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Winston鈥檚 Wish provides emotional and practical bereavement support to children, young people and those who care for them, after the death of a parent or sibling. Our expert teams offer one off and ongoing bereavement support through our Freephone Helpline, face-to-face, virtual and group work.

The death of a parent in childhood can be the most traumatic experience a child will ever have to face. It鈥檚 a life-altering, sometimes life-threatening event, which can, for the most vulnerable, lead to devastating lifelong consequences, including physical and mental illness, social exclusion and shortened life expectancy.

But it doesn鈥檛 have to. With the right support, given at the right time, and in the right way, children can go on to live happy and healthy lives.

Through our Freephone Helpline, we are able to support thousands of children each year.听 Our Helpline team takes the time to listen carefully to the worries, concerns and questions parents, careers, teachers or professionals may have to help them work out how best to support bereaved children and young people.听

Our team of bereavement practitioners work with children and young people around the country, listening to their stories and providing in-depth support both virtually and face-to-face. They work with children and their families to help them understand what has happened to them, helping them to overcome their trauma and learn how to live alongside their grief.听

Winston鈥檚 Wish is there to ensure every child gets the help they need. To listen when a child is grieving, to act when a child needs our help and to know what to say when it鈥檚 time to talk.

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Winston鈥檚 Wish is a charity that provides support to children and young people facing the death of a loved one. I am honoured to be presenting the Lifeline Appeal on their behalf.听

The charity is important to me for a听 personal reason:听 both my father and my stepfather were killed in accidents before I was 12 years old. The death of a parent is the most devastating event a child will ever face, and it can have a catastrophic effect.听 At Winston鈥檚 Wish an experienced and compassionate team can help children make sense of what has happened to them, providing a safe place to explore their emotions and learn to live a meaningful life after their loss.听

No child should have to experience the loss of a loved one, but they do each and every day. Winston鈥檚 Wish exists to provide emotional and practical support to children, young people and their families, and help them navigate through their grief and face their future with confidence and hope.

At just two years old, Eddie鈥檚 mum, Liz, died of cervical cancer. His dad Barry was worried how Eddie would deal with his grief as he got older and was scared he would forget his Mum. Before Liz died, they called the Winston鈥檚 Wish Helpline to get some advice. The charity suggested that Liz and Barry create a memory box for Eddie so when he was older he would have something to remember his mum.

Eddie is now 12 and Barry has used the Winston鈥檚 Wish Helpline multiple times. As a single parent, it鈥檚 reassuring for Barry to know that Winston鈥檚 Wish is there for them, to reassure Eddie and help him better understand his feelings and how to cope with them.

听鈥淚 often don鈥檛 know where to turn to 鈥� but Winston鈥檚 Wish is always there. I know that we can call on them at any time. What Winston鈥檚 Wish does is just invaluable.鈥� 鈥� Barry

Tom was 14 years old when his dad suddenly died of cancer. Tom was worried that he would forget his dad, his smile, his voice and all the happy memories. He was concerned that this significant life event would define his future.听

It was difficult for Tom鈥檚 mum, Sam, to see him so devastated and heartbroken by his loss. Sam just wanted to make everything better, but she couldn鈥檛 take Tom鈥檚 pain away. Sam called Winston鈥檚 Wish and Tom started to receive virtual support.听

Because of his dad鈥檚 sudden death, Tom never felt he had a chance to say goodbye. With his bereavement practitioner, Tom was able to work through his grief and find ways to cherish special memories of his dad.

鈥淎fter my video sessions, I felt a huge improvement 鈥� my mental health, my anxiety, my grief about my Dad, has improved ever since I had the calls with Winston鈥檚 Wish.鈥�鈥� Tom听

Tiffany was eight when her dad died of cancer. Two years later, her mum鈥檚 new partner died in a tragic accident. At 11, Tiffany knew that the life they had rebuilt together following her dad鈥檚 death was over forever.

Things finally came to a head when Tiffany was 14 and started self-harming. Tiffany got the courage to share with her mum how she was feeling. That鈥檚 when Winston鈥檚 Wish entered Tiffany鈥檚 life.

Through face-to-face and group work, Tiffany was encouraged to share her feelings and to know that it was ok to cry.听

Tiffany is now 27, doing her dream job, as a happy, healthy and grounded adult.听 鈥淲inston鈥檚 Wish gave me an emotional toolkit 鈥� with which to arm myself for the rest of my life. They changed my life and I can absolutely say that without them, I would not be here today.鈥� 鈥� Tiffany