Gaby Eirew suffered two big bereavements in the space of a month. The experience impelled her to find a way of prompting parents to record video messages for their children.
When Gaby Eirew's father was dying from pancreatic cancer one of his last pieces of advice was: "Grieve for me for two years, after that you're grieving for yourself."
She thought she would be good at grieving. After all, she had worked as a counsellor dealing with cases of childhood trauma.
But she found herself struggling more than she had expected.
https://www.bbc.com/news/stories-47334604
Information and Support - Bereavement
If you, or someone you know, have been affected by bereavement, the following organisations may be able to help.
Phone: 0808 808 1677 (England, Wales and Northern Ireland)
0845 600 2227 (Scotland)
Visit the Cruse Bereavement Care website
Phone: 0808 808 1677 (Mon-Fri, 9:00am-5:00pm)
Visit the Hopeagain website
Phone: 0800 435 455
Visit The Bereavement Trust website
Visit the Dying Matters website
Phone: 0800 02 888 40
Visit the Child Bereavement UK website
Phone: 0800 282 986 (Mon-Fri 9am-5pm)
Visit the Child Death Helpline website
Phone: 0845 123 0345 (daily 10am-4pm and 7pm-10pm)
Northern Ireland: 028 8778 8016 (daily 10am-4pm and 7pm-9.30pm)
Visit the Compassionate Friends website
Phone: 08088 020 021
Visit the Winston's Wish website
Phone: 020 8371 8455
Visit the Grief Encounter website
You can see a list of current BBC Action Line support on the Action Line A-Z page.
When Gaby Eirew's father was dying from pancreatic cancer one of his last pieces of advice was: "Grieve for me for two years, after that you're grieving for yourself."
She thought she would be good at grieving. After all, she had worked as a counsellor dealing with cases of childhood trauma.
But she found herself struggling more than she had expected.
https://www.bbc.com/news/stories-47334604
Find out more
- Learn more about RecordMeNow in the latest People Fixing the World podcast from the BBC World Service
Essentially, they were looking for advice and guiding principles that would help them make important decisions as their lives unfolded without their parents.
Gaby also realised that they didn't want to hear the kind of sugar-coated, idealised accounts of their parents they had heard at funerals and family gatherings - they wanted raw stories, warts and all, that they could relate to.
That's why the app encourages you to talk about difficult times, says Gaby. "You need to be a three-dimensional person, not a big walking success story, which is too much for anyone to live up to. You can be troubled, that's OK, that's part of life and that will help your children when they have a difficult day."
Information and Support - Bereavement
If you, or someone you know, have been affected by bereavement, the following organisations may be able to help.
Cruse Bereavement Care
Cruse Bereavement Care provides support after the death of someone close including face to face, telephone, group support, as well as bereavement support for children.Phone: 0808 808 1677 (England, Wales and Northern Ireland)
0845 600 2227 (Scotland)
Visit the Cruse Bereavement Care website
Hopeagain
Hopeagain (Cruse for young people) - support for children and young people affected by the death of someone close.Phone: 0808 808 1677 (Mon-Fri, 9:00am-5:00pm)
Visit the Hopeagain website
The Bereavement Trust
The Bereavement Trust offers comfort, support and practical advice to the bereaved from 6pm until 10pm every evening of the year.Phone: 0800 435 455
Visit The Bereavement Trust website
Dying Matters
Dying Matters offers information on end of life and bereavement, including writing a will, funeral plans and end of life care.Visit the Dying Matters website
Child Bereavement UK
Child Bereavement UK supports families when a baby or child of any age dies or is dying, or when a child is facing bereavement.Phone: 0800 02 888 40
Visit the Child Bereavement UK website
Child Death Helpline
The Child Death Helpline offers support to anyone affected by the death of a child of any age, from prebirth to adult, under any circumstances, however recently or long ago.Phone: 0800 282 986 (Mon-Fri 9am-5pm)
Visit the Child Death Helpline website
Compassionate Friends
The Compassionate Friends offer support, understanding and comfort to bereaved siblings and parents after the death of a child, of any age, from any cause.Phone: 0845 123 0345 (daily 10am-4pm and 7pm-10pm)
Northern Ireland: 028 8778 8016 (daily 10am-4pm and 7pm-9.30pm)
Visit the Compassionate Friends website
Winston's Wish
Winston's Wish provides services to bereaved children, young people and their families and offer practical support and guidance to anyone concerned about a grieving child.Phone: 08088 020 021
Visit the Winston's Wish website
Grief Encounter
Grief Encounter provides child bereavement counselling, workbooks, a Grief Relief Kit and family days for bereaved children, young people and their families.Phone: 020 8371 8455
Visit the Grief Encounter website
Related Information and Support
If you have also been affected by caring issues, organisations listed on our Carers support page may be able to help.You can see a list of current BBC Action Line support on the Action Line A-Z page.