Funeral Advice & Support
Planning and organising a funeral can be an overwhelming and stressful experience for anyone. Even if a death was expected, it can often feel difficult to know where to start, and what the necessary arrangements should be.
At Harold Wood Funeral Services, we have been offering a helping hand through the funeral arranging process for more than seven decades. In entrusting your loved ones to us, you can rest assured that we will guide you through the various funeral choices available to you, and ensure that no detail is missed.
Useful Links
HWFS Useful Bereavement Contacts
SAIF Care https://saifcare.org.uk is available to all bereaved people under the care of SAIF Funeral Directors and provides helpline, email and webchat support which are free, confidential and provided by professional bereavement counsellors. Freephone 0800 917 7224 email help@saifcare.org.uk and webchat SAIF Care Chat Monday-Friday 9am-9pm (GMT).
All local hospices to your area will help with free advice and community connection.
Below are two of the local ones to us. You do not need to have a connection with the hospice.
If you need help locating your relevant hospice please get back in touch with us.
St Francis Hospice in Havering, Brentwood, Barking & Dagenham and Thurrock
“Orangeline” is a free helpline for local people of all ages who may be bereaved, feeling isolated or lonely. Call Mondays to Fridays 9am-5pm or leave a message on 01708 758649.
St Clare’s Hospice Harlow in Epping Forest District, West Essex and East Herts
Their Bereavement Support Helpline operates from 9am – 5pm, Monday to Friday.
The number to call is 01279 967670.
For anyone who has suffered the loss of a child of any age
The Compassionate Friends (TCF) is a charitable organisation of bereaved parents, siblings and grandparents dedicated to the support and care of other similarly bereaved family members who have suffered the death of a child or children of any age and from any cause.
https://www.tcf.org.uk/ For bereavement support call our Helpline on: 0345 123 2304
(Open 10am – 4 pm, 7pm – 10pm every day of the year)
Children’s Bereavement Services
https://www.winstonswish.org For children & young people following the loss of parent or siblings
Their Freephone National Helpline is free to call on 08088 020 021 and offers advice, guidance and support following a bereavement. Our expert team provide bereavement support for parents, carers and professionals who are looking for childhood bereavement advice and support.
More for bereaved children, and when a child dies
https://www.childbereavementuk.org Child Bereavement UK helps children, parents and families to rebuild their lives when a child grieves or when a child dies. We support children and young people up to the age of 25 who are facing bereavement, and anyone affected by the death of a child of any age.
Stillbirth and Neo-natal death support
https://www.sands.org.uk 0808 164 3332
The Coroners’ Courts Support Service
An independent voluntary organisation whose trained volunteers offer emotional support and practical help to bereaved families, witnesses and others attending an Inquest at a Coroner’s Court.https://coronerscourtssupportservice.org.uk/
Their national helpline contact number is+44 (0)300 111 2141
9:00am – 7:00pm Monday to Friday and 9.00am – 2.00pm on a Saturday helpline@ccss.org.uk
WAY Widowed and Young
The only national charity in the UK for people aged 50 or under when their partner died. It’s a peer-https://www.widowedandyoung.org.uk/contact-us/to-peer support group operating with a network of volunteers who have been bereaved at a young age themselves, so they understand exactly what other members are going through. There is a contact page on their website.
Bereavement by Suicide
https://uksobs.org – If you have been bereaved or affected by suicide and you would like to talk with one of our volunteers about your experience, you can get in touch in the following ways:
Email – write to email.support@uksobs.org 9am to 9pm Monday to Sunday 0300 111 5065
Bereavement by Murder or Manslaughter
https://samm.org.uk/contact/ CALL: 0121 472 2912 TEXT: 07342 888570
Faith Groups
All local places of worship will help with spiritual comfort during your time of loss.
Many have established bereavement groups. Please get in touch with us if you would like someone in a particular church or temple or faith to contact you.