Practical Advice

You can get practical help from a funeral director, the family doctor, a solicitor, welfare officers and personal departments at workplaces, your minister of religion, a social services department or Citizen Advice Bureau. A health visitor or district nurse who attended the deceased may be able to help. If the death was in hospital ask the sister or hospital chaplain.

You may feel that you want more than practical advice, and that you need to talk with someone sympathetic who is outside your family or with other people who have been through a similar experience. In addition to ministers of religion and hospital chaplains there are several organisations in the UK which gives this kind of support.
 
For example:

Age concern, a national organisation for older people.
You can get in touch with them on: Age Concern England, Astral House, 1268 London Road, London, SW16 4ER, Tel: 0208 7657200 or Fax: 0208 7657211, Email: ace@ace.org.co.uk  Internet: www.ageconcern.org
                                                                                       
The British association of Cancer Unit Patients (Cancer BACUP), Provide a Cancer Information Services which gives information, practical advice and emotional support to patients, their families and friends, including those bereaved by the illness. London and Glasgow based one-to-one counselling service. 
Contact them on: 3 Bath Place, Rivington Street, London, EC2A 3JR. Tel: 0207 6132121 or freephone: 0808 800 1234 Councling: 01415 531553.  internet: www.cancerbacup.org.uk
 
Cancer link, offers emotional support and information to people with cancer, their families, friends, and professionals working with them. A resource for over 700 cancer support and self help groups and individual supporters throughout the UK.
Contact them on: 11-12 Northdown Street, London, N1 9BN, Tel: 0808 8080000, (answerphone out of hours) Email: cancerlink@canlink.demon.co.uk
 
The compassionate friends, is an organisation offering support and friendship to bereaved parents and their families. 
Their address is: 53 North Street, Bristol BS3 1EN, Tel: 0117 9530630 (daily 9.30am-10.30pm) Fax: 0117 9144368, Email: info@tcf.org.uk,  internet: www.tcf.org.uk
 
Cruse-bereavement care, 180 branches and nearly 7,000 volunteers provide a nationwide service of the highest standard of emotional support, counselling and information to anyone bereaved by death, regardless of age, race or belief. Cruse also offers training, support, information and publications to those working to care for the bereaved.
Reach them on 126 Sheen Road, Richmond, Surrey, TW9 1UR, Tel: 0208 9404848, Fax: 02089407638, Bereavement Line: 0845 7585565. 
 
Facts health centre, offers counselling, advice and support if someone has died after being ill from AIDS.
Address: 23-25 Weston Park, Crouch End, London N8 9SY, Tel: 0208 3489195
 
The foundation for the study of infant death (cot death research and support), supports the families of a baby who has died suddenly and unexpectedly, with a 24 hour help line, a network of bartenders countrywide, meeting, advice and leaflets for the bereaved.
Their address is: 14 Halkin Street, London, SW1X 7D, Tel: 0207 2338001, Cot Death Helpline: 0207 2332090 (24 HOURS) Email: support@sids.org.uk, Internet: www.sids.org
 
Lesbian and gay bereavement project, offers support and advice to lesbians and gay men bereaved by the death of a same-sex life partner.  All members are comfortable with their own gayness and are well trained and supervised.  Group also offers speakers and has prepared a free will form to encourage life partners to write wills (send SAE to project).
You can reach them on: Vaughan M Williams Centre, Colindale Hospital, London NW9 5GH, Tel: 0207 4035969.  An answerphone message gives the name and phone number of  the member on duty that evening.  Office weekdays 3-6pm Tel: 0208 2000511 
 
London lighthouse, is Britain’s largest residential and support centre for men and women affected by HIV and AIDS.
Address 111-117 Lancaster Road, London, W11 1QT Tel: 0207 7921200, Textphone: 0207 7922979
 
The miscarriage association, offers support and information on all aspects of pregnancy loss (miscarriage up to 24 weeks and entopic pregnancy).c/o
Clayton Hospital, Northgater, Wakefield, W Yorkshire, WF1 3JS Tel: 01924 200799 
 
The National Association of Bereavement Services, gives support and information to bereaved people. Their National Directory of Bereavement and loss Services can direct people to their nearest appropriate source of support.
Contact them on 20 Norton Folgate, London, E1 6DB, Tel: 0207 7099090, (24 hours, with answerphone)
 
The National Association of Widows, offers information and support through local branches.
Address 48 Queens Road, Coventry, CV1 3ER, Tel: 0247 6634848
 
Road peace, is the national charity for road traffic victims. Trained volunteers give practical and emotional support, information on legal procedures, and arrange contact with local people similarly bereaved or injured.
PO Box 2579, London, NW10 3PW, Tel: 0208 9641021, administration: 0208 8385102, Fax: 02088385103, Internet: www.roadpeace.org 
 
The Samaritans, for someone you can talk to who will give you support. There are over 180 branches which are open 24 hours a day.
Look up Samaritans in the phone book. 
 
SSAFA Force Help, is the national charity helping serving and ex-service men, women and their families in need.
Address: 19 Queen Elizabeth Street, London, SE1 2LP, Tel: 0207 4038783 or cheek local phone book.  Fax: 0207 4038815, internet: www.ssafa.org.uk 
 
The Stillbirth and Neonatal Death Society (SANDS), Offers support for bereaved parents and families when a baby dies at or soon after birth, with a national telephone help line, a network of self-help groups UK-wide run by and for bereaved parents, and information for the professionals. 

Address 28Portland Place, London W1N 4DE, Tel: 0207 4365881, (10am-5pm mon-fri) Fax: 0207 4363715, Email: support@uk-sands.org, Internet: www.uk-sands.org
 
The Terrence Higgins Trust, is a charity providing practical support, help, counselling and advice for anyone with or concerned about AIDS or HIV infection.
Address: 52-54 Grays Inn Road, London, Tel: administration and advice centre: 0207 8310330, Helpline (noon-10pm daily): 0207 2421010, internet: www.tht.org.uk

The War Widows Association of Great Britain, gives advice, help and support to all war widows and dependants. c/o 48 pall mall, London SW1Y 5JY