Losing someone you love is one of life’s most difficult experiences. While arranging a cremation or funeral handles the practical side, grief doesn’t follow a timeline. Many families find they need emotional support long after the service is over, or even struggle to know where to turn in those first overwhelming days. That’s where bereavement support services UK organisations step in.
At Go Direct Cremations, we handle the arrangements so you can focus on what matters: remembering your loved one and looking after yourself. But we also know that practical help is only part of the picture. Grief affects everyone differently, and professional support can make a real difference.
This guide covers six trusted organisations offering counselling, helplines, and specialist support for adults, children, and families across the UK. Whether you need someone to talk to today or resources for the months ahead, these services are here to help.
1. Go Direct Cremations
While most bereavement support services UK organisations focus on emotional counselling, we handle the immediate practical burden that follows a death. Go Direct Cremations takes care of every step of the cremation process, from collecting your loved one to returning their ashes, so you can focus on grieving rather than paperwork. Our service removes the stress of organising a traditional funeral while still treating the deceased with complete dignity and respect.
What support they provide after a death
You get complete cremation arrangements without the need for a ceremony or attendance. We collect your loved one from any hospital in mainland England, Scotland, or Wales, handle all documentation, and provide washing and preparation in our professional mortuary. Your loved one rests in an eco-friendly coffin before a simple, unattended cremation at a trusted local crematorium. You can choose to have the ashes delivered to your home or scattered in a garden of remembrance.
"We’re available 24/7 because grief doesn’t wait for office hours."
How to contact them and what information they will ask for
You can call us any time, day or night, to arrange collection and begin the process. We’ll ask for basic details about the deceased, including their full name, location, and any medical devices that need removal. Our team guides you through every form and certificate, including the death registration and cremation application. You don’t need to have all the answers immediately; we work at your pace and explain each step clearly.
Who this service suits and when to use it
This service suits families who want simplicity and affordability without compromising respect. Direct cremation works well if you prefer to hold a memorial service later, at a time and place that feels right, or if you want to avoid the emotional strain of a traditional funeral. We handle complex cases including coroner involvement, organ donation, and overseas deaths.
Typical cost and what can change the price
Our base price covers standard arrangements across the UK. Additional costs may apply for urgent home collection, removal of medical devices like pacemakers, larger coffins, or designer urns. We provide transparent pricing from the start, so you know exactly what to expect with no hidden fees.
2. Cruse Bereavement Support
Cruse is the UK’s leading bereavement charity, offering free emotional support to anyone affected by death. Their trained volunteers and counsellors provide one-to-one sessions, group support, and a national helpline across England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland. Many people turn to Cruse when they need someone who understands grief without judgement.
What support Cruse offers
You can access face-to-face counselling, phone support, or email guidance depending on what feels most comfortable. Their volunteers listen without pushing you to move on or "get over" your loss. Cruse also runs grief support groups where you can meet others who understand what you’re going through, and they provide resources for children and young people dealing with bereavement.
How to access Cruse support in the UK
You can contact Cruse through their national helpline or local branch. The helpline operates Monday to Friday, and you can also request support through their website. They’ll match you with a trained volunteer in your area or arrange telephone sessions if face-to-face meetings don’t suit your circumstances.
Who Cruse suits and what to expect from sessions
Cruse works for anyone struggling with grief, whether the death was recent or years ago. Sessions focus on listening and understanding rather than clinical therapy. Your volunteer won’t tell you how to grieve or set recovery goals; they create a safe space for you to talk.
"Grief has no timeline, and Cruse respects that."
Cost and waiting times
All Cruse support is completely free. Waiting times vary by region and demand, typically ranging from two to six weeks for your first session. If you need immediate support, their helpline connects you with someone the same day.
3. NHS support through your GP, 111, and talking therapies
Your GP practice can connect you with free NHS mental health support when grief feels overwhelming. Unlike specialist bereavement support services UK charities offer, NHS services focus on clinical treatment for depression, anxiety, or trauma that may develop after a loss. You don’t need a formal diagnosis to ask for help, and your GP can refer you to talking therapies or counselling funded by the NHS.
When NHS support fits and what it can help with
NHS support suits you if grief has triggered persistent depression, panic attacks, or thoughts of self-harm. Talking therapies can help you process complicated emotions, especially if the death was sudden or traumatic. Your GP may recommend cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) or counselling to manage symptoms interfering with daily life, such as insomnia or loss of appetite.
How to access help in England, Scotland, and Wales
You can book a GP appointment or refer yourself directly to NHS Talking Therapies (known as IAPT in some areas). In Scotland, contact your local Health and Social Care Partnership, and in Wales, use Local Primary Mental Health Support Services. If you need immediate advice, call NHS 111 for guidance on accessing crisis support.
Signs you should seek urgent help
Contact 999 or go to A&E if you feel unable to keep yourself safe or have suicidal thoughts. Call 111 or the Samaritans on 116 123 if you need to talk to someone urgently but it’s not a medical emergency.
