‘Talking openly about death is essential for children’s wellbeing,' says charity
The Never Alone Project supports parents in having open, honest conversations about grief
Last updated 11th Feb 2026
Northamptonshire-based bereavement charity, The Never Alone Project (TNAP), is highlighting the importance of adults, including parents and educators, talking openly about grief with children.
The charity helps adults and children to have ''difficult'' conversations around death and grief to better support young people's mental health and help them to manage the complex emotions that they may be experiencing.
TNAP's monthly therapy workshops offer targeted support for children referred to their services. Through various activities like drumming workshops, mindfulness painting, and games afternoons, these sessions provide children and young people with a safe space to express their emotions and connect with their feelings.
Ilze Lee, founder of TNAP, emphasises that recognising the physical and emotional impacts of grief is essential for creating a supportive environment. She said: "Grief affects us physically, mentally, and in all areas of our life."
Lee set up the project after going through grief herself and helping her children through the same pain. She wanted to make sure young people had somewhere safe to talk about their feelings and that parents had support in approaching these tough conversations.
''It's healthy for our children to know that all emotions are normal and it's okay.''
''Grief affects us physically, mentally and in every area of our lives. It can impact school, friendships and sleep, and it can show up physically through things like tummy pain or headaches.''
Lee highlighted how important it is for children to know they’re allowed to feel and show their grief. "Children need to know that it's safe to grieve, that it's okay to let those emotions out, that it's okay to talk about the person who died."
Lee said there’s often a sense of discomfort when talking to children about death: "I think death is really hard to talk about in general.
“One of the main reasons we struggle to talk to children about death is because we want to protect them. We love them and don’t want them to feel hurt, so we end up trying to shield them from it.”
Lee advocates for schools to prepare for discussions about bereavement, suggesting that teachers can help normalise these conversations within the classroom setting. She explained: "I think every school should be prepared for death and bereavement... because, it happens...it's part of life.''
''The more we normalise talking about death and about grief the better it is for our children.''
Supporting parents as they navigate grief is also part of TNAP's holistic approach. Initiatives like walk-and-talk sessions provide adults with opportunities to explore their grief, equipping them to guide their children through bereavement.
By fostering open conversations about grief, TNAP believes schools and families can help children better understand and cope with their emotions surrounding loss.
For further information and support visit the The Never Alone Project's website