on OneDrive will be deleted soon after.

Google

To set up your digital legacy, sign into your Google account.

Go to data and privacy and select “Make a plan for your digital legacy”.

There are a couple of ways to hand over your Google account to your digital next of kin. The easiest way is to set a contact on your Google account who will be notified if your account becomes inactive for a set period of time. You choose the contact, and you also set the time limit, in a range of three to 18 months.

Crucially, you also get to decide what data is shared with your contact, whether it is your photos, Google Drive, Google Pay information, your activity or your Home app. It's not a case of all or nothing. Should your account become inactive, Google will then carry out your instructions, whether it is to pass on your account information or delete it all.

Choose between three, six, 12 and 18 months; if you don’t use your account for that time, it will trigger the plan.

That doesn’t happen without any warning though. Google also asks you to add a mobile number that Google will contact up to a month before your account is classed as inactive and the plan is triggered. It will also contact you via email, just in case.

There is a ticking clock to keep in mind though. Once your account has been deemed inactive, its data will be accessible for three months before Google deletes it.

You can also leave your log-in details for your chosen contact so they can access your account. Remember, if you have two-factor authentication enabled on your account, they will need access to that device too. That method also gives you less control over the type of data you are sharing with your executors than designating a nominated contact for your account – it’s all or nothing.

How to arrange a funeral

Your friend or relative might have left instructions or a will giving information about the type of funeral and cremation or burial they want. Organising a funeral can feel overwhelming, especially when you are grieving. It's important to look after yourself. Don't feel like you've got to rush to make decisions - or that you need to do it all if you have friends or family who can help.

There can be a lot of practical things to do after someone dies and it's important to look after yourself too. So, if you're happy for other people to be involved, take up any offers of help.

If you're using a funeral director, they can help you arrange the funeral.

You do not have to wait until you have registered the death before contacting a funeral director -the earlier a funeral director becomes involved, the sooner they will be able to support you and act on your behalf to find out when the documents needed to allow the funeral to proceed will be issued.

If the death has been referred to the coroner, then the Coroner’s Office will advise you on what to do. 
Your funeral director can liaise with the coroner for you.
 
The Coroners section of this webpage will provide you with more information.

Useful information 

Funeral Planning Authority

Your relative / friend might have made a funeral plan and paid for their funeral already.

If you don’t know if they made a funeral plan, you ask local funeral directors or search for funeral plans on the Funeral Planning Authority’s My Funeral Matters website.

Government 

The UK Government's Gov.uk website has a step-by-step guide of what to do when someone dies.

If you arrange the funeral with a funeral director, you are responsible for the costs. Don’t be encouraged by others to include services or pay more than you can comfortably afford.

You may be entitled to receive a Social Fund Funeral Payment from the Department for Work and Pensions providing you or your partner receive certain benefits.

National charities 

Marie Curie and Macmillan Cancer Support have step-by-step guides with advice and support. 

Citizens Advice can help with all legal and practical matters following a death, including costs:

Age UK provides advice and information to anyone over the age of 60 about funeral arrangements and welfare benefits. 

If you have any queries about a will or the absence of a will you can contact:

Probate Registry
Queen Elizabeth II Law Court
Derby Square
Liverpool
L2 1XA

Call 0151 236 8264

For more information visit the Applying for probate page of Gov.uk.

  • Allow yourself time to grieve, in the way that comes naturally. Remember, there is no right or wrong way to grieve.
  • Accept help from others. Some family and friends may help with practical matters. Others will be there for you but not know what would help, or how to ask you. 
  • Take care of yourself - try to keep fixed eating and sleeping times. 
  • Check with your doctor about any health worries. 
  • When the time feels right, consider setting new routines, looking at areas of importance and interest. 
  • Sharing your feelings can be helpful. It is not always easy to do this with family and friends. If this is so, the support organisations listed on this website will be there to help you.

This section offers some advice, together with details of how to access further information and support. (We use the terms 'children' and 'young people' rather than 'child' but realise there may only be one child or young person involved.)

Explaining that a close relative is very ill and nearing death can be daunting, especially if you are struggling to accept the news yourself. 

However, it is important to help children to understand what is happening. How you do this will depend on their age, maturity and previous experiences and their relationship to the dying person – for example, a parent, grandparent, great grandparent or other close relation. But keeping them informed may help them in the long term.

Guidance for conversations with children and young people

What if I get upset when I am talking?

Do not worry if you become tearful and upset - it shows your children that it is okay to cry. (It may even give them an opportunity to show you some comfort, say, with a cuddle.) 

If you feel overwhelmed by your feelings, it may be helpful to enlist the support of another family member or friend, or a member of staff.