"Your mental health matters as much as any physical injury."
Cost and typical timeframes
All NHS support is completely free. Waiting times for talking therapies vary from two weeks to several months depending on your area and the urgency of your need.
4. The Good Grief Trust
The Good Grief Trust operates as a national hub connecting you to local bereavement support services UK organisations offer. Rather than providing direct counselling themselves, they maintain the UK’s most comprehensive directory of grief support groups, charities, and specialists in your area. Their website also hosts guides, articles, and personal stories that help you understand what you’re feeling and what options exist.
What support and information you can get
You can access practical guidance on grief, loss, and recovery written by people who understand what you’re going through. Their resources cover different types of loss, from sudden death to terminal illness, and include advice for supporting children, teenagers, and vulnerable adults. The site explains what to expect from different support services and how grief can affect your mental and physical health.
How to find local services using their directory
Their searchable directory lets you filter by location, type of loss, and age group. You enter your postcode and select the kind of support you need, whether that’s one-to-one counselling, peer support groups, or specialist services for suicide bereavement or child loss. Each listing includes contact details and a description of what the organisation offers.
Who this service suits, including newly bereaved people
This service suits anyone who feels overwhelmed by the number of bereavement support services UK regions provide and needs help choosing the right one. Newly bereaved people often find the directory useful when they don’t know where to start.
"Finding the right support shouldn’t add to your stress."
Cost and access notes
All directory information and resources are completely free to access online 24/7. Individual organisations listed may charge for their services, but the directory clearly states which ones offer free support.
5. National Bereavement Service
The National Bereavement Service focuses on practical tasks and paperwork that follow a death rather than emotional counselling. They guide you through registering the death, notifying government departments, and cancelling services like utilities or subscriptions. This service helps when you feel overwhelmed by the administrative burden of closing someone’s affairs and don’t know where to start.
What practical support they provide
You get telephone guidance from trained advisors who explain what needs doing and in what order. They help you understand legal requirements, contact the right organisations, and avoid common mistakes that can cause delays. Their team can also provide template letters and checklists to keep track of what you’ve completed.
What they can help you do in the first weeks
They walk you through registering the death and obtaining certificates, notifying banks and pension providers, and stopping unnecessary payments. You can also get help closing social media accounts, cancelling subscriptions, and informing utility companies. Their advisors explain what documents you need for each task and how long processes typically take.
Who this service suits, including complex situations
This service suits anyone dealing with urgent practical matters in the first weeks after a death. They handle complex situations including estates with multiple accounts, overseas assets, or unclear documentation.
"Practical support leaves you more energy for grieving."
Cost and what you may need to have ready
The service is free for the first session, with paid support available for ongoing help. You’ll need the death certificate and basic information about the deceased’s finances.
6. Child Bereavement UK
Child Bereavement UK specialises in supporting families when a child dies or when a child faces the death of someone important. Their trained practitioners understand how young people process grief differently from adults and provide age-appropriate support for babies through to young adults aged 25. Parents, carers, and professionals working with bereaved children can also access guidance on how to help children cope with loss.
What support they offer for children, parents, and carers
You can access one-to-one support sessions, family meetings, and sibling groups tailored to your child’s age and circumstances. Their practitioners use play, art, and conversation to help children express feelings they may not have words for yet. Parents and carers get guidance on answering difficult questions, recognising signs of complicated grief, and supporting children through significant dates like birthdays or anniversaries.
How to get help and what happens first
You can contact them by phone or online form to request support. A practitioner will call you back to discuss your family’s needs and arrange an initial assessment, usually within two weeks. This first conversation helps them understand your situation and match you with appropriate support, whether that’s face-to-face sessions, telephone guidance, or resources for schools.
Who this service suits and how schools can use it
This service suits families with children under 25 who have lost a parent, sibling, or close relative, or families expecting a child with a life-limiting condition. Schools can request training for staff on supporting bereaved pupils and access classroom resources that help children understand death.
"Children need age-appropriate support that respects how they grieve."
Cost and access notes
All support is completely free across the UK. They operate Monday to Friday, with some evening and weekend appointments available depending on your practitioner’s schedule.
A simple next step
These bereavement support services UK organisations exist to help you through one of life’s most difficult times. Whether you need someone to talk to today, professional counselling in the coming months, or practical help with closing accounts and paperwork, reaching out for support takes courage rather than showing weakness. Each service offers different types of help, from emotional guidance to administrative support, so you can choose what fits your circumstances and needs right now.
If you’re arranging a cremation and want to remove the stress of traditional funeral planning, Go Direct Cremations handles everything while you focus on grieving and remembering your loved one. We work alongside these bereavement support services to ensure families get both practical arrangements and emotional care when they need it most. You don’t have to manage everything alone, and asking for help is the first step towards healing.