The Edward's Trust Podcast

In Episode 2 of The Edward’s Trust Podcast, host Ed Nell speaks with Steve, Senior Counsellor, Children and Young Persons Counsellor and Clinical Support and Standards Lead at Edward’s Trust. Drawing on almost 25 years with the charity, Steve explains what bereavement counselling actually looks like, why grief is different for every individual and how Edward’s Trust tailors support around each person’s needs.

Key Takeaways

Everybody Grieves Differently:

There is no single way to experience grief. Steve explains that even people who have experienced exactly the same loss can react very differently, describing grief as something as unique as a fingerprint.

Grief Does Not Always Look Like Sadness:

One of the biggest misconceptions is that grief always presents itself through tears or visible emotion. Particularly with teenage boys and young men, Steve often sees grief appear through changes in behaviour, anger or difficulties at school.

The First Session Is About Trust:

For someone who has never experienced counselling before, taking that first step can feel daunting. Steve says a successful first session is often simply one where the person feels heard, safe and comfortable enough to want to return.

Counselling Is Tailored to the Individual:

There is no rigid programme or weekly checklist. Sessions are shaped around the individual, their age and what they feel ready to talk about. Younger children may use drawing, painting and creative activities, while older teenagers and adults may prefer conversation.

Support Lasts for as Long as It Is Needed:

Unlike some time-limited services, Edward’s Trust allows people to continue receiving support while they still feel they need it. Progress is monitored throughout the process, with the goal of helping people reach a point where they feel able to manage without ongoing counselling.

Support Can Happen in Different Ways:

Counselling does not always have to happen face to face. Edward’s Trust also offers telephone and online support, as well as a blended approach, giving young people and adults greater flexibility around university, work and other commitments.

Helping People Understand Their Grief:

Part of the work is educational, helping people recognise that some of the emotions and reactions they are experiencing are a normal part of grief. Understanding this can make frightening or confusing feelings easier to process.

Support Beyond the Counselling Room:

Edward’s Trust also works with schools and community organisations, offering guidance, staff training, individual support and group sessions following bereavements.

Key Moments“Everybody grieves differently.”“A bit like your fingerprint, it’s quite unique.”“If somebody leaves after that initial hour together and they feel that they want to come back and see me again, then that’s a good first session.”“My job isn’t to stop them being sad, because actually it’s impossible — and it’s normal.”“It’s hoping that things can calm down to a level where people feel like they can manage this on their own without our support.”

About Edward's Trust

Edward’s Trust is a specialist bereavement charity supporting children, young people and adults affected by the death of someone close to them. Founded in 1989 following the death of Edward Dent, the charity has spent decades helping individuals and families through some of the most difficult moments in their lives.

Through counselling, wellbeing support, groups and other specialist services, Edward’s Trust provides a safe and supportive environment where people can talk, process their grief and begin to move forward in a way that is right for them.

Contact Edward's Trust

Website: https://edwardstrust.org.uk/

Bereavement support: 0121 454 1705

Fundraising team: 0121 454 1705

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In Episode 3 of The Edward’s Trust Podcast, host Ed Nell speaks with Richard Page, ambassador and long-time supporter of Edward’s Trust, about the sudden death of his daughter Natalie, the support he and his family received, and how that experience led to more than two decades of fundraising for the charity. Richard reflects openly on grief, counselling, family relationships and why he now uses his own story to help others feel less alone.

Key Takeaways

Grief Can Turn Life Upside Down:

After Natalie died suddenly from a brain haemorrhage aged just 22, Richard describes being overwhelmed by shock, anger, confusion and grief. He stopped working for more than a year and struggled to make sense of a life that had changed completely.

Having Someone Independent to Talk To Can Make a Huge Difference:

Richard explains that one of the most valuable things Edward’s Trust gave him was access to someone outside the family who could listen, empathise and also challenge him when needed. That support helped him begin to look towards the future again.

Grief Is Individual, but Nobody Has to Face It Alone:

Richard recalls feeling as though nobody else could possibly understand what he was going through. Realising that other people had experienced similar feelings became an important part of his recovery and now motivates him to support others.

