NGAS - National Grief Advice Service

23/03/2026

20/03/2026

Weathering the Storm Through Grief
Grief can feel overwhelming — like being caught in a storm with no clear path forward. The waves of emotion, the uncertainty, the loneliness… it can all feel too much.

But you don’t have to face it alone.
At National Grief Advice Service (NGAS), we are here to support you through every stage of your journey.

Whether your loss is recent or something you’ve been carrying for years, our compassionate team is ready to listen, guide, and help you find steady ground again.

There is no “right way” to grieve — only your way.

And we’re here to walk beside you.

Reach out today:

🌐 www.nationalgriefadvice.com⁠�
📞 0300 13 123 53

National Grief Advice Service
Here when you need us most.

18/03/2026

🌈 Volunteers Wanted – Join Our LGBT+ Grief Support Community 🌈

At National Grief Advice Service (NGAS), we are creating a safe, inclusive space for individuals within the LGBT+ community to come together, share experiences, and feel truly understood through grief and loss.

We are now looking for compassionate, open-minded volunteers to become part of this important group.

This is more than just volunteering — it’s about being part of a community that makes a real difference.

💬 As a volunteer, you will:
• Offer a listening ear in a safe and supportive environment
• Help facilitate gentle conversations and group discussions
• Support activities and help create a welcoming atmosphere
• Be part of a team that values empathy, respect, and inclusion

🌿 Why this matters

Grief within the LGBT+ community can often be complex. Many people experience loss that is not always fully recognised or understood by others — whether that’s the loss of a partner, chosen family, identity struggles, or life experiences.

Having a space where people feel seen, heard, and accepted for who they are is incredibly powerful.

Talking about grief — in all its forms — can help reduce isolation, build connection, and support healing. Your presence could be the reason someone feels less alone.

💛 If you are someone who cares, listens without judgement, and wants to support others, we would love to hear from you.

👉 Apply here: https://www.nationalgriefadvice.com/volunteer

Be part of something meaningful.
Be part of the change.
Be part of the community.

17/03/2026

🌙 Waking in the Night While Grieving? Gentle Tips to Help You Sleep Again

Many people who are grieving find that night-time can be the hardest. You may wake up in the early hours with racing thoughts, sadness, or a sense of emptiness. This is very common — grief often disrupts sleep and many bereaved people struggle with insomnia or frequent night awakenings.

If you find yourself awake in the night, here are some gentle tips that may help you settle back to sleep.

💛 1. Breathe slowly and calmly
Try slow breathing, focusing on each inhale and exhale. This can calm the nervous system and reduce the intensity of anxious or overwhelming thoughts.

💛 2. Don’t watch the clock
Checking the time repeatedly can increase stress and make it harder to fall back asleep. If you wake up, keep the lights low and try to relax rather than worrying about the time.

💛 3. Quiet your mind with simple thoughts
If your mind is racing, gently distract it. Some people find it helpful to imagine random objects, peaceful places, or calming memories to stop rumination.

💛 4. Keep a comforting routine
A simple bedtime routine can help signal to your brain that it is safe to rest. Warm drinks, gentle music, or reading something familiar may help your body relax.

💛 5. If sleep won’t come, be kind to yourself
If you can’t sleep after a while, try getting up briefly and doing something quiet like reading or listening to calming audio until you feel sleepy again.

💛 6. Remember: disturbed sleep is part of grief
Grief can affect both the mind and body. Trouble sleeping, waking in the night, and vivid dreams are common experiences when coping with loss.

Most importantly, please remember you don’t have to cope alone. Support can make a huge difference during grief.

🤝 National Grief Advice
🌐 www.nationalgriefadvice.com
📞 0300 13 123 53

If you’re struggling with grief, reaching out for support can help you feel less alone.

16/03/2026

📞 The Wind Phone – A Place to Say the Words Left Unsaid

Have you ever said:
"I wish I could have just one more conversation with them."

Around the world, many people carry words they never had the chance to say to someone they loved.

In 2010, a Japanese garden designer named Itaru Sasaki created a simple but powerful place for grief in the town of Ōtsuchi, Japan. After losing his cousin, he placed an old telephone booth in his garden with a disconnected rotary phone inside. He called it the “Wind Phone” — because he believed the words spoken into the receiver would be carried away on the wind.

