A collaborative project
Supporting Loss is a collaboration between the Centre for Death and Society at the University of Bath; Turning Point; and Birkbeck, University of London. The project ran from May 2025 to April 2026. It was funded by the ESRC (Economic and Social Research Council, Ref ES/X004651/1).
The aim of the project is to develop an online Toolkit that can help people bereaved by an alcohol, other drug or gambling related death when the death is referred to a coroner in England and Wales. The Toolkit can also help a wide range of practitioners to better understand the coroner service and support bereaved people.
Project history
Supporting Loss follows on from and is informed by two previous projects: ‘Bereavement through substance use’ and ‘Voicing Loss’.
Bereavement through substance use
This project was completed by a team from the Universities of Bath and Stirling, with ESRC funding (Economic and Social Research Council, ES/J007366/1). It involved interviews and discussions with over 100 adults bereaved by substance use and a large number of practitioners. It produced good practice guidance for those who come into contact with people bereaved following an alcohol or other drug-related death.
Voicing Loss
This was an ESRC-funded project conducted by Birkbeck and the University of Bath. (Ref ES/V002732/1). The researchers interviewed a large number of bereaved people, practitioners and professionals about their experiences of the coroner service. Interviewees included people bereaved by alcohol, other drug and gambling related deaths.
The Supporting Loss Team
Lorna Templeton
Research Associate
Centre for Death and Society, University of Bath
Jan Larkin
Head of Psychology and Psychotherapy
Turning Point
Sophie France
Assistant Psychologist
Turning Point
Kate Woodthorpe
Professor of Sociology
Centre for Death and Society, University of Bath
Natalie Travis
Director of Operations, Community-based Services
Turning Point
Daniel Donkor
Consultant Clinical Psychologist
Turning Point
Jessica Jacobson
Professor of Criminal Justice
Institute for Crime and Justice Policy Research at Birkbeck, University of London
Thanks and Acknowledgements
We would like to express our gratitude to the bereaved family members and members of Turning Point that attended our workshops that generated this toolkit, and those who reviewed this toolkit; Claire, Sarah and Daniel for taking part in the videos; the Turning Point digital and marketing teams; Greta Zabulyte for creating the videos; Tyla Scott Owen for the illustrations; and Joanna Lloyd, Partner at Bevan Brittan LLP, for the contributions made towards the funding for the Illustrations, and input and guidance on the content of the toolkit.