Where should I tell the children?

If possible, tell your children in a safe and familiar place such as their home.

Sometimes, you may have no choice but to tell the children at the hospice or hospital. If so, ask the staff if there is a quiet room or area where you can speak privately. It may be helpful if another adult is available who can support you all.

If you are at home, choose a familiar and quiet area of your home where you can give your children your full attention without distractions. Avoid bedtime if possible.

How do I start the conversation?

Start by asking your children what they already know or have been told e.g. “You know that mummy has been very ill over the past few weeks…” or “You remember we talked about grandad’s cancer…”.

Ask them how much they understand about what is happening their loved one. 

How do I tell them that someone is dying?

Be honest and keep explanations brief and to the point. Give small pieces of information and check out your children’s understanding. Try to avoid using words or phrases which may be frightening to your child e.g. “Mummy is going to sleep forever”.

Also, it is better to say, “We don’t know” than to give details which may be uncertain e.g. how much time is left. Explain how the person is and ask if they want to see the person.

How to explain what dying means?

Children’s understanding of what they are told and how they react will depend on their age, maturity and previous experiences. It may be helpful to access age-specific information as detailed at the end of this section.

As a general rule, it is important to stress that death occurs when a person’s body stops working. You may wish to talk in the context of your religious or spiritual beliefs.

How might my children react?

Firstly you know your children better than any of us, so you will know how they might react in a stressful or sad situation.

Children develop at different rates but, as a guide, very young children (under 5) might not understand what is happening. But even very young children can pick up emotions and tensions. They might become more clingy.

Children might be distressed at one moment and then quickly change and just want to play and engage in other activities. This does not mean that they have necessarily misunderstood what they have been told. 

Young children’s emotions are still developing and they might not be able to manage difficult emotions for more than a few minutes. A child might become distressed at another time or ask questions at an unexpected time. This is normal. 

Teenagers are in that in-between stage where sometimes their emotions can be quite adult but at other times they can be quite childlike in their reactions. They might want to spend time with their friends as much as family. They might find it hard to express how they feel, even though they do understand what is happening.
 
At whatever age, children need reassurance that having different feelings is okay. 

Should children be allowed to visit?

Ideally, ask children if they would like to visit. If they are hesitant or unsure, explain what a visit involves, how the person looks, that they cannot talk, they have tubes in etc. Give them alternatives e.g. sending a message, letter, picture or message on social media, and let them choose. Stress that it is perfectly okay not to want to visit.

If they wish to visit, prepare them for what they will see. For example, “Mummy is a lot sleepier now and cannot talk to you but she can hear you and will know that you are there” or “Grandad’s breathing sounds quite noisy but it doesn’t mean that he is in pain”.

More generally, mention anything that will be obvious - for example, if the relative has lost weight, if their skin colour has changed and if any drips or tubes will be visible.

Try to encourage your children to ask questions and talk about how they are feeling. Reassure them that you will be there to support them.

This is a very difficult emotional time for you. Try to remember that the support and reassurance that you give to your children now will help them to adjust to cope in the months and years to come. Also if you have more than 1 child it can be helpful to remind them to be supportive and kind to each other. They may react quite differently from each other and they need to know that is ok.

Useful resources

Child Bereavement UK

Rip rap

Rip rap is a resource for teenagers with parents who have cancer.

Hope Support Services

Support for young people who have family members experiencing life-threatening illness.

Macmillan Cancer Support

Macmillan have guidance on talking to teenagers and young adults about cancer.

Winston’s Wish

Information and advice on supporting a bereaved child.

You can find more information on the Bereavement Services, Help and Advice section of this page

We are very sorry for your loss, and we know that this can be a very difficult and distressing time. We hope this page will help you understand what you can expect from The Clatterbridge Cancer Centre. 

Understanding what happened 

As a family member, partner, friend or carer of someone who has died while in the care of The Clatterbridge Cancer Centre, you may have comments, questions or concerns about the care and treatment they received. 

You might also want to find out more information about the reasons for their death. The staff who were involved in treating your loved one should be able to answer your initial questions but please don’t worry if you are not ready to ask these questions straight away, or if you think of questions later – you will still have the opportunity to raise these with us when you are ready. 

It is also important for us to know if you do not understand any of the information we provide. Please tell us if we need to explain things more fully. 

Practical information, support arrangements and counselling

We know that the death of a loved one is traumatic for families. Some families have found that counselling or having someone else to talk to can be very beneficial. You may want to discuss this with your GP, who can refer you to local support. Alternatively, there may be other local or voluntary organisations that provide counselling support. 

