Campaign: introduce content on bereavement to the national curriculum

SAIF members are being encouraged to support a campaign to include content on dying and bereavement in the schools’ national curriculum.

The initiative is the brainchild of Shropshire independent funeral director John Adams, of Perry & Phillips in Bridgnorth, and if successful will make a difference to the 111 UK children who lose a parent every day.

At the heart of the campaign is a UK Government and Parliament Petition, which is calling for schools to provide by law “age-appropriate education to help children understand death as a part of life, as part of compulsory Relationships education.”

At the time of writing, the petition had attracted nearly 9,000 signatures. At 10,000 signatures, the Government will respond to the petition’s demands and at 100,000 it will be considered for debate in the House of Commons.

The webpage for the petition states: “Talking about death can be helpful for children and issues of bereavement should be compulsory learning for children in preparation for life as an adult.

“Children are taught how life begins through the national curriculum and similarly we should not hide from equipping children the skills to comprehend death. Children must be provided with the skills to comprehend loss and to prepare for the emotions and feelings that accompany a bereavement which at some point, we all have to face.”

John, who is also President of the NAFD, has approached SAIF to support the campaign – something we are more than happy to do.

The petition can be signed here. Once signed please circulate among your contacts.