TCF in the media

An Easter Like No Other

'The Gift' to bereaved parents

Support following the loss of a child

Thank you to TCF member, Alison, for writing to The Guardian newspaper about the support she has received through The Compassionate Friends. Her letter was published in the print and online editions in February 2020. Fantastic publicity for our charity - we reprint her words below.

Christmas is not a celebration!

John Rainsbury writes... My wife and I have been attending TCF meetings in Bristol since we lost our 6 year old son Will on Valentines Day this year following a 9 month battle with an aggressive Brain Tumour.

I signed up to a retreat for bereaved siblings. It was the best thing I could have possibly done

Singer George Shelley finds comfort at TCF retreat

Discussion of parental grief on BBC Radio 4 'Woman's Hour'

On Wednesday 15th August 2018 BBC Radio 4 covered the topic of child loss and parental grief for an adult son or daughter.

“I think about my daughter every day” - Bournemouth group for bereaved parents

The Bournemouth Echo featured an article about The Compassionate Friends' support group for bereaved parents in Bournemouth set up by Jane in April 2017. The article includes some lovely pictures of Jane and her beautiful daughter Ann.

Losing Mimi has been a defining moment in my life

Ten years on, Nigel Burnham reflects on the loss of his little girl, Mimi, and how after her death his wife, Liz, sought help at a York meeting of The Compassionate Friends.

TCF on talkRadio

Carolyn Brice, CEO of The Compassionate Friends, was interviewed by Penny Smith on talkRADIO about the death of a child and support that our charity can offer. You can listen at the link...interview starts approx. 5 minutes in.

‘I’ll never get over Anna’s death, but it’s crucial that life goes on’

Melian Mansfield describes how 'the grief is never-ending' and how she has coped after the loss of her daughter, Anna, to suicide. She has found The Compassionate Friends a tremendous help since Anna's death.

Bereaved parents organise a candlelight memorial service

Janette Knight, Local Support Contact with TCF, talks about her motivations for setting up a support group for bereaved parents in Bridport, Dorset and the Candle Lighting Service she has organised to coincide with The Compassionate Friends Worldwide Candle Lighting in December 2016.

First Christmas without my son: 'I just couldn't have that day without Joe'

TCF Trustee, Susan Hughes, talks about how difficult Christmas can be for bereaved parents.

Family support group in memory of daughter

Joy has set up a support group for bereaved parents in Westcliff on Sea, Essex. Here she talks about her daughter, Debbie, her motivation for starting the group and how to get in touch.

Mum’s mission to help bereaved families says: ‘There is life after grief’

Bronwyn has started a TCF support group for bereaved parents in Hemel Hempstead. Here is part two of the article written in her local newspaper about the new group and The Compassionate Friends. For more information about the group contact Bronwyn

Read about Bronwyn and the new support group.

One bereaved mum's mission to support others through grief

A heartbroken mother whose daughter died at the age of four-and-a-half battled with her grief for nearly nine years before finding hope – and now she wants to help other families. Brronwyn is starting a new TCF support group for bereaved parents in Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire.

Read Bronwyn's moving story and her motivations for starting the group for bereaved parents.

One minute he was alive and the next he was gone

Heartbroken mother's warning to parents after her 11-year-old son died suddenly while on a summer holiday outing. Susan Hughes, now a Trustee and local and group Contact for TCF, has spoken about loss of her son Joe. He was enjoying day of water sports when he had sudden asthma attack.

Always in our thoughts

The parents of a teenager who died while crossing the East Lancs Road are to cycle from Bristol to Liverpool in aid of The Compassionate Friends

They will undertake the 278-mile bike ride in memory of George Faulkner.

Finding closure?

“Finding closure? What does that mean – when you shut a door and that’s it?” Jane Harris in Sunday Post in Scotland.