Latest News & Information 

 

Coronavirus (COVID-19) information

Kingston Bereavement Service recognises its duty of care to all those who use our bereavement services, and volunteer or work for the charity. In light of the covid-19 coronavirus pandemic, please find below the latest information and guidance with regard to our service.

KBS will follow government advice relating to the coronavirus pandemic to which all our staff are required to adhere.

We will continue to carefully monitor the situation and provide updates accordingly. We apologise for any inconvenience that changes we make to our service may cause but hope that you will understand that the safety and wellbeing of those who provide and access our service is paramount.

 

Guidance for bereaved families

The Saying Goodbye Project will not be providing face to face services until further notice, in line with government’s stay at home measures announced on 23rd March.

Our plan remains to keep our service available to everyone that needs it where possible.

If your child is currently receiving bereavement support and counselling, a member of our team will be in contact with you to discuss how this can be managed. 

We are able to continue to provide support, information and advice for parents and carers by telephone.

 

Guidance for professionals

We are not currently arranging any face to face training, and you will be contacted if you have already have a training date booked.

If you have any concerns or would like support, advice or information, please do get in touch, and we will support you as best we can.

 

Getting in touch

If you have any concerns about these arrangements, or would like to access support or information, we are still operating and able to support you in as flexible a way as possible.

Please make contact on 0208 547 1552 if you would like to talk to one of our team. We are accessing the phone remotely on a daily basis, so PLEASE do leave a message and we will get back to you as soon as we can.

If you would like to talk to someone immediately, Child Bereavement UK operate a national helpline

0800 02 888 40 Monday – Friday, 9am – 5pm (except Bank Holidays)

Alternatively you can send an email sayinggoodbye@kingstonbereavementservice.org.uk

 

USEFUL ADVICE AND INFORMATION

The Coronavirus pandemic has brought about change in all our lives, including those of children and young people, many of whom will struggle to understand the reasons for the changes and restrictions that are being imposed on us all. There is constant talk about the virus and the effect it is having.

Schools are closed, families are spending more time together, and at the same time spending time apart from family members who they would like to be with.

Like all of us, children and young people will have questions and worries about the virus, they may also pick up on the worries that the adults in their life will have about this time of uncertainty. For a child who has experienced the death of someone significant to them, these anxieties and worries may be worse.

We have put together the information and ideas below that you may find helpful when supporting bereaved children and young people during the outbreak.

 

Supporting children and young people

 From Child Bereavement UK:

A short film about supporting bereaved children during the outbreak

Explaining to children When you can't visit someone who is ill

 

From Winston's Wish guidance on: 

talking to bereaved children about coronavirus

telling a child that someone is seriously ill

telling a child that someone has died from coronavirus

Managing grief during self isolation

 

From Cruse Bereavement Care:

tips about talking to children

Cruse have a wide range of information and resources about grief and coronavirus

 

The Anna Freud Centre for Children and Familes have some useful information for parents and carers, as well as professionals supporting children and young people. They also have information on self-care strategies for young people.

 

Funerals and ways to say goodbye

Some children and young people won’t be able to attend the funeral of loved ones during the outbreak of Coronavirus due to the requirements around social distancing. These are alternative suggestions of ways to say goodbye.

From Nelson’s Journey: Guidance for families around funerals

From Winston’s Wish: How to say goodbye when a funeral isn't possible,

From Quaker Social Action  Organising a meaningful funeral

Further up to date information can be accessed from the National Association of Funeral Directors

 

 

 

 

 

KBS and Saying Goodbye Project Privacy Promise 

We promise to: 

  • Keep your data safe and private
  • Never sell your data
  • Only use your data for its intended purpose
  • Erase your data on request 

CONFIDENTIALITY STATEMENT

Kingston Bereavement Service (including the Saying Goodbye Project) gathers and retains personal data about clients in order to assist all staff and volunteers to work effectively on the client’s behalf.  This personal information will be kept securely and only be shared with others after a client has given specific and written consent.  Exceptions to this are covered in the At Risk Procedure, where there is a danger to either the client or their dependents.