The Bereavement Journey® support

What is The Bereavement Journey®?

The Bereavement Journey® is a series of films and discussion groups that gently guide adults bereaved at any time through the most common aspects of grief and bereavement, enabling them to process the implications for themselves and discern next steps.  It offers 15 films to be used over 7 sessions, online or in person, usually offered weekly, and sometimes with a light meal or refreshments.  Participants do their own grief work, facilitated by volunteers.

The Bereavement Journey® uniquely offers a final session on faith questions in bereavement, provided from a Christian perspective.  This follows the main sessions and is optional, making it suitable for people of any faith or none. 

Run by AtaLoss and published in new form in September 2023, the programme has become widely respected and directed to by GPs, social prescribers and Funeral Directors and has spread to hundreds of locations across the UK due to its extraordinary results.

Topics include: Attachment, separation and loss | The impact and pain of bereavement | Anger and guilt | Coping with others’ reactions | Adjusting to change | Delayed and suppressed grief | Moving forward healthily.

  • Feb 1995 - Jane Oundjian began The Bereavement Journey® in it’s original form at Holy Trinity Brompton.

  • Oct 2018 - Rev Canon Yvonne Tulloch, founder of AtaLoss, took over the running ofThe Bereavement Journey®

  • Oct 2020 - Jane Oundjian received an MBE for bereavement services.

  • Sep 2023 - The Bereavement Journey® was published in packaged, registered form.

  • Jul 2024 – The Bereavement Journey® was awarded a UK Business Awards Care Award

  • Feb 2025 – The Bereavement Journey®’s expansion was recognised in Parliament with an Early Day Motion

  • Feb 2025 - A Mission Impact Report was published showing the programme’s remarkable results for church growth and faith.

Impact for mission

An analysis of feedback from the first 162 courses since The Bereavement Journey®’s  publication in 2023 showed:

  • All age groups are attracted: 25% aged over 70, 28% aged 61-70, 24% 51-60, 14% 41-50 and 9% 18-40

  • 39% attending with no previous church connection

  • of whom 66% are choosing to attend the optional final session on Christian faith

  • more than 95% of all age groups find the faith session of help

  • and as many as 90% of the course leaders report that some or all of their participants want to stay connected with the church afterwards, with many expressing interest in exploring faith further, being baptised or confirmed.

This is from courses run by 22 denominations and across all areas of the UK, where many had not reached the point of advertising to the public. 

See and download the Mission Impact Report here.

How can churches run The Bereavement Journey®

Everything need is available, including a Leaders’ Guide (including for online), branded publicity materials, registration and feedback forms, sample communications and training.

All churches need to do is:

  1. Gather a team (a host, a technical host if running online, as many people as possible to facilitate discussion groups, and a trained counsellor for oversight.

  2. Purchase the Starter Pack of Materials (only £25 from The Bereavement Journey website).

  3. Direct the team to the online training appropriate to them (see below) 

  4. Advertise in your community (also possible through The Bereavement Journey® website and the AtaLoss.org signposting website).

No prior knowledge is needed.  All training and support are available including:

Required training for teams:

Recommended for all team members:

Also available:

  • Opportunity to help on team of AtaLoss’ national online programme running 3 times per year, for insight and experience  (email info@thebereavementjourney.org)

  • Help in finding a Counsellor Adviser for your team from the Association of Christians in Counselling and Linked Professions  (email office@acc-UK.org)

To see testimonials, locations and find out more about The Bereavement Journey ® visit: www.thebereavementjourney.org