There Is No Quick Fix for Grief:

Richard challenges the idea that “time is a great healer”. For him, meaningful recovery came through ongoing support, difficult conversations and gradually rebuilding the strength to move forward. He received counselling through Edward’s Trust for around 18 months.

Turning Support into Fundraising:

After receiving help from Edward’s Trust, Richard wanted to give something back. What began with a charity golf day has developed into more than 20 years of fundraising, with the event and his wider efforts raising over £250,000 for the charity.

Sharing Stories Helps Break Down Barriers:

As an ambassador, Richard regularly speaks to businesses, schools, charities and community groups. He believes being open about grief, particularly as a man, can encourage others to talk about their own experiences and seek support.

Children May Express Grief Very Differently:

Richard also shares how his grandchildren experienced the loss of their mum in very different ways. Their experiences highlight the importance of age-appropriate support, including play, creative activities and other ways of helping children express feelings they may not yet have the words for.

Support Does Not Have to End With Counselling:

Through the Friends of Edward’s Trust network, people who have used the charity’s services can continue building relationships and supporting one another after formal counselling has finished.

Key Moments“I think it was the fact that somebody wanted to listen to me.”“Time is a great healer. Well, it isn’t.”“For a guy to stand up and be prepared to be vulnerable and shed a tear and tell his story… hopefully that connects with people.”“Seek some help. Trust in the process.”“Stick in there, because you’re not alone.”

About Edward's Trust

Edward’s Trust is a specialist bereavement charity supporting children, young people and adults affected by the death of someone close to them. Founded in 1989 following the death of Edward Dent, the charity has spent decades helping individuals and families through some of the most difficult moments in their lives.

Through counselling, wellbeing support, groups and other specialist services, Edward’s Trust provides a safe and supportive environment where people can talk, process their grief and begin to move forward in a way that is right for them.

Contact Edward's Trust

Website: https://edwardstrust.org.uk/

Bereavement support: 0121 454 1705

Fundraising team: 0121 454 1705

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In Episode 4 of The Edward’s Trust Podcast, host Ed Nell speaks with Diane, who shares the deeply personal story of losing her 18-year-old daughter Alice suddenly to cardiomyopathy. Diane talks about the shock of bereavement, the two years of support she received from Edward’s Trust, and how she has gradually learned to live alongside her grief while rebuilding a full and meaningful life.

Key Takeaways

Grief Can Feel Like Being Cast Adrift:

Diane describes the early days after Alice’s death as being thrown into an ocean with no idea which way to turn. Edward’s Trust became a lifeline, giving her a safe place to begin processing what had happened.

Sometimes You Know You Need Support:

Although Diane had previously been reluctant to consider therapy, losing Alice felt completely different. Within a few weeks, she contacted Edward’s Trust and began counselling, describing it as a space to talk, cry, grieve and simply be.

Counselling Is About More Than the Bereavement Itself:

Diane’s sessions covered not only the loss of Alice, but also family relationships, friendships, her other children and wider parts of her life. She explains that grief becomes woven into everything, making it impossible to separate from the rest of your experiences.

Grief Does Not Shrink — Life Grows Around It:

One of the most powerful ideas Diane learned was that grief does not necessarily get smaller over time. Instead, your life gradually becomes bigger around it as you build new experiences, coping mechanisms and ways of living.

Support Can Continue Beyond Counselling:

As Diane prepared to finish formal counselling, she was worried about suddenly losing that support. Joining Friends of Edward’s Trust, fundraising and taking on practical projects gave her another way to remain connected and supported.

Finding Lifelines and Purpose:

Today, Diane fills her life with family, friends, travel, modelling, volunteering, gardening and creative projects. She describes these as additional “lifelines” that help her continue living with grief.

Remembering Alice Brings Comfort:

Diane shares memories of Alice as creative, funny, quirky, compassionate and non-judgemental. While some photographs and memories remain difficult, remembering Alice’s personality and the joy she brought to the family has become an important source of comfort.

