The Good Grief Trust

1003. Linda Magistris

Her own experiences of struggling with grief led her to realise that more could be done to unite bereavement services to better support those in need. Under Linda’s leadership the charity has created a National Bereavement Support website bringing together over 500 services, including personal stories and professional advice, in one place. Linda has worked with Carolyn Harris MP to form a new All Party Parliamentary Group on Bereavement Support, for which ‘The Good Grief Trust’ is the Secretariat. The group brings together charities, organisations and individuals with an interest in bereavement support to work towards a new improved uniform standard of UK bereavement care. Linda is currently working to form a partnership with Costa coffee to host pop-up bereavement support cafes.

The Points of Light award will be presented to Linda on Tuesday 18 September to coincide with the launch of The Good Grief Trust’s inaugural ‘Pop Up Grief Café’ initiative at Kings College Hospital, London. This event is the launch of the first of a series of Pop Up Café’s around the UK which will bring bereavement services together under an umbrella of hope and drive awareness of bereavement services and support in local communities.

In a personal letter to Linda, Prime Minister Theresa May said:

“From a devastating personal tragedy you have created a tremendous force for good. The Good Grief Trust is providing vital resources for people experiencing bereavement, offering comfort, practical support and the knowledge that they are not alone.”

Linda said:

“I am absolutely thrilled to receive this prestigious award, it is a huge honour to be recognised and to have my work supported by the Prime Minister and 10 Downing Street. Grieving the death of someone you love is the most painful thing anyone can go through in their lives and I am driven to raise awareness of the need to acknowledge and fully understand the effects of grief on our mental and physical health. I am passionate that we find those who need help and bring them together with others who can support them as quickly as possible, sharing our stories of loss with peers and creating new support networks across the country. Grief can be an incredibly isolating experience and my vision is that we normalise feelings of loss and offer help and hope in one place so those who are bereaved can find new happiness and a way forward with their lives.”

Watch Linda discuss what inspired her to set up ‘The Good Grief Trust’:

See more about ‘The Good Grief Trust’