Grief support for Black women
Bereavement support for Black women who have lost a partner
If you are a Black woman in the UK grieving a husband or partner, you can find peer support from women who share your heritage at African Caribbean Widows UK, and professional bereavement support from organisations such as Cruse Bereavement Support. Peer support and professional support work well together, and you can have both.
Join the communityWhy culture matters in grief
Grief is universal, but how we grieve is not. Our families, faith, food, music and customs shape how we mourn and how we are expected to mourn. When the people around you don't share that, you can end up explaining your grief instead of being held in it.
Many Black women also carry the expectation to be strong, to hold the family together, organise the funeral, look after everyone else, and keep going. A space where you can put that down, among women who understand, can make a real difference.
Peer support: women who understand
African Caribbean Widows UK is a peer community for women of African and Caribbean heritage across the UK who have lost a husband or partner. It is a place for friendship, conversation and companionship, and for remembering the people we have lost.
Professional bereavement support
If you would like to talk to a trained bereavement volunteer or counsellor, these organisations can help:
- Cruse Bereavement Support
Free helpline 0808 808 1677, plus local services and online chat.
- The Good Grief Trust
Helps you find bereavement services near you.
- At a Loss
A UK directory of bereavement support services.
- WAY Widowed and Young
For people who were 50 or under when their partner died.
- Samaritans
Call 116 123, free, any time, day or night.
You can also ask your GP about bereavement counselling in your area.
Common questions
Where can Black women find bereavement support in the UK?
For peer support from women who share your heritage, African Caribbean Widows UK is a community for widows of African and Caribbean heritage across the UK. For professional support, Cruse Bereavement Support runs a free helpline on 0808 808 1677, and your GP can tell you about local bereavement counselling.
Is grief different across cultures?
The pain of loss is shared by everyone, but how people mourn, the rituals, gatherings, faith practices and family expectations, varies a great deal between cultures. Being understood in those ways can make grief feel less isolating.
Can I get peer support and counselling at the same time?
Yes. Many people find that peer support and professional counselling complement each other.