Bereavement support
Bereavement can affect people in different ways. Support is available if you are grieving, arranging a funeral or helping someone after a death.
Our Bereavement Services team can help with practical questions about burials, cremation, cemeteries and visits before a funeral.
We cannot provide counselling, legal advice or financial advice, but we can signpost you to organisations that may be able to help.
If you need urgent help
If you or someone else is in immediate danger, call 999 or go to your nearest accident and emergency department.
If you need urgent help with your mental health, but it is not an emergency, use NHS 111 online or call 111 and select the mental health option.
If you need someone to talk to, call Samaritans free on 116 123, any time, day or night.
Support with grief
Grief can feel different for everyone. There is no right or wrong way to feel after someone has died.
You may find it helpful to:
- talk to someone you trust
- speak to your GP if you are struggling to cope
- use a bereavement support service
- take small steps and avoid trying to do everything at once
Read NHS advice about grief, bereavement and loss.
You can also get support from:
Practical things to do after someone dies
There can be a lot to do after someone dies. You do not have to do everything at once.
You may need to:
- register a death
- register a stillbirth
- use Tell Us Once to tell government and council services about a death
- arrange a funeral
You can also read the GOV.UK step-by-step guide on what to do when someone dies.
Planning a funeral
Our Bereavement Services team can help with practical questions about planning a funeral at Kingsdown Cemetery and Crematorium or at one of the cemeteries we manage.
If you want to plan a funeral yourself and do not want to use a funeral director, we can explain what you need to do.
Find out more about arranging a funeral, arranging a burial or arranging a cremation at Kingsdown Crematorium.
Visit before a funeral
Some people find it helpful to visit the cemetery or crematorium before a funeral.
This can help if you feel anxious about what will happen on the day, or if you are supporting someone who may find the funeral difficult.
We can show you the chapel and explain how the funeral will take place.
Contact Bereavement Services or ask your funeral director if you want to arrange a visit.
Help with funeral costs
Funeral costs can feel worrying. It may help to check whether the person who died had a funeral plan, insurance policy or paperwork about their funeral wishes.
Some funeral costs may be paid from money left by the person who died. Family or friends may also choose to help.
If you get certain benefits and are arranging a funeral, you may be able to get a Funeral Expenses Payment. This will not usually cover all funeral costs.
You may be able to get Bereavement Support Payment. GOV.UK explains who can apply and how to check if you are eligible.
If you are arranging a child’s funeral, contact Bereavement Services or speak to your funeral director about possible funding options.
Support for children and young people
Children and young people may show grief in different ways. They may need time, reassurance and clear information about what has happened.
Support is available for bereaved children, young people, parents and carers.
You can get local support from Wiltshire Treehouse, which supports children and young people in Swindon and Wiltshire who have been affected by the death of someone important to them.
You can also get support from Winston’s Wish, which offers bereavement support for children and young people and guidance for the adults supporting them.
Read NHS advice about children and bereavement.
Contact us
If you need help after someone has died, contact us.