If you would like to know what is available locally, we will provide you with that information. 

Offering specific practical help, not vague general offers, can also be helpful

There are a number of organisations that can provide guidance and support for people who are experiencing grief. 

You can find more information on the Bereavement Services, Help and Advice section of this page.

Reviews of deaths in our care 

When a patient dies while an inpatient on one of our wards, we always review their care by examining their medical notes (case notes). 

We do this to make sure that the care we provide is the best it can be, and to identify anything that could be improved in future. A clinician who was not directly involved in your loved one's care will look carefully at their case notes. 

They will look at each aspect of their care and how well it was provided. If a routine review finds any issues with a patient’s care, we contact their family to discuss this further. 

Medical Examiner

In addition to our own reviews, a recent change to the law in England and Wales means that a Medical Examiner will review the care of patients who die in hospitals. Medical Examiners are doctors who were not involved in your loved one’s care and provide independent scrutiny of deaths. They are trained to make sure that the cause of death is accurate and the care your loved one received was as good as possible.

As part of the Medical Examiner review, you will be contacted to check that you understand the cause of death, that you were satisfied with the care your loved one received and that your questions have been answered. 

To reassure you, it is a legal requirement for the Medical Examiner to contact you for your feedback - it doesn’t mean that a mistake has been made.

Sharing your feedback on your loved one's care

We welcome any feedback you would like to share with us about your loved one's care as part of that review.

If you have any concerns about the care your loved one received, we will carry out a more formal investigation and give you feedback. We will keep you informed and supported throughout this process. Please let us know the best way to keep you informed.

Specific circumstances

Aside from case note reviews, there are specific processes and procedures that hospitals need to follow if your loved one had a learning disability, is a child, or died as a result of a mental health-related condition. In these cases, we will provide you with information about these processes.

Providing feedback

We want to hear your thoughts about your loved one’s care. Receiving feedback from families helps us to understand the things we are doing right and need to continue and the things we need to improve. Read more on the Feedback, compliments and complaints page of our website. 

Raising concerns 

It is very important that you feel able to ask any questions or raise any concerns regarding the care your loved one received. In the first instance, the team that cared for your loved one should be able to answer these.

If you would prefer to speak to someone who was not directly involved in your loved one’s care, our Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS) team can help. 

Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS) 

Our Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS) is here to support you and help with any queries, worries, compliments or complaints. 

You can contact our PALS team:

Email our Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS)

Call 0151 556 5203

Write to:

Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS) 
The Clatterbridge Cancer Centre NHS Foundation Trust
Clatterbridge Road
Bebington
Wirral
CH63 4JY

Making a complaint

We will respond to any questions or concerns that you have or you can raise concerns as a complaint, at any point. If you do this we will ensure that we respond, in an accessible format (followed by a response in writing where appropriate to your needs), to the issues you have raised. 

The NHS Complaints Regulations state a complaint must be made within 12 months of the incident happening or within 12 months of you realising you have something to complain about. However, if you have a reason for not complaining to us sooner we will review your complaint and decide whether it would still be possible to fairly and reasonably investigate. 

If we decide not to investigate in these circumstances, you can contact the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman (PHSO). If you are not happy with the response to a complaint, you have the right to refer the case to the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman (PHSO).

The PHSO has published guidance on what you should expect from the complaints process. Read more in ‘My expectations for raising concerns and complaints for users of health services’ (PHSO). 

Additional support and information 

We can also provide you with details of additional support available locally if needed. Contact our bereavement line for details.

Age UK

Offers support for older people dealing with life issues.

At A Loss

A website directing people who have been bereaved to information and support services appropriate to their loss.

Bereavement Advice Centre

Offers practical advice and signposting on issues facing people after the death of someone close.

The Bereavement Trust

Offering information, advice and support at a time of sorrow.

Beyond Life

A website offering advice and guidance about funerals, wills and probate.

Carers UK

Offers help, advice, information and practical support to people who are caring for someone close to them.

Child Bereavement UK

Offers help for children and young people aged 25 years and under, their parents and families: to help rebuild their lives when a child or young person is grieving.

Childline

Offers support and advice for children and young people aged 18 years and under about any issues they are going through.

Citizens Advice

Helps people resolve their legal, money and other problems by providing free, independent and confidential advice, and by influencing policymakers.

The Compassionate Friends

Offers support, advice and information for bereaved parents, grandparents and siblings.

Coroners' Courts Support Service

An independent voluntary organisation, whose trained volunteers offer emotional support and practical help to bereaved families, witnesses and others attending an Inquest at a Coroner’s Court.

Cruse Bereavement Care

Promotes the wellbeing of bereaved adults and young people, offering support, advice and information.

