Compassionate, Culturally Sensitive Support Through Grief and Loss
Ubuntu Birth and Bereavement Companions CIC provide compassionate, culturally sensitive bereavement support to mothers, children, young people and families across Liverpool and the wider Merseyside area.
We have a particular focus on supporting Black African families, asylum seekers, refugees, migrants, single-parent families and people experiencing poverty or social isolation. However, our bereavement services are inclusive and available to anyone who needs compassionate community support.
We understand that grief affects everyone differently. Whether someone has experienced miscarriage, stillbirth, neonatal loss, the death of a baby or child, or the loss of a parent, sibling, partner, relative or another important person, Ubuntu provides a safe and welcoming space where people can express their grief without fear of judgement.
No mother, child, young person or family should have to face grief alone. Ubuntu is here to walk alongside bereaved families with compassion, dignity, cultural understanding and hope.
Why We Do What We Do
Grief can be a lifelong journey, but no one should have to walk through it alone. The death of someone important can affect every part of a person’s life, including their emotional wellbeing, family relationships, education, employment, physical health, finances and connection to their community.
The scale of childhood bereavement across the UK demonstrates the importance of accessible and timely support:
- An estimated 26,900 parents die each year in the UK, leaving dependent children.
- This means that approximately one parent dies every 20 minutes, leaving children and young people experiencing the loss of a parent.
- An estimated 46,300 dependent children aged 0–17 are bereaved of a parent every year.
- This is equivalent to approximately 127 children becoming newly bereaved of a parent every day.
- Around 1 in every 29 children aged 5–16 has experienced the death of a parent or sibling approximately one child in every average school classroom.
These figures do not include all children affected by the death of grandparents, extended family members, close friends, carers or other important people. The true number of children and young people affected by grief and bereavement is therefore likely to be much higher.
The death of a parent during childhood is recognised as an Adverse Childhood Experience because it may have long-term effects on emotional wellbeing, mental health, relationships, education and development. However, with early intervention, stable relationships, compassionate support and opportunities to express grief, children and families can develop resilience and continue to thrive.
The Need for Culturally Sensitive Bereavement Support
Bereavement can be particularly complex for Black African, refugee, asylum-seeking and migrant families.
Some families may experience additional challenges, including:
- Separation from extended family and community support networks
- Being unable to travel to their country of origin to attend a funeral
- Financial difficulties associated with funeral and travel costs
- Language and communication barriers
- Limited understanding of UK funeral and bereavement systems
- Differences between cultural mourning traditions and UK practices
- A lack of culturally appropriate bereavement services
- Social isolation and loneliness
- Immigration, housing or financial difficulties
- Stigma surrounding grief, pregnancy loss or mental health
- Previous experiences of trauma, displacement or multiple bereavements
For some families, traditional mourning practices may involve extended family gatherings, community participation, prayer, music, storytelling, food and cultural ceremonies. Living away from family and familiar cultural communities can make grief feel more isolating.
Ubuntu recognises that culture, faith, family and community can play an important role in how people understand death, express grief and remember loved ones. Our programme respects each family’s beliefs, traditions, values and individual choices.
Our Bereavement Support Services
Ubuntu provides personalised emotional, social and practical support according to the needs and circumstances of each individual or family.
Our support includes:
- One-to-one emotional bereavement support
- Culturally sensitive listening and companionship
- Support following miscarriage, ectopic pregnancy, stillbirth, neonatal death or the death of a baby
- Support for parents and families following the death of a child
- Support for children and young people following the death of a parent, sibling, relative, friend or another important person
- Bereavement peer-support groups and healing circles
- Safe spaces where individuals can speak openly about grief and loss
- Guidance for parents and carers supporting bereaved children
- Creative and age-appropriate activities for bereaved children
- Memory-making activities, including memory boxes, artwork, memory books, storytelling and remembrance activities
- Support to understand funeral arrangements and bereavement services in the UK
- Culturally sensitive funeral planning and liaison with relevant services
- Practical guidance and signposting to specialist organisations
- Referrals to appropriate mental health, counselling, financial, housing and welfare services
- Community remembrance events and opportunities to celebrate the lives of loved ones
- Follow-up support around birthdays, anniversaries, religious celebrations, family occasions and other important milestones
Supporting Bereaved Children and Young People
Children and young people can experience grief as deeply as adults, but they may understand and express it differently.
Their responses may depend on their age, stage of development, personality, culture, relationship with the person who died and the support available within their family and community.
Some children may want to talk about the person who died, while others may express grief through play, art, music, storytelling or changes in their behaviour. They may experience sadness, anger, confusion, anxiety, guilt, difficulty concentrating, changes in sleep or fear that another person they love may die.
