🩷 I need support
Find Support
Life can change in an instant. Whether you're navigating childhood cancer or the death of a child, you don't have to carry it on your own. We're here to help, support and walk beside you every step of the way. Explore the support available and take the first step whenever you're ready.
How we help
Practical support | Emotional care | Compassion in action
You don’t have to know exactly what you need…
We can help you find the right support
Every family's journey is different, and the support you need today may be different from the support you need tomorrow.
Whether you're caring for a child with cancer or a life-limiting condition, or navigating life after the death of a child, we're here to walk alongside you with compassion, practical help and emotional support.
You don't need to know which service is right for you.
Simply explore the pathways below, or get in touch and we'll help you find the support that best meets your family's needs.
How Support Works
Every family's journey is unique, but asking for support is simple.
We'll take the time to understand your needs and help you find the right support for your family.
1
Tell us about
your family
Complete a short referral form by clicking ‘Request Support’ on the service that best matches your needs.
2
We’ll listen
Our volunteers read your referral and take the time to understand your family’s circumstances. If we need any extra information to get you the right support they will get in touch.
3
We’ll walk
alongside you
We’ll provide the support that’s right for your family. Whether that's practical help or emotional support, we'll be alongside you every step of the way.
You don't have to know exactly what support you need.
If you're unsure where to begin get in touch and we'll help you find the support that's right for your family.
Practical Support
During Your Child’s Journey
When you're caring for a seriously ill child, everyday life can become overwhelming.
Our practical support is designed to ease some of that pressure, creating moments of comfort, fun and normality so you can spend more time focusing on what matters most.
Activity Adventures
Personalised activities, games, books and creative resources, thoughtfully chosen around each child's age, interests and journey, helping them enjoy moments of fun, creativity, connection and normality during treatment or longer hospital stays.
Dreams & Courage Collection
Beautifully handcrafted princess hats, designed to spark imagination, inspire confidence and help children embrace every step of their journey.
Making It Possible
When one of our existing services isn't quite the right fit, we'll work alongside you to provide personalised practical or emotional support that responds to your family's unique needs.
Emotional Support
During Your Child’s Journey
When you're caring for a seriously ill child, the emotional impact can feel just as overwhelming as the practical challenges.
Our emotional support is designed to create moments of calm, connection and resilience, helping children, siblings and parents feel supported, understood and better equipped to navigate each day.
Little Comforts Collection
Evidence-informed, small, thoughtful resources, including Calm Cards and Worry Worms, designed to help children feel comforted, express their feelings and find moments of calm when life feels difficult or overwhelming.
Ripples Support Stories Collection
Gentle, illustrated stories and activities featuring Ripples the Comfort Cat, created to help children explore big feelings, find comfort during difficult experiences and feel less alone throughout treatment. Stories for both children going through treatment and their siblings.
Making It Possible
When one of our existing services isn't quite the right fit, we'll work alongside you to provide personalised practical or emotional support that responds to your family's unique needs.
Practical Support
After the Death of a Child
After the death of a child, even the simplest everyday tasks can feel overwhelming while you're trying to process unimaginable loss.
Our practical support is designed to ease some of that burden, providing thoughtful help that gives you the space and time to focus on yourself, your family and what matters most during those early days and beyond.
Comfort Meals
Personalised activities, games, books and creative resources, thoughtfully chosen around each child's age, interests and journey, helping them enjoy moments of fun, creativity, connection and normality during treatment or longer hospital stays.
Recommended Books
Personalised activities, games, books and creative resources, thoughtfully chosen around each child's age, interests and journey, helping them enjoy moments of fun, creativity, connection and normality during treatment or longer hospital stays.
Bereavement Library
Personalised activities, games, books and creative resources, thoughtfully chosen around each child's age, interests and journey, helping them enjoy moments of fun, creativity, connection and normality during treatment or longer hospital stays.
Making It Possible
When one of our existing services isn't quite the right fit, we'll work alongside you to provide personalised practical or emotional support that responds to your family's unique needs.
Emotional Support
After the Death of a Child
Grief looks different for every family, and there is no right way—or right timeline—to navigate life after the death of a child.