The David Project, People First Merseyside

Anyone with a learning disability who lives in Merseyside can join The David Project based in Bootle. They meet with and listen to other people with a learning disability and speak up on their behalf at meetings about the issues that affect them.

Gingerbread

Offers support, advice and information for single parents on a wide range of issues.

The Good Grief Trust

Run by the bereaved for the bereaved to offer advice, support and help to signpost people to the most appropriate bereavement support to meet their specific needs.

Grief Talk / Grief Encounter

Offers support, information and advice for adults, children and young people and a chat line to talk about their grief.

Hope Again

Part of Cruse Bereavement Care, it is a safe place where young people can learn from other young people, how to cope with grief, and feel less alone.

Hub of Hope

Information about local bereavement support services. 

INQUEST

Offers advice to bereaved families who are facing an inquest.

The Listening Ear

Offers a range of counselling services following bereavement for adults, children and young people who live in Knowsley or whose GP is based in Knowsley.

Liverpool Bereavement Service

A dedicated bereavement service for children and adults across the Liverpool City Region.

London Friend

Counselling and support for the LGBTQ+ community.

The Loss Foundation

UK charity dedicated solely to providing bereavement support following the death of a loved one to cancer, whether that be spouses, family members, friends or colleagues.

Love Jasmine

Supports bereaved families following the loss of a child and is based in Wavertree.

Macmillan Cancer Support

If your partner, relative or friend has died, you may find it hard to cope with your emotions and the practical things you have to do. They can provide information and support.

Maggie's Wirral

Offer a bereavement support group in the centre. The group brings people who have experienced bereavement together so you can talk to other people in the same situation and develop your own way of coping.

Marie Curie

A bereavement service for people who might want to have ongoing support, from the same bereavement volunteer, over the phone. You are matched with a specially trained volunteer who'll give you regular bereavement support. They'll provide a safe space where you can talk openly about your grief. You can access up to six telephone sessions of 45 minutes.

Muslim Council of Britain

Counselling and support for the Muslim community.

The New Normal

Free non-judgmental peer support for adults experiencing bereavement. It has a wide range of virtual peer support meetings specific to different ages and experiences including Black and Brown Good Grief, Good Grief, Boys Talk, Partner Loss, Queer Good Grief, Student Loss and more. 

NHS.uk website

Advice, guidance and links to services to support you through bereavement, grief and loss.

Rip Rap

Resource for teenagers with parents who have cancer.

The Samaritans

Provides emotional support to anyone in emotional distress, struggling to cope or at risk of suicide.

Silverline

A free confidential telephone helpline offering information, friendship and advice to older people. 

Step Change

Free expert debt advice to help people get their finances back on track.

Sue Ryder

A website offering online bereavement support for people aged 18 years and over.

Winston's Wish

Offers practical support for bereaved families, children and young people.

Young Minds

Offering information, advice, emotional support and signposting for parents and children / young people aged 25 years and under who have been bereaved or facing mental health and life challenges.

Tell Us Once

Tell Us Once is a service that lets you report a death to most government organisations in one go.

Life Ledger

Life Ledger is a free, easy-to-use death notification service to allow families to inform all businesses connected to the deceased from one place, saving time and removing the need to have the same difficult conversation over and over. 

Death Notification Service

Death Notification Service is a free service which allows you to notify a number of member organisations of a person's death, at the same time. Our aim is to make the process quick and easy for you to inform them at a time that suits you.

When you lose a loved one it can feel like your world’s been turned upside down. Talking to others who have also experienced a loss can really help you find hope and strength.

A Bereavement Café is a place you can speak openly without worrying about being judged, or simply listen to other people’s stories.

The cafés are run on a drop-in basis by different organisations. You do not need to live in the area to attend a specific café, just pop in if you are passing. 

Venues

Halton Lea Library, Runcorn Shopping City, Runcorn, WA7 2PF
10:30am – 11:30am
1st Monday of the Month
 
The Pavilion, Alexandra Park, Stockton Heath, WA4 2UT
9:30am – 11:00am
2nd Tuesday of the Month
 
Halton and St Helens VCA, St Maries Church, Lugsdale Road, Widnes, WA8 6DH
12:30pm – 1:30pm
3rd Monday of the Month
 
The Pavilion, Bank Park, Warrington, WA1 1UP
10:00am – 11:30am
Last Tuesday of the Month
 
St Paul’s Church, Warrington, WA5 2RX
10:00am – 12noon
Every Wednesday
 
Greenacres Bereavement Group, Green Acres, Rainford, WA11 7HX
10:30am – 12:30pm
Last Saturday of the Month