UK Commission on Bereavement

Today we’re launching our landmark report - Bereavement is Everyone’s Business. We know that many children and adults don’t get adequate support after the death of a loved one. Today’s report sets out the changes needed to improve support across the UK. bit.ly/3ykodbr

This research builds on previous findings, including those of the UKCB which found that four in ten bereaved people experience financial difficulties because of their bereavement. Findings and policy asks here: mariecurie.org.uk/policy/publica…

New research funded by @MarieCuriePA and carried out by @sheffielduni looking at the financial impacts of caring for someone at the end of life was published today. Worryingly, the likelihood of a carer being in poverty increased by 47% after the death of the cared for person.

🚨🏡The government has introduced crucial amendments to the Renters Rights Bill meaning bereavement will no longer be a valid reason to evict private renters. The changes will limit the circumstances in which private landlords can use Ground 7 (death of a tenant) for an eviction.

Since the publication of the UKCB’s report in October 2022), steering group members have been working to progress the Commission’s recommendations. Significant progress has been made over the last two years – read all about it here bereavementcommission.org.uk/latest-news/up…

Was delighted to join fellow Commissioners at a meeting of the @theUKCB this morning to share updates from across the UK. A lot of progress but still much to still do to make #bereavement everybody’s business. Thanks to @bishopSarahM for chairing.

A very positive start to #NationalGriefAwarenessWeek 2024. This evening @lindamagTV was at @UKParliament for a Parliamentary Debate to discuss the importance of introducing death, dying and bereavement into the school curriculum. Huge congratulations to our Ambassador John Adams on leading this Petition, this is long overdue. It was good to hear MPs refer to The Good Grief Trust and our #NGAW24 campaign, and the need to #ShineALight on these important issues. This event was a significant move forward to help school communities through grief and raise awareness of the support available to children, parents and those affected by a bereavement. #ShineALight @kevinbonavia @_AndersonStuart

HUGE thank you to Oyinkan and Jard @winstonswish Ambassadors, who spoke to Parliamentarians @LizTwistMP @Susan4_ED @Steffanaquarone at the APPG for Childhood Bereavement drop in today, sponsored by @cajardineMP, with @WidowedAndYoung @MandyJGosling #BuildingHope #CGAW24

Today marks the launch of the Compassionate School Communities report. This report is the culmination of 3 years' work to strengthen school-based bereavement support, highlight the need for grief education, and secure a compassionate future for NI schools. #CompassionateSchoolsNI

18-24 November is Children’s Grief Awareness Week. Join us in showing support for grieving children, young people and their families, raising awareness of their needs and how to help. #CGAW2024 #BuildingHope

Online interventions can widen access to acceptable, effective bereavement support and improve outcomes for bereaved people: @MarieCurieEOLC @BereavementNBA @CruseScotland @EdinUniHealth journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/02…

These findings reinforce the need for companies to improve their processes so that bereaved people are better supported through death administration processes. Add your name to our petition calling on businesses to ‘Make Sadmin Simple’ (2/2) campaigns.mariecurie.org.uk/page/152537/pe…

New research published in @BMJ_SPCare reveals the difficulties people face when interacting with companies following a bereavement and the emotional burden this creates for people who are grieving. (1/2) spcare.bmj.com/content/early/…

Click here bit.ly/3A3Jh9A to find out more and sign @mariecurieUK petition calling on the largest utilities companies, telecoms companies and banks to improve how they support bereaved customers #MakeSadminSimple

Difficulties with navigating death administration processes was one of the key themes to come out of the UKCB. 6 in 10 people responsible for tying up their loved one’s affairs report encountering problems with administrative tasks, equating to 680,000 people in the UK every year

We welcome @Keir_Starmer 's new government and look forward to what this government can do to improve the lives of those who have been bereaved

It proposes schools “ensure that pupils understand that change and loss, including bereavement, can provoke a range of feelings; that grief is a natural response to bereavement, and everyone grieves differently.” You can read the draft guidance here shorturl.at/4QxC2

Our years at school can be truly transformational with respect to how we view and handle death and loss. We’re delighted that the Government has taken on board one of the UKCB’s recommendations for primary schools in its draft RSHE guidance, published yesterday.

It's vital that the Government now supports this. With the Minister confirming that the Tell Us Once system is being upgraded, now is a perfect time to extend it to the private sector.

Thank you also to Lord Clement Jones and @LibDemLords for supporting the amendments, and the UKCB’s report Bereavement is Everyone’s Business, during Grand Committee.

In 2022, the UKCB called for a change in the way organisations are notified following a death. @MarieCuriePA is now urging the extension of Tell Us Once to the private sector, and we fully support @WhitchurchGirl's amendments to the Data Protection & Digital Information Bill