Our emotional support offers compassionate care, safe spaces to talk and opportunities to care for yourself, helping parents, siblings and families find support whenever they need it.
Comfort Boxes
Carefully chosen self-care gifts and comforting resources designed to encourage moments of rest, reflection and kindness, helping bereaved parents and siblings care for themselves when they need it most.
Bereavement Therapy
Professionally delivered bereavement therapy, thoughtfully matched to each parent's individual needs, with ongoing support to find the right therapist and continue for as long as it is needed—because grief has no timeline.
Little Comforts
Evidence-informed, small, thoughtful resources, including Calm Cards and Worry Worms, designed to help children feel comforted, express their feelings and find moments of calm when life feels difficult or overwhelming.
Ripples Support Stories Collection
Gentle, illustrated stories and activities featuring Ripples the Comfort Cat, created to help children explore big feelings, find comfort during difficult experiences and feel less alone throughout bereavement.
Making It Possible
When one of our existing services isn't quite the right fit, we'll work alongside you to provide personalised practical or emotional support that responds to your family's unique needs.
Continuing Bonds
Honouring Your Child’s Journey
The love you have for your child doesn't end, and neither do the memories that keep them close.
Our remembrance support is designed to help families honour their child's life, celebrate precious memories and create lasting ways to maintain the bond that will always remain part of your family.
Always Close Collection
Thoughtfully chosen remembrance jewellery, memory keepsakes and personalised gifts, helping parents, siblings and families maintain lasting connections with the child they love.
Places to Remember
Thoughtfully created memorials and lasting places of remembrance, helping families honour their child with a place to visit, reflect and remember for generations to come.
Dedicate a Book
Dedicate a bereavement book in memory of your child within one of our Bereavement Libraries, creating a lasting tribute that continues to support bereaved families for years to come.
FAQs
Who can ask Ripples of Compassion for support?
1
Parents and carers can contact Ripples directly for support for their child, themselves or their wider family. A professional can also make a referral with your knowledge and consent. You do not need to have been referred by a hospital, hospice or other service before contacting us, but we may ask you for evidence or a supporting letter for some services.
What can Ripples of Compassion help with?
2
We support children and families affected by childhood cancer, serious illness and the death of a child. Depending on your family’s circumstances and what is currently available, this may include practical support, therapeutic activities, comfort resources, bereavement support and meaningful ways to remember someone important.
How do I know what support I need?
3
You do not need to work this out alone. You can explore the different support available on our website or tell us a little about your family and what would feel helpful. We will listen and help you consider which Ripples support may be most suitable.
Can I request more than one type of support?
4
Yes. Families may need different kinds of support at different times. You can tell us about everything you are interested in, although what we can provide will depend on your circumstances, our eligibility criteria, current funding and the availability of each service.
Is Ripples of Compassion Support free?
5
All the support we provide to families is offered without charge regardless of a families financial circumstances. Our funding comes from grants, generous donations and supporters and fundraising. Some of our activities may have particular funding arrangements or availability criteria but we will always explain this clearly before anything is agreed.
Our support is available throughout England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. Unfortunately we are not able to provide support to Ireland or internationally. Some of our resources have physical locations and we list where you can find these on the relevant pages.
6
Where is support available?
What happens after I submit a request?
7
We will review the information you have shared and may contact you if we need to understand anything further. We will then let you know whether we can offer support and explain the next steps. Submitting a request does not automatically guarantee that support can be provided.
How quickly will I hear from you?
8
Ripples is a small charity and some of our work is supported mostly by volunteers. We will respond as soon as we can, but requests are not monitored as an emergency or crisis service. If you have specified a particular date you need something by we always do our best to meet this.
Can a professional make a referral for us?
9
Yes. A health, care, education, hospice, charity or other professional can refer your family, but they should discuss the referral with you first and have your agreement to share your information.
Are you able to help siblings?
10
Not all of our support is suitable for siblings but we do have a number of specific sibling offers that you are able to access such as our Ripples Support Stories and Always Close Collections.