Turning Something Negative into Something Positive:

Alice’s legacy now inspires Diane to fundraise, raise awareness and make the most of her own life. Diane is clear that losing Alice can never be made positive, but she can choose to create positive things because of the experience.

Key Moments“It’s like somebody throwing you a life belt in that ocean.”“It’s space and it’s time and it’s understanding and it’s compassion.”“Your grief doesn’t shrink. Your jar gets bigger.”“I’m living with the grief of losing Alice, but I’m living well.”“They can help you carry it.”

Diane’s story is a powerful example of how grief remains part of life rather than something that simply disappears. Through counselling, community, creativity and the support of Edward’s Trust, she has found ways to carry the loss of Alice while continuing to build a rich and meaningful life around it.

About Edward's Trust

Edward’s Trust is a specialist bereavement charity supporting children, young people and adults affected by the death of someone close to them. Founded in 1989 following the death of Edward Dent, the charity has spent decades helping individuals and families through some of the most difficult moments in their lives.

Through counselling, wellbeing support, groups and other specialist services, Edward’s Trust provides a safe and supportive environment where people can talk, process their grief and begin to move forward in a way that is right for them.

Contact Edward's Trust

Website: https://edwardstrust.org.uk/

Bereavement support: 0121 454 1705

Fundraising team: 0121 454 1705

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In Episode 1 of The Edward’s Trust Podcast, host Ed Nell speaks with Peter Dent, founder and Vice Chair of Edward’s Trust, about the deeply personal story behind the charity and how the loss of his son Edward inspired a service that has now supported bereaved families for around 40 years. Peter explains the realities of grief, why every person’s experience is different, and how Edward’s Trust has developed a highly individual approach to counselling, wellbeing and bereavement support.

Key Takeaways

Turning Loss into Something Positive:

After Edward died aged seven, Peter and his family experienced first-hand how little meaningful bereavement support was available. Their experience became the driving force behind Edward’s Trust, initially supporting families with children in hospital before developing professional bereavement services.

Support Should Fit the Person:

One of the founding principles of Edward’s Trust is that there is no fixed timescale for grief. Some people may need only a handful of sessions, while others need support for much longer. The individual comes before the system or process.

Living With Loss, Rather Than ‘Getting Over It’:

Peter explains that bereavement is not about forgetting or moving on from the person who has died. Edward’s Trust helps people find a way of living alongside their loss and rediscovering hope for the future.

Taking the First Step:

Reaching out for support can be incredibly difficult. Peter describes picking up the phone as a significant act of courage, and stresses that anyone contacting Edward’s Trust will be listened to without pressure or expectation.

Creating a Safe and Welcoming Environment:

The surroundings at Edward’s Trust are deliberately designed to feel comfortable and homely. Peter explains that helping people relax and feel safe is an important part of providing effective bereavement support.

The Ongoing Challenge of Funding:

Providing professional counselling and support comes at a considerable cost. Edward’s Trust must raise around half a million pounds each year, relying on fundraisers, businesses, community groups, trusts and individual supporters to continue its work.

Key Moments“Grief is a lonely place to be.”“We would ensure that we would be there to support a family for as long as they needed us.”“We are there to help families see the hope in the future. How to live with loss, not to get over the loss.”“Moving from hopelessness to hope in a future and a way of living, a different way of living, a different life.”

Peter’s story captures the heart of Edward’s Trust: hope, trust, integrity and wellbeing, alongside a commitment to treating every bereaved person and family as an individual. After four decades and thousands of families supported, the charity continues to provide a place where people facing unimaginable loss can find understanding, professional support and hope for the future.

About Edward's Trust

Edward’s Trust is a specialist bereavement charity supporting children, young people and adults affected by the death of someone close to them. Founded in 1989 following the death of Edward Dent, the charity has spent decades helping individuals and families through some of the most difficult moments in their lives.

Through counselling, wellbeing support, groups and other specialist services, Edward’s Trust provides a safe and supportive environment where people can talk, process their grief and begin to move forward in a way that is right for them.

Contact Edward's Trust

Website: https://edwardstrust.org.uk/

Bereavement support: 0121 454 1705

Fundraising team: 0121 454 1705

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.