Charities step up as UK mourns Queen Elizabeth II

The death of Queen Elizabeth II has sparked a wave of grief across Britain, with many people feeling a close attachment to the country’s longest serving monarch.

 

But her passing has also triggered feelings of loss among those whose friends or family members have died, leaving them particularly vulnerable at this time.

 

Below we detail how charities have rallied to support all those dealing with grief at this difficult time. This includes signposting specialist support offering online guidance and suggesting activities for children to help them cope.

 

In addition, charities have been directly involved in supporting those who had been queuing for hours to see the Queen’s lying-in state at the Palace of Westminster ahead of her funeral on 19 September 2022.

 

Support also includes a timely reminder to charity workers helping those impacted by loss to ensure they consider their own feelings and mental health.

 

 

Supporting vulnerable people

 

Cruse Bereavement Support has published an online package of support for people who are “deeply affected” by the Queen’s death. This includes an online dedication page for mourners, who are already dealing with personal grief, to pay their respects to the late monarch.

 

Advice being offered by the charity includes helping people to understand why they are grieving the late monarch, including people feeling as if they knew her.

 

The monarch’s death can also “bring up memories of your own bereavements. Perhaps the Queen was also special to someone you have lost, or reminds you of them”, says Cruse.

 

It adds: “Many of us are in mourning for our monarch, who has been a central part of life in Britain for so long.”

 

“As the news sinks in we may also be feeling very sad for her family, who have lost a beloved mother, grandmother and great-grandmother, and for her other relatives and friends.

 

“It can sometimes feel surprising to grieve someone we didn’t know personally. It can even feel like we don’t have the right to be so upset. But there are many reasons why you and many millions of others might be affected.”

 

 

Advice for children and families

 

Among charities to offer support to children is Scouts. It is promoting activity ideas to commemorate the Queen, who was a patron of the charity, as well as urging young people to consider issues around loss and how to express feelings around grief.

 

Ideas include creating a crown of leaves, recording a radio speech and staging a ‘royal quiz’ to celebrate the Queen’s life and achievements.

 

“As HM The Queen was the Patron of Scouts, we’re deeply saddened and share our condolences at the passing of Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II,” says the Scouts.

 

“Our thoughts are with the Royal Family at this sad time. Throughout her reign, she was an avid supporter of Scouts in the United Kingdom, across The Commonwealth and around the world. 

 

“Therefore, we know many of you will want to mark this moment. We’d like to help you do that in a way that’s as respectful and meaningful as possible.”

 

Elsewhere, the National Children’s Bureau is reminding families that “private griefs can be reawakened” during times of national mourning.

 

Its Childhood Bereavement Network is promoting a raft of support for families and support workers on coping with loss.

 

This includes advice from other charities including Winston’s Wish and Child Bereavement UK on the death of the Queen and how to talk to young people about the situation.

 

 

Protecting charity workers’ wellbeing

 

Another to focus on families at this difficult time is the National Youth Agency, which is promoting advice to youth charity workers on supporting young people impacted by grief.

 

This includes flagging up expert advice from across the charity sector, including Young Minds, on issues such as images of loss in the media, supporting teenagers and access to counselling services.

 

It is also urging charity support workers helping young people to ensure they “remember to look after yourselves too, and speak to a friend or colleague, or seek the help of a professional therapist or counsellor if needed”.

 

It says: “We also appreciate that youth workers may also be processing the news and that this may trigger an emotional response.”

 

 

Supporting queue of mourners

 

The public were able to pay their respects while the Queen was lying in state in the Palace of Westminster ahead of her funeral.

 

Many faced queues of up to 24 hours and were dealing with their own issues of family loss, as well as grief for the late Queen.

 

Fortunately, thousands of charity volunteers were on hand to support mourners as the queue snaked for miles across central London. 

 

Around 100 Scouts were on hand to help, as were Salvation Army volunteers. 

 

Samaritans’ volunteers were also available, to support any mental health challenges. Meanwhile John Ambulance volunteers were also present to provide first aid.