Bereaved Parents' Club

In this podcast we chat with Vanessa May, a bereaved parent, author, grief and spiritualist life coach about supporting bereaved parents and her books 'Love Untethered: How to Live When Your Child Dies' and 'When Grief Takes Everything: A Survival Guide to Devastating Loss’. We discuss her son Harry, the shock of his death, and how writing became a way for Vanessa to process her grief.
We also talk about the physical effects of grief and trauma, including sleep, digestion, anxiety, and nervous system dysregulation, as well as the value of self-care, breathwork, journaling, nature, and support from other bereaved parents. Vanessa reflects on continuing bonds, spiritual beliefs, signs, and the comfort she found in research about mothers carrying cells from their children.
Finally, we discuss Vanessa’s later losses, including her husband of 30 years and her father, and how these experiences shaped her understanding of complex grief and trauma and how she wrote her third book during this time. Vanessa speaks about taking things one day at a time, finding small pleasures, and accepting that grief changes rather than ends.
Vanessa May, bereaved mother, grief coach, grief educator, grief, bereaved parents, Love Untethered, When Grief Takes Everything, trauma recovery, continuing bonds

In this special episode for National Bereaved Parents Day 2026  we speak with Gayle Routledge, founder and CEO of A Child of Mine.  We hear how she set up National Bereaved Parents Day on 3 July 2020 and the purpose of this year's theme - This Is My Place. 
We also hear her personal story about her son Lewis, from his neuroblastoma diagnosis and treatment to his death shortly before his third birthday.
Gayle shares how A Child of Mine began as a website and grew into a charity offering peer to peer support for bereaved families locally and online. Gayle covers the range of support the charity provides for parents, siblings, grandparents, and families affected by different types of loss.
Gayle explains the importance of the candle-lighting at 7pm on 3rd July and how they look to share parents' stories for National Bereaved Parents Day, along with this year’s butterfly installation in St Mary's Church in Stafford.  
Links:
https://achildofmine.org.uk/
https://achildofmine.org.uk/category/support/
https://www.facebook.com/achildofmine
https://www.instagram.com/achildofmine/%20

In this special collaboration episode For Dads By Dads we wanted to recognise and offer support for bereaved dads of any circumstances.
We will hear from Dads who have lost a baby, a child, a young person and an adult child.
We understand that each loss is unique but the difficulties and challenges you may be navigating right now might be similar.
We hope by hearing from different Dads it brings you some connection, support, recognition and hope of the devastating loss you are going through.
We would like to say a big thank you to all the bereaved dads who have contributed to this episode: Raj, David, Ronak, Simon, David Higson, Olly and Bryan.
We have listed organisations that the dads have mentioned and other organisations providing support to Dads on our episode listing which you can find on our web site at bereavedparentsclub.org.uk.
This episode is dedicated to Riaan Sam Jakub George Martin Evie Poppy and Dottie.

Nicola shares her heartbreaking story of her daughterLaura's bravery and determination after being diagnosed with aggressive brain cancer Glioblastoma. 
How Laura defied the initial terminal prognosis timeline, the families fight for treatment to keep Laura alive.  Nicola shares stories of Laura's bucket list which went viral. 
How Laura became a young ambassador for the Brain Tumour Charity and re-enrolled at university whilst having Chemo and completed her degree course and graduated with a 2:1.
Nicola shares the need for the narrative to change in termsof more support and recognition for sibling loss and that her other daughter Gracie now works for Sibling Support UK to help other siblings like herself.
Nicola Nuttall has become a passionate fundraiser, speaker and campaigner, fighting to raise awareness of the disease.
Her book ‘The Stars Will Still Be There’ published by Harper Collins, is an unflinchingly honest account of how the family coped with Laura’s devastating diagnosis and helped to make the most of her remaining time, reminding us all to live life to the fullest and ‘Be More Laura’ every single day.
Nicola runs The Be More Laura Foundation which funds vital research in the hope of finding kinder, more effective treatments for glioblastoma and works with organisations such as Our Brain Bank, Brain Cancer Justice and The Brain Tumour Charity to call for change in how brain tumours are treated, particularly in young adults.

Please be aware this episode will include themes of death, loss and cancer treatment.

How do you tackle wills, pensions and legacy post the death of your only child when you have little family and no future bloodline?
Tracy George's Mum shares her experience and recent difficult conversations and being four years on with still no plan?
We would be happy to hear any thoughts and what other parents and families have done?
#childloss​