Ubuntu provides welcoming, supportive and age-appropriate spaces where children can explore their emotions safely and at their own pace.
Our bereavement activities aim to help children and young people:
- Understand death, grief and loss in an age-appropriate way
- Recognise and express difficult emotions
- Develop healthy coping strategies
- Create positive and lasting memories of the person who died
- Reduce loneliness and social isolation
- Meet other children who have experienced bereavement
- Develop confidence, resilience and emotional wellbeing
- Maintain connections with their culture, family and community
- Continue participating positively in family, school and community life
We also work alongside parents and carers to help them understand children’s grief and support open, honest and culturally appropriate conversations about death and loss.
Support Following Pregnancy and Baby Loss
Ubuntu provides compassionate support to mothers, partners and families affected by:
- Miscarriage
- Ectopic pregnancy
- Medical termination
- Stillbirth
- Neonatal death
- The death of a baby or young child
We recognise that pregnancy and baby loss can cause deep and lasting grief. Every family experience loss differently, and there is no correct way or fixed timeline for grieving.
Some mothers may also experience cultural stigma, silence, feelings of guilt or pressure not to speak about the baby. Others may have limited family support or may be separated from relatives living outside the UK.
Ubuntu’s trained bereavement companions provide a listening ear, emotional reassurance, practical guidance and continued community support. Families are given time and space to grieve in ways that respect their culture, faith, traditions, values and personal choices.
Where appropriate, Ubuntu supports families to create meaningful memories, understand available bereavement services and access specialist support.
Immediate and Ongoing Bereavement Support
Whether you are facing the expected death of someone important, have recently experienced a bereavement or have been grieving for many years, you are welcome to contact Ubuntu.
There is no correct way to grieve and no fixed timeline for healing. You do not have to wait until you are in crisis before asking for support.
Our trained bereavement companions provide:
- Compassionate listening
- Emotional reassurance
- Practical information and guidance
- Telephone support
- Face-to-face support
- Community safe spaces
- Peer-support groups
- Bereavement activities and workshops
- Referrals and signposting to specialist services
Whether you need a one-time conversation, ongoing emotional support or someone to walk alongside you during difficult milestones, Ubuntu is here to support you.
Referrals for Bereavement Support
Individuals and families can contact Ubuntu directly and refer themselves for bereavement support.
With the individual’s or family’s consent, referrals may also be made by:
- Parents and carers
- Family members and friends
- Schools, colleges and educational organisations
- Midwives and maternity professionals
- Hospitals and healthcare professionals
- GPs and health visitors
- Social workers and family-support workers
- Community organisations
- Faith and cultural organisations
- Refugee and asylum-support services
- Housing and welfare organisations
Following a referral, a member of the Ubuntu team will contact the individual or family to understand their circumstances, identify their support needs and discuss the most appropriate next steps.
Where specialist counselling, mental health support or clinical intervention is required, Ubuntu will provide appropriate information and referrals while continuing to offer compassionate community support where suitable.
Supporting Families, Communities and Professionals
Ubuntu also provides information, awareness sessions and culturally informed learning opportunities for parents, carers, volunteers, community organisations and professionals supporting bereaved individuals and families.
Our workshops may include:
- Understanding grief and bereavement
- Supporting bereaved children and young people
- Understanding miscarriage, stillbirth and baby loss
- Communicating sensitively about death and grief
- Supporting families following the death of a child
- Cultural differences in grief, mourning and funeral practices
- Trauma-informed and compassionate bereavement support
- Supporting refugee, asylum-seeking and migrant families through grief
- Creating meaningful memories following bereavement
- Recognising when specialist or clinical support may be required
By increasing understanding and confidence within families, communities and services, Ubuntu aims to ensure that bereaved people receive compassionate, respectful, accessible and culturally appropriate support.
Our Ubuntu Approach
“Ubuntu” means: “I am because we are.”
This African philosophy is at the heart of our bereavement programme. It reminds us that healing is supported through shared humanity, compassion, meaningful relationships and community connection.
At Ubuntu, we do not aim to remove grief or expect people to “move on.” Instead, we walk alongside individuals and families as they learn to live with their loss, maintain meaningful connections with the person who died and gradually rebuild their lives.
We recognise that grief does not follow a timetable. People may need different types of support at different stages of their journey.
At Ubuntu:
- Every person is treated with dignity and compassion.
- Every story and experience of grief matters.
- Every culture, faith and tradition is respected.
- Every child and family deserves the opportunity to be heard.
- No one should have to experience grief alone.
Grief changes lives, but compassionate and culturally sensitive support can help people find connection, resilience, healing and hope. Ubuntu is here to listen, support and walk alongside you.