Resources and support when someone is dying
There are many organisations and support groups that can help you cope when you are dying with cancer. They can also help the people close to you.
Cancer Research UK information and support
Cancer Research UK is the largest cancer research organisation in the world outside the USA. We fund research on all aspects of cancer from its causes to prevention and treatment.
We are committed to producing high quality information for people affected by cancer. As well as looking at the information on this website you can call our nurse freephone helpline on 0808 800 4040. They are available from Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm. Or you can send them a question online.
Cancer Chat is our online forum where you can share experiences.
Bereavement and grief organisations
Cruse provides bereavement counselling. It offers help, support and information to anyone facing bereavement or who has been bereaved. It has a network of local branches throughout the UK.
Helpline: 0808 808 1677
Grief encounter is one of the leading providers of support services for bereaved children and their families throughout the UK. Their website has resources and information for bereaved children and teenagers.
Helpline: 020 8371 8455 (Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm)
Email: contact@griefencounter.org.uk
This organisation aims to support you through your bereavement, connect you with others who have experienced something similar and help you get the information and assistance you need.
Phone: 0300 200 4112
Email: hello@thelossfoundation.org
This site is designed to guide you through the practical side of bereavement. It has advice on arranging a funeral and dealing with the legal and financial issues. They offer a service to stop your loved ones unwanted mail after their death.
Telephone: 0800 0246 121 (Monday to Friday 9am - 6pm and Saturday 9am - 4pm)
Sue Ryder’s Online Bereavement Support makes it easy to connect with the right support from your computer, tablet or smartphone. They provide free one-to-one professional support, expert information and resources, and an online forum where you can talk to others in a similar situation.
Bereavement support for children, teenagers and young adults
This organisation has a range of resources to support bereaved families, including booklets, leaflets and books. There is a section on their website with information about dying and bereavement for young people. Their website has a forum for people to share experiences.
Helpline: 0800 02 888 40
Email: helpline@childbereavementuk.org
The Childhood Bereavement Network (CBN) is the hub for those working with bereaved children, young people and their families across the UK. They can help you find support in your local area.
This organisation provides resources for children who have a parent with cancer. The resources aim to help children understand about cancer and treatment. They include kits, books and other practical tools.
Hope Again is the youth website of Cruse Bereavement Support. It is a safe place where you can learn from other young people, how to cope with grief, and feel less alone.
Hope is a UK charity. It supports children and young people when a close family member has a serious illness, such as cancer.
Hope provides a free, safe online service for people aged 5-25. Hope Online includes a peer support community. Young people can share experiences and ways to cope.
Email: help@hopesupport.org.uk
Tel: 01989 566317
The Ruth Strauss foundation raises awareness of lung cancer. They also provide emotional support for families to prepare for the death of a parent.
This UK based organisation provides support for children who's parent or sibling has died.
Helpline: 08088 020 021
Organisations and websites for people with advanced cancer
Provides information around the rights and choices associated with having 'a good death' as well as free templates for compiling an advance decision. Also conducts research into rights and choices at end of life.
Phone: 0800 999 2434, open Monday to Friday, 10am - 4pm
Email: info@compassionindying.org.uk
The Funeral Guide website gives practical advice about what to do when someone dies. It includes information about finding a funeral director, organising a funeral, what if someone dies overseas, legal and financial issues. It has a comprehensive list of funeral directors and other organisations that can help you.
72 Paris St
Exeter
EX1 2JY
Email: support@funeralguide.co.uk
An online comprehensive guide to planning a funeral. It covers what to do after a death, how to organise a funeral, and how to deal with legalities and financial issues. It also lists a number of organisations to help you.
The Good Funeral Guide website is run by a not-for-profit social enterprise company. The website provides information about funerals and has a recommended list of funeral directors. The company visit funeral directors and assess their services every 3 years.
8 Savay Close
Denham Green
UB9 5NQ
Hospice UK answers enquiries about any aspect of hospice care. The website includes a directory of hospice services in the UK and Ireland.
34 - 44 Britannia Street
London
WC1X 9JG
Telephone: 0207 520 8200
Maggie’s is a national charity with centres across the UK. They offer care and support to people affected by cancer. Each centre is beside an NHS cancer hospital and is run by specialist staff.
