The Compassionate Friends
Compassionate Friends UK (TCF) is a peer support group operating in the United Kingdom. It is a registered charity formed by and for parents whose children have died, irrespective of the child's age at death and the cause of death, and is independent of any religious, philosophical or government body. It has a national helpline and area coordinators, holds local and national meetings (including residential retreats), and operates information services including advice leaflets, a web site and a postal lending library. All TCF volunteers and most of the small permanent staff are themselves bereaved parents or siblings. TCF works to improve the treatment of bereaved parents in society by educating mental health professionals and informing the public through the publication of books, creation of news reports and dissemination of stories of individual experiences through local media.,. It also co-operates with many charities and other organisations that operate within the sphere of bereavement. Traditionally, TCF volunteers organise and facilitate local groups that hold regular, free, open meetings in neutral premises. Each group follows TCF's creed, which mandates that bereaved parents, grandparents and siblings attending these meetings need not speak but are free to express their feelings. More recently TCF has also