Research

Our latest research reports into childhood bereavement.

A school bereavement policy is not a luxury.

“I think when you are bereaved at a very young age… you feel a pain like no other pain.” Prince William, who lost his mother Diana at age 15.

Bereaved children are being let down as they try to cope after losing a parent or sibling because support in schools is patchy or non-existent, according to a new study conducted for Winston’s Wish by researchers at Cambridge University’s Faculty of Education.

The report, Consequences of childhood bereavement in the context of the British school system, brings together a wealth of research about children who have lost a mother, father or sibling before the age of 18, with a specific focus on support from school.

Although schools recognise bereavement as a high priority, teachers say they feel ill-equipped to offer support to bereaved children, even avoiding intervention through fear of doing more harm than good, according to the report.

At the same time researchers also gathered the experiences of adults who lost parents and siblings as children. Their moving account is published in a separate report, Voices of adults bereaved as children, which reinforces the message that meaningful support is important and schools are the key site providing such support.

To download copies of the two reports and our resources for schools, please click below.

Consequences of childhood bereavement in the context of the British school system

A review bringing together a wealth of research about children who have lost a mother, father or sibling before the age of 18, with a specific focus on support from school.

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