You can join a support group, take part in weekly sessions like relaxation and stress management, or learn about nutrition and health. You can also visit just to have a cup of tea and a friendly chat.
Phone: 0300 123 1801
Email: enquiries@maggies.org
This section of the NHS website contains information about what you can expect during end of life care and the things you may want to think about. These include how and where you want to be cared for and financial issues.
The Resuscitation Council (UK) website has detailed information on decisions about resuscitation and your rights.
Address:
5th Floor
Tavistock House North
Tavistock Square
London
WC1H 9HR
Phone: 020 7388 4678 (10 am - 4 pm, Monday - Friday)
Gives support and information to help people die naturally at home. Advises on arranging inexpensive and environmentally friendly funerals. Also provides counselling.
Phone: 01962 712 690
Email: rosie@naturaldeath.org.uk
Specific symptoms organisations
A charity that is being run entirely by volunteers. They provide support, advice, and help to people affected by chronic pain and those close to them.
Telephone helpline (Painline): 0345 603 1593 (Monday to Friday from 10am to 4pm)
Email: aopisat@btinternet.com
Write to: Action on Pain, 2 Mill Close, Terrington St Clement, Norfolk, PE34 4JG
Breast Cancer Now is a charity dedicated to funding breast cancer research. They also provide breast cancer information and support across the UK. Services are free and include a helpline, website, publications, and practical and emotional support. It was formed by the merger of The Breast Cancer Campaign and Breakthrough Breast Cancer in 2015.
Breast Cancer Now
Ibex House
42 - 47 Minories
London
EC3N 1DY
Tel: 0333 20 70 300
E-mail: hello@breastcancernow.org
Ask a nurse: Contact form
The BLS is mainly for health professionals caring for people with lymphoedema. They aim to encourage research and produce guidelines.
Address:
The Garth House
Rushey Lock
Tadpole Bridge
Buckland Marsh
Nr Faringdon
Oxfordshire
SN7 8RF
Telephone: 01452 790178
This is a UK support group for people with a colostomy. It provides information and support and booklets to anyone who has or is about to have a colostomy.
Free helpline: 0800 328 4257 (24 hrs a day, 7 days a week)
Email: hello@colostomyuk.org
General enquires: 0118 939 1537 (between 09:00 and 17:00)
A registered charity that aims to improve the lives of those with lymphoedema. They actively contribute to improving the management of lymphoedema worldwide, especially in developing countries. They have a number of booklets that can be downloaded free of charge. Their head office is in Denmark.
Email: info@lympho.org
Tel: 0045 7020 0305 (International phone number from the UK)
A national charity offering information and support to anyone affected by lymphoedema. It has local support groups, a helpline and a website. It also produces a range of information including factsheets about lymphoedema and its treatment, videos about self management techniques for lymphoedema, and a newsletter.
Telephone: 020 7351 4480
Email: admin@lsn.org.uk
MLD UK promotes public awareness of Manual Lymphatic Drainage (MLD). They publish a register of practitioners of MLD.
Telephone: 0844 800 1988
Email: admin@mlduk.org.uk
A support group for anyone who suffers from chronic pain. They deliver self management training to help those with chronic pain.
Freephone: 0800 783 6059 (Monday to Friday, 8.30 am to 4.30 pm)
Email: info@painassociation.com
Pain Concern offers information and support to people with pain and those who care for them. They run a helpline staffed by volunteers and have an online forum called HealthUnlocked for members to share experiences. You can listen to podcasts that feature interviews with experts and people managing their pain. You can also subscribe to their newsletter, Pain Matters.
Helpline: 0300 123 0789
Email: help@painconcern.org.uk
This organisation provides information and support for people who need artificial feeding. They also have regional support groups for PINNT members.
PO Box 3126
Christchurch
Dorset
BH23 2XS
Telephone: 020 3004 6193
Email: comms@pinnt.com
Organisations that provide equipment
British Red Cross services vary in different parts of the country. They provide medical equipment, transport and hospital escort services, home emergency personal care and home respite care. There are branches throughout the UK.
