The Coroner takes no responsibility for the contents of or advice offered on the sites listed below.

The information has been put into groups for your convenience. Click on the relevant heading to go straight to the group you need.

Bereavement Register
The Bereavement Register is a service which aims to reduce the amount of direct mail sent to those who have died by enabling companies to remove details from their lists.

Bereavement Handbook for Worcestershire This booklet contains a useful checklist and advice on many aspects of bereavement and how to cope.

Cruse
Cruse Bereavement Care exists to promote the well-being of bereaved people and to enable anyone bereaved by death to understand their grief and cope with their loss. The organisation provides support and offers information, advice, education and training services.

Worcestershire Branch (01905) 22223

Central Office: Cruse Bereavement Care, PO Box 800, Richmond, Surrey, TW9 1RG
Administration Tel: 020 8939 9530
Fax: 020 8940 1671
Day by Day Helpline 0844 477 9400
Email: helpline@cruse.org.uk
General Email: info@cruse.org.uk

http://www.crusebereavementcare.org.uk/

Losing Your Partner
The BBC booklet Losing you partner has been written for anyone who has recently suffered the loss of their partner. It is for both men and women, whether married or with a long-term partner, and for both hetrosexual and same-sex relationships. It offers guidance on both the pratical and the emotional aspects of losing a partner, well as on how family and friends can best offer support at this difficult time.

Download this booklet from bbc.co.uk/widows

Help for Same sex partners, Transsexual and transgender people and their loved ones Transsexual/Transgender people:
This is a link to a guide on bereavement provided by the Department of Health
Bereavement: A guide for transsexual, transgender people and their loved ones

Samaritans
Samaritans provides confidential, non-judgemental emotional support, 24 hours a day, for people experiencing feelings of distress or despair.

9 Sansome Place
Worcester
WR1 1UA
01905 21121
Usual opening hours 9.00am – 10.00pm
Telephone 24 hours(national lines): 08457 90 90 90
If it is too difficult to talk then E-Mail the Samaritans at jo@samaritans.org
If you prefer to write:
Chris
PO Box 9090
Stirling
FK8 2SA
www.samaritans.org

Suicide
Help and advice for survivors of bereavement by Suicide
Help is at Hand

Sudden Adult Death Trust www.sadsuk.org Contact Anne Jolly
SADS UK, Suite 6, Churchill House, Horndon Park, Station Road, West Hornden Essex CM13 3XD
This organisation provides information and support for those breaved by a sudden cardiac death.

When Sudden Death Occurs ( Coroners and Inquests) - a leaflet published by the MOJ

Winston's Wish is an organisation dedicated to helping children cope with the loss of a parent, grandparent, brother or sister or friend.

Help for Young People:

RD4U - the road for you.  This is a website designed for young people by young people. (developed by Cruse)
Help for bereaved children.

Loss of a Child/Teenager:

The Child Bereavement Trust provides help to families and friends.

The Foundation for the Study of Infant Deaths  provides guidance for parents who lose a very young child.

The Noah’s Ark Trust(1988), A grief support service for bereaved children in Worcestershire.
Contact:
The Annexe,
Levant lodge
Earls Croome
Worcester WR8 9DA
The Noah’s Ark Trust Tel: 01684 592750

Department of Health:
Department of Health - Bereavement

Lesbian and Gay Bereavement Project - E-mail - lgbp@aol.com
Counselling Department
Lighthouse West London
111 - 117 Lancaster Road
LONDON
W11 1QT
Tel: 020 7403 5969 Helpline. Monday, Tuesday and Thursday 7pm - 10.30pm

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Several types of payments are available to the bereaved. You may be entitled to a lump sum bereavement payment or an allowance.
Click on the link to find out if you qualify for any of these.

Bereavement Payment Qualification

General advice on these matters is available from the Directgov site

Probate
A booklet 'How to obtain probate - Form PA2' forms part of the package provided to applicants when applying for probate and is obtainable from the following telephone number.

Probate Helpline 0845 3020 900

The necessary forms are also available via the Court Service website www.courtservice.gov.uk

Click on 'Forms and Guidance' and use the dropdown menu to locate probate.

Help and advice on dealing with the Inquest system
Independent legal and advice service to families and friends in the Inquest system www.inquest.gn.apc.org

Download When sudden death occurs: coroners and inquests (Ministry of Justice) (PDF, 146K)

Download The work of the coroner (Ministry of Justice) (PDF, 138K)

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There are a large number of organisations serving a wide range of needs. The Department of Health provides a list of organisations who provide very specific help for specific circumstances such as those who have lost a child from a sudden infant death or diseases such as cancer and leukaemia. There are also specific organisations that deal with death arising from violent crime (SAMM), suicide, meningitis or war. Information is available in the Department of Health booklet "Help is at Hand".

Organising a Funeral
Advice on how to deal with organising a funeral can be obtained from your local Citizens Advice Bureau, Minister of Religion, Religious Leader or the Humanist Society.

The Work of the Coroner

Donation of Tissue and Organs / Retention of Tissue and Organs
Information on the removal, storage, use and disposal of human bodies, organs and tissue for a number of purposes – such as research, transplantation, and education and training – can be obtained from the Human Tissue Authority. Answers to frequently asked questions relating to the work of the Coroner can be found on the Coroner FAQ page on the HTA website.

Human Tissue Authority
Finlaison House
15-17 Furnival Street
London
EC4A 1AB

Tel 020 7211 3400
Fax 020 7211 3430
Email enquiries@hta.gov.uk

Understanding causes of death

This NHS library site will provide a basic understanding of common causes of death. Type the cause of death you want explained into the search box.

Click on this link Causes of death explained

It will look like this

Department of Health:
Department of Health - Bereavement

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The Coroners' Society of England and Wales
The Coroners' Society of England and Wales
HM Coroner's Court
The Cotton Exchange
Old Hall Street
Liverpool
L3 9UF

Telephone 0151 233 4708

(This number leads to a voicemail facility where messages including your name, phone number and message should be left. The messages will only be interrogated during office hours when jurisdiction duties permit - the society is run by working coroners so please be patient, as our duties to those affected by sudden and unexpected death must come first)

Worcestershire County Council
Worcestershire County Council, County Hall, Spetchley Road, Worcester, WR5 2NP.
Tel: 01905 763763

Ministry of Justice:
Ministry of Justice
102 Petty France
London
SW1H 9AJ
United Kingdom

DX 117000 Selborne House

Telephone: +44 (0) 020 3334 3555
Fax: +44 (0) 20 7210 0647
E-mail a general query to the Ministry of Justice.

General help and advice
The Citizens Advice Bureau can provide advice on many aspects of dealing with a sudden bereavement.

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