Grief Encounter is one of the UK's leading childhood bereavement charities, providing open access support to children, young people and their families after the death of a parent or sibling. Their free, national helpline, grieftalk, is available to all those bereaved, and impacted by grief, every weekday 9am – 9pm.
Throughout Covid-19, Grief Encounter has been unable to carry out its face-face services and has moved everything online. They have extended their free national helpline services to all those impacted by grief and trauma including front-line key workers, NHS staff, care home staff and anyone needing support as a result of grief at this time.
It is estimated that 6.5 million people in the UK have so far been affected in some way by bereavement during the Covid-19 outbreak, with around 240,000 people suffering intense grief due to Covid-19 related deaths. At a time when charities face great uncertainty and lack of funding, Grief Encounter’s helpline, grieftalk, is needed more than ever.
This month, Albion As One fund has made a donation to Grief Encounter to help them ensure their helpline can continue to offer immediate support to those who need it across the UK. The helpline is a lifeline to those who have suffered a bereavement.
Isolation is a common feeling when you are bereaved but grieving during lockdown has had an added impact. Many families have both not been able to say goodbye to loved ones and not had their family around them. Some have had to suspend their grief counselling and had no contact with their peers who help them cope on a day to day basis.
Lou Scott, Head of Fundraising at Grief Encounter, said, “Covid-19 has meant adapting our services and bereavement model to ensure we can continue to support those who so desperately need us in these challenging times. Grief doesn’t stop, and neither will we. The incredible donation from Albion as One Fund means we can confidently go forward, providing our helpline services every weekday to all those impacted by grief, across the nation. On behalf of Grief Encounter and the families we support thank you to the staff, the players and the fans of Brighton & Hove Albion.
If you have been affected by grief and would like support, please call Grief Encounter’s helpline, grieftalk, free and confidentially on 0808 802 0111 every weekday 9am–9pm. You can also live webchat with us at www.griefencounter.org.uk