There is lots of information online about ways to support children and young people during the COVID-19 social restrictions. 

When someone is ill or dying, you could refer to:

• Childhood Bereavement Network - Keeping in touch when you can't be with someone who is very ill

When someone has died, you could refer to:

• Childhood Bereavement Network - Ways to help young people when someone has died

For ideas of how best to explain Coronavirus and COVID-19 to children, you could refer to:

• CBeebies Get Well Soon - Dr Ranj explains coronavirus for young children
• Young Minds - talking to children about coronavirus
• Coronavirus - A book for children, illustrated by Axel Scheffler

There are a number of services across Berkshire which support adults who have experienced bereavement.

For face to face support, you could contact:

• Cruse - 01344 411 919
• Arc Counselling - 0118 977 6710 
• Talking Therapies - 0300 365 2000
• Thames Hospice - 01753 842 121 Thames Hospice in Windsor provide a counselling service to families who have no direct contact with the Hospice.  A GP referral is required and the family must live within the catchment area of the Hospice. 
• No. 5 – 0118 901 5668 As well as providing free counselling to young people aged 10-25, people over the age of 25 who have involvement with a young person, such as parents, grandparents, teachers, and social workers, can also access a ‘paid for’ service.  

For over the phone advice and email support, there is:

• Bereavement Trust Helpline - 0800 435 455  Providing the opportunity to talk to a trained volunteer about a bereavement of any kind.
• Marie Curie Bereavement Support - 0800 090 2309 A range of bereavement support options provided free of charge .
• Cruse Helpline - 0844 477 9400 Listening support and practical advice to people who have been bereaved.  
• Survivors of Bereavement by Suicide - 0300 111 5065  Support for adults who have been bereaved by suicide. 
• Grief Encounter - A leading UK bereavement charity, offering free, professional support to bereaved children, young people and their families, through face-face and online therapeutic services, including grieftalk, our national, free helpline, open weekdays, 9am – 9pm which can be reached on 0808 802 0111 or via [email protected] 
• The Good Grief Trust Online support and practical advice to people who have been bereaved.  

For parents whose partner has died, there is:

• WAY (Widowed and Young) Foundation - 0870 011 3450 Self-help, social support network for men and women under 50 who have been widowed 

For parents whose child has died, there is:

• The Compassionate Friends - 0345 123 2304 A helpline for bereaved parents.  All calls answered by trained people who have lost a child themselves.
• Care for the Family Bereaved Parent Support - 02920 810 800 A helpline for bereaved parents.  All calls answered by trained people who have lost a child themselves. 
• Child Death Helpline – 0800 282 986  Supporting people after the death of a child of any age, no matter how long ago it happened.  
• Reading Lifeline - 0118 959 6669 Free counselling for men and women affected by infertility, baby loss during pregnancy or soon after birth.

There are also a number of services available to young people.

For face to face services in Berkshire, you could try:

• Time to Talk - 01635 760331 Providing free confidential counselling services to young people across West Berkshire aged 11 – 25 
• No. 5 - 0118 901 5668  Offering free counselling to children and young people aged between 10 and 25.

For online support, you could try:

• Kooth  An online counselling service for 11 to 25 year olds; it is a moderated site that offers peer support and counselling. 
• Hope Again A Cruse Bereavement Care site that was set up by young people.  Young people can email for support, and the site also makes suggestions about helpful activities/strategies that young people who are bereaved may find helpful.