Support Line: 0808 196 3651 (Monday to Friday 10am to 5pm, Wednesday 10am to 8pm)
Offers mobility aids at low cost to help both elderly people and disabled adults and children. Has an extensive range of daily living aids and disability equipment.
Complete Care Shop
330 Four Oaks Rd
Walton Summit Centre
Preston
PR5 8AP
Phone: 03330 160 000 (Monday - Friday: 9am - 5pm)
Email: customerservice@completecareshop.co.ukk
This is an online shop for daily living equipment for the disabled community, older people, or those who look after people with difficulty getting around.
Email: customerservice@essentialaids.com
Phone: 01273 719 889
Living Made Easy is part of the Shaw Trust. It provides information and advice on equipment and aids to help with daily living.
Organisations that can help with issues of sex and sexuality
College of Sexual and Relationship Therapists (COSRT) provides information about what help and therapy is available for sexual difficulties.
Telephone: 020 8106 9635
Email: info@cosrt.org.uk
Prostate Cancer UK provides information and support to anyone with concerns about prostate cancer. They have a helpline, produce information and fund research into prostate cancer.
Contact form
Helpline: 0800 074 8383
Relate offers private and confidential counselling, and psychosexual therapy to help with relationship problems. They provide counselling over the phone, through a webcam or face to face at a Relate centre. Clients are asked to contribute towards the cost of their counselling sessions according to their income.
Organisations and websites for carers
Donating in someone’s name is a special way to honour their memory. Every pound helps fund life-saving research.
This is part of the NHS website. It can help you with information about caring for someone else.
Provides information and support, including advice on financial support to carers. The website has a search function to find local support in your area.
Gives information and support to carers on many issues. Has local groups all over the UK. The head office puts you in touch with your local group.
Helpline: 0808 808 7777 (Open Monday to Friday, 10am - 4pm)
Email: advice@carersuk.org
Telephone: 0121 711 1343
Email: info@nafd.org.uk
Advises on arranging funerals. Gives information on the services provided by funeral directors and advises on what to do after someone has died. Has a list of funeral directors across the UK
Nursing home advice and information
Age UK provides information, advice and support for people in later life.
7th Floor
One America Square
17 Crosswall
London
EC3N 2LB
Advice line: 0800 678 1602 (8am-7pm, 365 days a year)
This organisation provides independent advice about care homes in the UK and Ireland, including a directory listing homes by geographic region.
Phone: 01483 203066
General support and information organisations
An independent network that provides free advice about money, legal issues, housing health and social welfare issues. Often provides advice in English and other languages.
Disability Rights UK provides an information and advice service and campaigns for disabled people's rights.
They also provide a Just Can't Wait card and radar keys that give access to toilets throughout the UK for people who might need to use a toilet in a hurry. They also have several helplines providing information and advice.
General enquires phone: 0330 995 0400
Email: enquiries@disabilityrightsuk.org
Family Action helps families with the most complex and difficult issues they are facing. This includes financial difficulties, mental health problems, social isolation, learning disabilities, domestic abuse, or substance misuse and alcohol problems.
Phone: 0808 802 6666 (Monday to Friday, 9am to 9pm)
Text: 07537 404 282
Macmillan Cancer Support is a charity that gives practical, medical and financial support to people with cancer in the UK. Its helpline gives guidance on cancer and advice on benefits. It also publishes booklets about cancer and treatments. Information is available in other languages.
Freephone: 0808 808 00 00 (7 days a week, 8am to 8pm)
Contact email form
For general health advice and information.
NHS 111 gives information if you need fast medical help but it's not a 999 emergency.
Phone: 111
NHS 24 is a website for people in Scotland. It has information about:
- 111 - If you need urgent health advice when your GP Practice or Dental Surgery is closed
- NHS Inform - which is Scotland's health information service. It offers quality assured health and care information via a website and phone service
SCOPE
SCOPE is a disability equality charity in England and Wales. They provide practical information and emotional support when it's most needed. They also campaign to create a fairer society.
Phone: 0808 800 3333
Email: helpline@scope.org.uk
