If you have been bereaved, it can be hard to imagine ever feeling happy again. Some people find it can help to have a conversation with someone who has suffered a similar bereavement and found a way to move forward positively with their life. We try to arrange this for you.

This is not a befriender service. You will talk over the phone to another bereaved person who is a Brake volunteer at an agreed time, usually only once, and know them only by their first name. They will not talk in detail about their own case, but give you a broad outline of what happened to them, and how they found it possible to feel happiness again.

Calls are facilitated and connected by your Brake helpline officer: the bereaved person you speak to will not know your full name nor be given your phone number. 

While you are talking to the Brake volunteer, the helpline officer will be listening in, so is, in effect, sitting beside you as your advocate and if necessary helping steer the conversation in a helpful direction (although generally they will be silent until the end of the call).

Brake helpline officers try to 'match' your circumstances to those of the Brake volunteer you speak to. So, for example, if you have suffered the death of a child, they will try to match you with another bereaved parent.

Calls generally last up to an hour and you are welcome to end the call at any time you feel it is appropriate or if the conversation is not proving helpful to you.

To access this service call the helpline on 0845 603 8570.