National children’s bereavement charity launches new text support service for young people

The UK’s first children and young people’s bereavement charity, Winston’s Wish, has launched a new text-based support service designed to make grief support more accessible to young people who may struggle to speak about their feelings out loud.

The new service will allow bereaved young people aged 13 to 25 to access specialist support through WhatsApp or SMS, offering what the charity describes as “grief support in your pocket”.

Available weekdays from 3pm to 8pm, excluding bank holidays, the service is aimed at meeting young people where they already are — on their phones — and responding to the growing preference among teenagers and young adults to communicate by messaging rather than by phone call.

Winston’s Wish says the service reflects the reality that many young people find it easier to write down their thoughts and worries while still having a real-time conversation, particularly during moments when grief feels overwhelming.

The text service gives young people rapid access to a trained bereavement support worker and allows them to message discreetly while travelling home from school, relaxing at home, or chatting with friends.

Importantly, users can pause and restart conversations without needing to re-explain their situation each time — a feature designed to reduce emotional strain.

Letizia Perna, Deputy CEO and Director of Services at Winston’s Wish, said the charity’s approach is shaped by listening directly to young people about how they want to receive support.

“It is our vision that no young person is left to grieve alone, and it’s our aim that our support and access to that support is what young people need and want.

“Our services champion digital support and allow young people themselves to access our bereavement advice. We also remain on hand to help parents, carers and professionals to offer advice to them when they are supporting a grieving young person.”

The new text service is available via WhatsApp and SMS on 07418 341800, and complements — rather than replaces — Winston’s Wish’s existing support options.

Young people can still access help by calling free on 08088 020 021, emailing ask@winstonswish.org, or using the charity’s live chat service online.

Winston’s Wish Website

Adults supporting grieving children, or those caring for children under the age of 13, are also encouraged to continue using these established contact routes for advice and guidance.

The launch comes against a stark backdrop. Estimates suggest that every 20 minutes in the UK, a young person is told that their parent has died — a figure that does not account for the many children and young adults grieving the loss of siblings, friends, relatives, or other significant figures in their lives.

Founded in 1992, Winston’s Wish was the UK’s first charity dedicated specifically to supporting bereaved children and young people.

Last year alone, the charity supported and directly impacted more than 95,000 children and young people, offering help at times when families say their world has been “turned upside down”.

The charity is now urging communities, schools, parents and professionals to help spread the word about the new service, ensuring that young people know confidential, specialist support is available in a format that feels safe and familiar.

Winston’s Wish supports young people up to and including the age of 25 and relies on voluntary donations for around 90% of its income. It also produces the Grief in Common podcast, the first UK podcast created specifically for bereaved 13–25-year-olds and hosted by young adults with lived experience of loss.

More information about the charity’s work and how to support it can be found on its website.

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