What to Expect when you reach out for help

Once you share your contact details—either by phone or through our website—a trained volunteer will usually call you to gently explore your situation. 

The conversation is informal and supportive, giving you space to ask questions or share concerns. 

If we believe a different kind of support might be more helpful, we’ll talk it through and guide you toward it.

Our priority is helping you find the support that’s right for you.

Every bereavement is unique, and if we’re able to help, we will listen with care and respect as you begin to talk about your experience.

Grief can feel overwhelming, isolating, or simply hard to name. At Bereavement Care, we offer gentle, confidential support—without pressure, judgement, or expectation.

How We Support You

- Listening without judgement  

  You don’t need the “right words.” We’re here to sit beside you in silence or talk through what’s on your heart.

- Flexible contact options  

  Speak with us by phone, arrange a home visit, or meet in person—whatever feels most natural to you.

- Free and local  

  Our support is free and rooted in the local community, available when you’re ready.

- Inclusive and respectful  

  We welcome all identities, relationships, and types of loss—including chosen family and companion animals.

- No time limits on grief  

  Whether your loss is recent or long ago, you're always welcome here.

Grief Isn’t One Thing

It’s many emotions, and none of them are wrong

When someone close to us dies, the feelings that follow can be confusing, overwhelming—even surprising. You might have heard people mention “stages of grief,” but don’t worry if that’s unfamiliar. You don’t need any background knowledge to understand your own heart.

There’s no perfect way to explain grief—but here’s one way some people describe it. Not as instructions, or steps, but as common feelings that many experience after a loss.

Common Feelings After Loss

- Shock or Disbelief  

  You might feel numb or struggle to believe it really happened.

- Sadness  

  Tears, heaviness, emptiness. Sadness comes in waves, and it doesn’t always make sense.

- Anger or Frustration  

  At yourself, at others, at the world—for carrying on like nothing changed.

- Guilt or Regret  

  “What if I’d done something differently?” These thoughts are normal, even if painful.

- Yearning  

  Missing someone deeply—longing to talk to them, touch them, or hear their voice again.

- Moments of Calm  

  There may be times when you feel steady, even peaceful. That doesn’t mean you’re “over” it. It just means you’re breathing again.

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And Here’s What’s Important

Grief doesn’t come with instructions. It comes with memories, love, and sometimes pain. The way you feel is personal, real, and worthy of support.

- You don’t need to feel a certain way  

- There’s no timeline or order to grief  

- You might feel okay in the morning and tearful by afternoon  

- Whatever you’re feeling today—that’s okay