The National Bereavement Service

How Our Bereavement Support & Training Works

Now part of Octopus Legacy, the National Bereavement Service (NBS) is proud to offer a uniquely joined-up approach to bereavement care, combining direct support through our public-facing free helpline, dedicated employee helplines for organisations, and bereavement training designed to empower your people to communicate with, and support, bereaved people sensitively, with empathy and care.

The NBS has supported thousands of bereaved individuals and families over many years, and our specialist training programme has been developed in direct response to increasing demand from employers seeking practical, compassionate ways to support their teams, those in customer-facing roles, and customers.

Practical, Person-Centred Training

Our training reflects real workplace challenges, combining expert presentations with group exercises and interactive discussions. Every session is tailored based on your organisation’s roles, sector, and learning goals, following an initial free 30-minute scoping call.

Designed for HR professionals, people leaders, Mental Health First Aiders, and customer-facing teams, our sessions are grounded in emotional understanding and guided by the same values that shape our helpline services: compassion, clarity, and care.

Meet the Team Behind NBS

At the heart of the National Bereavement Service is a highly experienced, multidisciplinary team committed to making a difference.

Behind every helpline call, training session, and resource we deliver is a network of compassionate bereavement specialists with deep expertise spanning healthcare, legal services, local government, social care, and the charity sector. Together, we offer a seamless blend of professional insight and human empathy – supporting your people not just during training, but before and long after, as they embed their learning into real-world practice.

We’ve supported thousands of individuals through grief and loss, and that frontline experience informs everything we do, from shaping policy conversations to helping organisations foster cultures of empathy, resilience, and psychological safety.

Whether you’re engaging with our helpline, consulting on bereavement policy, or booking CPD-accredited training, you’ll feel the strength of a committed team working in step with your values, goals, and people.

How Our Bereavement Support & Training Works

What We Offer:

  • Public-facing free bereavement helpline — open to anyone needing emotional or practical support
  • Dedicated employee and customer bereavement care — tailored to your organisation
  • Bereavement training for all levels of seniority — designed for HR, leadership, MHFA, and customer-facing teams
  • Interactive delivery — online or in-person sessions built around your people
  • Customised learning plans following a free scoping meeting
  • Flexible pricing based on team size and session length

Want to learn more?

We’d love to talk about your organisation and show you how NBS can support your people through grief, whether through training, helplines, or both.

📞 Book a free discovery call
📄 Request a sample training overview
💬 Meet the team behind our helpline and training services

NBS
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