The phone wasn’t connected to anything.
But it allowed people to speak their thoughts, their love, and their grief out loud.

After the devastating 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami, which claimed nearly 20,000 lives, Mr. Sasaki opened the phone to the public. Thousands of grieving people travelled there to pick up the receiver and talk to the loved ones they had lost.

Since then, the Wind Phone has become a powerful symbol of healing and remembrance, inspiring hundreds of similar spaces across the world where people can sit quietly, reflect, and speak the words that remain in their hearts.

🌬 A Wind Phone at National Grief Advice Service

At National Grief Advice Service, we understand how important it can be to express those unspoken feelings.

That is why we have created our own Wind Phone, located in a private and peaceful space, where anyone experiencing grief can come and take time to talk, reflect, and remember.

You may wish to say:

the goodbye you never had

the “I love you” you still carry

the forgiveness you wanted to give

or simply share a memory

There is no right or wrong way to use the Wind Phone.

Sometimes, just speaking the words aloud can bring comfort.

💙 If you feel you need that moment, you are welcome to visit and use the Wind Phone.

Because grief doesn’t end — but sometimes it helps to let the wind carry the words.

16/03/2026

🌿 Support at National Grief Advice Service (NGAS)

At National Grief Advice Service, we understand that everyone experiences grief differently. That’s why we offer a range of supportive services, allowing people to choose the help that feels right for them.

Our Services

🔹 BACP Accredited Counselling
Delivered by fully qualified, insured, and professionally trained counsellors providing confidential therapeutic support.

🔹 Student Counsellors
We work with final-year counselling students from universities and colleges, who are completing their training and are fully supervised by qualified professionals.

🔹 Befriending Service
A compassionate listening service for those who simply need someone to talk to. Befrienders are not counsellors and do not give advice, but provide support and understanding.

🔹 One-to-One & Group Support
We offer activity-based sessions and grief support groups, delivered by a mixture of qualified professionals and trained volunteers, depending on the group.

Our Commitment to You

💜 Safety and wellbeing always come first.
💜 We provide a respectful, supportive, and professional environment.
💜 We do not charge fees for counselling.
💜 We do not encourage anyone to move to paid counselling services.
💜 Our service is available to support people during the cost of living challenges many are facing.
💜 Donations are welcomed but never expected.
💜 All support is provided in-house — we do not distribute leaflets promoting paid third-party services.

At NGAS, our aim is simple:
To provide a safe, compassionate space where people experiencing grief can receive the support they need.

National Grief Advice Service
Supporting people through grief with dignity, care, and compassion.

16/03/2026

🌿 Your Privacy Matters at NGAS

At NGAS – National Grief Advice Service, we understand how important privacy, safety, and trust are when accessing support.

To reassure everyone using our centre:

🔹 There is NO CCTV in any counselling rooms.
🔹 CCTV is NOT in operation during any group sessions or one-to-one support.
🔹 CCTV operates outside of opening hours only for building security.

Your conversations, support sessions, and time with us remain completely private and confidential.

We are committed to providing a safe, respectful, and supportive environment for everyone experiencing grief.

💜 National Grief Advice Service (NGAS)
Supporting people through loss with care, dignity, and compassion.

15/03/2026

🌸 Mother’s Day – Remembering, Reflecting, and Supporting One Another

Mother’s Day can be a beautiful day for many, but for others it can bring a mixture of emotions.

Today may bring memories of mothers we have loved and lost.

It may remind us of mothers we are no longer able to speak to.
It may be a day of quiet reflection for relationships that were complicated or difficult.

Grief comes in many forms, and days like today can stir memories, feelings, and moments we thought we had tucked away.

If today feels heavy, please remember you are not alone.

At National Grief Advice Service, we are here to listen and support you. Whether you need someone to talk to, guidance through grief, or simply reassurance that your feelings are valid, we are here.

🌐 www.nationalgriefadvice.com⁠
📞 0300 131 2353

💙 If you would like to, please feel welcome to share a memory of your mum, a message, or a Mother's Day wish in the comments.

Sometimes sharing memories helps keep those we love close to our hearts