The Alder Centre has relaunched the Child Death Helpline for anyone affected by the death of a child.
The Child Death Helpline (0808 800 6019) is staffed by child-bereaved parents providing a national service for anyone affected by the death of a child, no matter how long ago or recent. This includes healthcare professionals, police, emergency services, schools, parents, family and friends of the deceased child.
Trained volunteers are all bereaved parents, supervised and supported by professional teams at The Alder Centre who provide signposting, support and a listening ear. Research shows that one of the best supports following a child’s death is from others who have also experienced the death of a child, as they understand the unique feelings raised. Most calls to the helpline are from parents and step-parents followed by grandparents and aunties or uncles.
The Helpline was previously a combined partnership between Great Ormond St Children’s Hospital and Alder Hey. In 2023, Alder Hey became the sole Trust responsible for ensuring this valuable national bereavement support was not lost. The Helpline complements the hospital’s unique bereavement service, which includes the Snowdrop Team that supports the family when a child dies, and The Alder Centre who provide ongoing care.
Michelle Meredith is the co-ordinator at the Child Death Helpline and has been increasing awareness by forging links with charities, councils, funeral directors and other bereavement services across the country.
The Child Death Helpline is such an important service. We know that often bereaved parents want to help others going through similar situations, and this can be anyone from a parent, grandparent or anyone else affected by the death of a child including the police and emergency services. Following 10 years of volunteer work in child death with various charities and hospitals, I’m now responsible for recruitment, selection, training of call handlers, and ensuring a high standard of service to callers. I’ll also be speaking at The Northern Bereavement Loss Conference for Children and Young People in October.”
Michelle Meredith
Diane Barrett has volunteered at The Alder Centre every week for the past eight months, welcoming and talking to families. She is also starting training to work on the child death helpline. In 2017, Diane said goodnight to her son Ryan, but when she went to wake him in the morning, he had sadly passed away.
I was in a really bad place when I first came to The Alder Centre, but through counselling, various therapies and just being in a place where I could be normal and talk about anything, they have helped me get to where I am now. They have built my confidence and now I can help others going through the same thing, which I think is really special. I wanted to make Ryan proud and knew this is what he would have wanted me to do.”
Diane Barrett
The Child Death Helpline is inviting bereaved families, and anyone affected by the death of a child to leave a voice message to their child or children they have care for via an audio booth during the relaunch of the Child Death Helpline. The relaunch will take place on 30th August, between 10am – 1pm, at The Alder Centre.
Messages can be left in person or read by a member of the team. These messages will be stored on a special USB stick to be buried within the grounds of The Alder Centre.
Anyone affected by the loss of a child can contact the Child Death Helpline here: Call freephone 0808 800 6019.
Find out more about the Alder Centre here.