Bereavement charity launches animated films to help explain funerals to children

A bereavement charity has launched two animated short films to help explain to children what happens at a funeral and answer some of the questions they may have about burials and cremations.

The launch coincides with Children’s Grief Awareness Week (17 to 23 November) which highlights the needs of bereaved children and young people in the UK.

Child Bereavement UK said that both the recent death of HM The Queen and the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on families have highlighted the need for “open and honest conversations about death, dying and funerals” with children. Yet a recent report by the UK Commission on Bereavement identified how taboos around grief, and uncertainties around knowing how to help, inhibit support through our communities.

The two films, which explain what happens at a burial and a cremation were made with funding from funeral directors F. A. Albins and Sons, and Memoria respectively. F. A. Albins and Sons is a family funeral directors established over 230 years ago. Memoria owns a network of crematoria and memorial parks across the UK.

Clare Bullen, head of Clinical Services at Child Bereavement UK, said: “One of the most frequent questions that is asked by callers to Child Bereavement UK’s Helpline is ‘How do I explain a burial or a cremation to my child?’. Funerals can be a challenging subject that many people find difficult to talk about; our aim is to support families by providing clear and honest information in short films they can watch together, helping to answer children’s questions and facilitate useful conversations within the family.

“Many children we have supported at Child Bereavement UK tell us that they welcomed the opportunity to be included in the funeral to say goodbye to someone special to them who had died. We hope that these new animations will go some way to allay any concerns and help children feel better prepared for what will happen on the day.”