30 Jun Bereavement Education – Support for Schools, Colleges, and Youth Groups
Recently, a new bill has been passed mandating that schools in England incorporate bereavement education, including discussions on death and dying, into the existing statutory Relationships, Sex, and Health Education (RSHE) guidance starting this September.
The introduction of Bereavement Education represents a significant step toward making conversations about death and dying more accessible. However, we understand the complexities and challenges involved, and we are here to offer our support and guidance.
About Jonathan Alcock & Sons Funeral Directors
As a local Funeral Director, with over 160 years of service to the bereaved communities of Stockport, our team has a wealth of knowledge and experience in the bereavement and funeral industry. We are proud members of both the National Association of Funeral Directors (NAFD) and the National Society of Allied and Independent Funeral Directors (SAIF), adhereing to their Codes of Practice. Most of our Funeral Directors are either qualified (Diploma in Funeral Directing) or working towards formal qualifications.
Sarah, our Company Director and a qualified Funeral Director, recently participated in an information session with John Adams, discussing how Funeral Directors can best support schools and the wider community in this initiative. John is a former President of SAIF, and he has been campaigning for grief education in schools following his own experience of bereavement at a young age. His work highlights the importance of helping children feel more comfortable when talking about loss. Additionally, through her involvement in her daughter’s extracurricular activities, Sarah holds a Chaperone Licence and is DBS checked.
We have collaborated with local colleges and schools during career events, providing presentations and talks, and we also offer student work placements. Furthermore, we have worked alongside local District Nurses and Palliative Care teams to share our expertise and better support the bereaved communities of Stockport and beyond.
How we can help
We have developed some initial ideas for a lesson plan, guided by resources from Child Bereavement UK. These materials provide valuable advice on introducing this sesnitive subject and supporting students who may have already experienced a loss – whether that be a bereavement, family changes, or the loss of a pet.
We can support your school in a number of ways, including:
- Facilitating with age-appropriate sessions or discussions
- Offering guidance for staff
- Signposting pupils and families to appropriate bereavement support organisations and resources
- Providing a gentle, safe introduction to the topic of loss
- Recommending and sharing a selection of age-appropriate bereavement books
We also have a “Letters to Loved Ones” Post Box outside our Funeral Home in Cheadle. This allows children and families to write messages to someone they have lost. This can be a comforting outlet, enabling children to express their emotions, share memories, and say goodbye. This post box can be used individually, as a class activity, or as part of a school visit if appropriate. Learn more about our Memorial Post Box.
Grief can often feel isolating, especially for children and young people who may find it difficult to express their emotions. We would welcome the opportunity to extend our support further into the community by helping schools, colleges, and youth groups implement this important subject.