Dealing with death and grief can prove to be one of life’s most difficult challenges. However, you do not have to face this alone. Across Berkshire there are bereavement support services in place to help.
If you are looking for immediate advice regarding practicalities, please see our guide to what to do when someone dies in Berkshire.
Berkshire Bereavement Support Services
Sue Ryder Bereavement Service
The Sue Ryder team provide bereavement support across West Berkshire from three hubs in Reading, Newbury and Wokingham. Trained counsellors and therapists are available to help those suffering bereavement in private or family sessions. This service is open to those whose relative accessed Sue Ryder palliative care and can offer advice, practical help and understanding.
The online bereavement community is a useful place to ask questions and get things off your chest. It is also a safe space to discuss your experiences with people who understand what you’re going through. This is open to anyone experiencing bereavement.
For more information on Sue Ryder services, including the Duchess of Kent hospice, please see our guide to palliative care in Berkshire.
- Telephone: 0118 955 0400
- Email: [email protected]
- Visit Website
Thames Hospice Bereavement Service
The Thames Hospice provides bereavement services to the relatives of those in their care. Firstly, they offer individual counselling, which provides an opportunity to express thoughts and feelings in a safe and confidential setting.
Thames Hospice also lead two groups that aim to help people share experiences of loss in a relaxed setting. Please find these detailed below.
First Steps
A small, facilitated support group for those who are recently bereaved. This is held once a week for six sessions to help people find support and solidarity within the group.
Stepping Stones
An informal, facilitated group for those who have been bereaved within the last 12 months. This is a monthly group in a relaxed setting where people benefit from social interaction and mutual support.
- Telephone: 01753 842121
- Contact Enquiry Form
- Visit Website
Cruse Bereavement Care in Berkshire
Cruse Bereavement Care are the largest charity in the UK for helping people deal with grief. They provide a range of free support services that include counselling, group sessions and telephone advice. In Berkshire, there are two hubs. Contact details for both of these can be found below.
Thames Valley Berkshire
The Thames Valley Cruse hub welcomes people from Bracknell, East & Central Reading, Maidenhead, Slough, Windsor and Wokingham.
- Telephone: 01344 411919
- Contact Form
West Berkshire Cruse
West Berkshire Cruse covers the remaining Berkshire area, including Newbury.
- Telephone: 01635 523573
- Email: [email protected]
- Contact Form
Samaritans in Berkshire
The Samaritans have nearly eighty years of experience in helping people through a difficult time. Volunteers are specially trained to listen and support people in the community with grief.
There are four local offices in Berkshire. Each has a face to face service to talk in a comfortable environment. Please find details below.
Remember, if you are feeling hopeless, you can call the national Samaritans helpline for 24/7 support on 116 123.
Bracknell
- Address: Hope Cottage, 2 Mount Pleasant, Larges Lane, Bracknell, RG12 9AD
- Visit Website
Reading
- Address: 59A Cholmeley Road, Reading, RG1 3NB
- Visit Website
Newbury
- Address: 58 West Street, Newbury, RG14 1BD
- Visit Website
Slough
- Address: Katharine House, 17 Uxbridge Road, Slough, SL1 1SN
- Visit Website
- Telephone: 0330 094 5717
AB Walker Bereavement Support
The AB Walker runs a group bereavement course, in partnership with Cruse Thames Valley, called ‘Link Up‘. The course has six sessions over six weeks in Reading. Each session is a mixture of learning and group interaction. AB Walker also offers free individual counselling.
Individuals are referred to the service by GPs and hospice teams. It is not necessary to use AB Walker for the funeral in order to access bereavement support.
- Telephone: 0118 957 3650
- Contact Form
- Visit Website
Bereavement Groups in Emmer Green, Reading
A significant loss in anyone’s life causes grief and disorientation. Sharing the experience of loss with others who are living with something similar can help to reduce feelings of isolation and two different, monthly groups have been established in the St. Barnabas Parish Centre to provide an opportunity to talk about what has happened with people who are completely non-judgmental and understand how overwhelming feelings of loss can be.
The Bereavement Café takes place monthly on the first Friday of the month (2.00pm – 3:30pm). This is an informal drop-in and conversations are usually one-to-one.
Living with Loss takes place on the third Friday of the month (2.00pm – 3.30pm). This provides ongoing group-based support. On average, 6 – 8 people attend, but there is no expectation for people to attend every time.
You will receive a very warm welcome to either group. Please contact Gillian on 0118 947 8772 if you would like more information.
