You Don't Need Perfect Words. But You Need the Right Tools.

Evidence-Based Training That Builds Confidence in Grief Support

Have You Ever...

  • Crossed the street to avoid someone who's bereaved because you didn't know what to say?
  • Said "I'm here if you need anything" but felt completely helpless when they actually did?
  • Worried you made things worse by saying the wrong thing at the wrong time?
  • Watched a colleague, student, or client struggle with grief and felt completely out of your depth?

You're not alone. And you don't have to figure this out by yourself.

When someone is grieving, the people around them often want to help but don't know how. Well-meaning phrases like "at least they didn't suffer" or "everything happens for a reason" can leave the bereaved feeling more isolated. Meanwhile, supporters are left feeling anxious, inadequate, and worried about causing harm.
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At Grief Guides, we change that. We equip you with the knowledge, language, and practical tools to show up for people during life's most challenging moments—with confidence, empathy, and skill.

What We Believe:

Grief is a universal human experience. Yet most of us are never taught how to navigate it—either for ourselves or for others.

We believe that grief support shouldn't be the exclusive domain of trained professionals. With the right tools, language, and frameworks, anyone can learn to be a Grief Guide.

We believe that grief doesn't shrink over time; life expands around it. Effective support isn't about rushing people toward "closure" or "moving on." It's about walking alongside them as they learn to carry their grief and rebuild their lives.

We believe that grief support requires both head and heart—evidence-based knowledge combined with genuine empathy, presence, and humility.

We believe that supporters need support too. We build self-care and reflective practice into everything we teach, because we know that compassion fatigue is real and burnout is preventable.

Our vision is of a world where the majority of people are able to feel psychologically safe when expressing their grief and have unrestricted access to support & resources in their homes, community & workplace. You help us achieve that when you take our training.

Ready to Become a Grief Guide?

Who This Training Is For

You Don't Need to Be a Therapist

Our training is for anyone who supports people through loss:

✓ Healthcare professionals and care workers
✓ Teachers, lecturers, and education staff
✓ HR professionals and wellbeing coordinators
✓ Managers and team leaders
✓ Charity and community workers
✓ Counsellors and therapists
✓ Volunteers and support group facilitators
✓ Faith leaders and spiritual care providers
✓ Funeral directors and bereavement service workers
✓ Anyone who wants to be there for friends and family
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No previous experience required. If you care about helping people and are willing to learn, this training is for you.
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Practical Tools, Not Just Theory

Three elements make up the Grief Guides concept:

1. The Grief Map (Physical Tool)A pocket-sized, paper-based resource you can carry everywhere. Use it as a guide during conversations to build confidence and provide structure.
2. Self-Learning Modules (Online)Accessible 24/7, designed for busy schedules. Learn at your own pace with videos, reading materials, reflective activities, and community discussion forums.
3. Live Trainer-Led Sessions (Microsoft Teams)90-minute interactive sessions with Martin. Ask questions, explore complex scenarios, and connect with other learners.

Take a tour of the innovative Grief Map

Our signature tool is a pocket-sized, paper-based guide that helps you:

Navigate difficult conversations with confidence
Recognise when someone is outside their Window of Tolerance
Know when to listen, when to act, and when to signpost

Learn specific prompts to help people explore their stories:

"What was that like for you?"
"Tell me more about..."
"How does it feel to talk about this?"
"When is that feeling strongest?"

Assess suicide risk with a clear framework.

In this video, you'll get to see what's inside the Grief Map, and how the content has been designed for maximum impact in a pocket-sized resource that can be carried everywhere.
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What do our students say...

It was an amazing session with so much thought-provoking information. It has certainly given me a deeper understanding of grief. You are both very inspiring and your knowledge exceptional… to have that practical information and guidance was amazing.
Adult Social Care & Health Team, Derbyshire County Council
Thank you for these two sessions, they were so informative, and something I am sure we will all be using in our client work going forwards. Trudie’s delivery was first class, I am a qualified counsellor, but I learnt so much. The content was very thought provoking.
Pathway Counselling Service
The session really was fantastic, I wasn’t too sure what to expect and I’m so happy I decided to join, it was really helpful and thought provoking and fantastically delivered. It’s always so valuable and appreciated learning from someone so knowledgeable and with lived experience.
Community Team, St. Luke’s Hospice
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Marcus Long, whose personal loss became the foundation for BS 30480, shares why he believes every organisation - and individual - can find something in this standard to make a positive difference.

Grief Guides are proud to back the UK's First National Standard for Suicide and the Workplace

As named contributors to BS 30480 - the UK's first national standard for suicide and the workplace - we're creating accessible tools to help organisations of all sizes implement this vital guidance, making meaningful change achievable. 

Whether you're a small business owner or leading a large organisation, our collaborative approach centres on practical guidance, lived experience, and specialist expertise in grief, neurodivergence, and suicide postvention.

Coming soon: tailored resources, training pathways, and support designed to make implementation achievable for every workplace.

Find out more on our BS 30480 page.

Generate Revenue For Your Organisation By Offering Grief Guides Training

We've built our business model with collaboration in mind, creating opportunities for organisations to partner with us and expand access to grief education. With our experience of working & volunteering in the charity sector, we've developed an affiliate programme designed to help you generate revenue - supporting volunteer training costs and keeping your core services running.

As an affiliate, you'll have access to the Grief Guides system to train your team or volunteers, and you can also offer a comprehensive grief education course to clients and service users. If you're looking to raise funds by providing grief training in your local community or through partnerships with local businesses, we offer both branded and non-branded options to suit your needs. 

Suitable for each organisation's needs

Our initial grief map has been designed to be both comprehensive and suitable for most needs, but there are some industries and charities that will require a slightly different, enhanced focus. In collaboration we are developing a range of maps to meet these needs. If you would like to discuss how this works, please call Martin.

Delivered sensitively, keeping trainees psychologically safe.

Topics surrounding death, grief & loss can be challenging to talk about, but we have experience in how to create a safe training environment where learners can thrive, whether that is in our live sessions, or in the self-learning content and the community that will develop there.

Relatable and transferable knowledge.

The insights you will get in this training will be helpful across your life, from work to community to family. Grief is a part of the human condition, but when we learn how to adapt and grow around our grief, the less life complications we encounter. 

Grief Guides is proud to support - and be supported by:
When you sign up for our training through these affiiate links, part of the fee will go back to the organisation, supporting their amazing work. Click on each logo to read more about what they do and sign up for Grief Guides training using their affiliate programme.

Grief Guides is an innovative, affordable and scaleable solution

Due to the flexible modular components of Grief Guides, we are able to ripple the knowledge and skills right to the edge of your workplace and deep into the community.

The map is a tool to build upon, refer to and use as a guide throughout your supportive conversations, giving you confidence and insights to share.

The self-learning modules will continually grow and evolve, remaining accessible and contemporary. 

The trainer-led sessions will be conducted at flexible times, to meet your needs and schedule, providing an opportunity to deepen the learning, connect and ask questions.

This compliments, rather than competes with, existing support structures

The ability to empower people on the frontline of your organisation means that the knowledge is not limited to a few core people, it is equally distributed.

This means that support, if offered in a timely and empathic way, by someone you know will make an incredible difference to the healing process.

Your clients, service users and customers will all benefit from a grief aware workforce.



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As experienced grief educators, we have seen firsthand the challenges that can become barriers in existing training solutions. As we've built our training system, we've factored in ways of addressing these challenges, as explained below. 
Grief Guides Ltd. Studio Suite L Market Hall, Market Place Chesterfield, S40 1AR.
Phone number: +44 7593 790399
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