Workplace Bereavement Training in South Africa
Supporting South African Employers and Teams
At Workplace Bereavement, we provide workplace bereavement support and training to companies across the world, including South Africa, Europe and America.
We specialise in delivering one-day workplace bereavement training to organisations of all sizes.
Our goal is to raise awareness of the impact that grief can have on employees, and to help companies not only better understand the difficulty of losing someone close, but to respond with compassion and confidence.
What is Workplace Bereavement?
Bereavement affects everyone uniquely, and will inevitably impact any of your employees who are going through this difficult experience.
Depending on the individual, they may be affected throughout their working day, in everything from concentration and productivity, to their ability to interact with the rest of their team.
However, recent studies highlighted that 35% of employees felt they did not receive bereavement guidance from their employers.
At Workplace Bereavement, we provide bereavement training and resources for employers across South Africa. This includes one-day advocacy training, and professional supervisory support post-training.
Working with our workplace bereavement consultancy, companies can ensure that the right support systems are in place, and give them the right tools to respond with empathy, appropriate support, and clear guidance.
Now providing training and support in South Africa
Workplace Bereavement is immensely proud to now offer our training and professional support services in South Africa.
Our skilled, qualified team of support specialists can work with businesses across the country, delivering in-person advocacy training to teams of all sizes.
If you would like to enlist our assistance, or to find out more about how we can support your South African team,
don’t hesitate to get in touch.
Training we offer
We offer a comprehensive range of specialist bereavement counselling services. Depending on your requirements, our services can be tailored to include everything from small group settings to CPD compliance.
All of our services are delivered by a highly experienced and fully qualified team of trainers, who will equip your employees with all the skills required to support their bereaved colleagues.
Our core bereavement training consists of:
- One-day workplace bereavement advocacy training for staff and managers
- Practical strategies and guidance to help teams better support grieving colleagues
- Detailed training, designed to inform the workforce about the impact of grief in a professional context
- Guidance on best practices, including communication and setting boundaries
- Providing takeaway resources and additional support
Once the training session has been completed, clients will gain exclusive access to our online resources area. Here, they can find templates, policy guidance, and further reading materials, to continue their learning and refer to whenever they may need.
With these actionable strategies and dependable resources, you can build a supportive, conscientious and bereavement-aware workplace culture.
Di – Consultant & Trainer for South Africa
Di is a catalyst for transformation and change, passionate about empowering others to live their best lives. With over 30 years of experience in personal growth, quantum healing, and self-development, she brings deep insight and compassion to her work.
After the death of her husband and soulmate of 38 years in 2019, and witnessing her mother’s very different end-of-life journey, Di was drawn to explore grief and dying more deeply. She became certified with Sacred Dying SA as a death doula and grief guide, supporting individuals facing end-of-life and those navigating bereavement and the life changes it brings.
Di has a passion for normalising death and grief, raising awareness and educating others about the importance of making space for these experiences – at home, in community, and in the workplace.
Di facilitates a range of grief support experiences, including retreats, workshops, and webinars, both in-person and online. She also works with organisations to help them better understand and respond to grief in the workplace, creating more compassionate and supportive environments for employees.
An unexpected and deeply resonant conversation with Jacqueline Gunn, founder of Workplace Bereavement UK, in early 2025 sparked a shared vision and inspired Di to join the team. Recognising the urgent need for grief awareness and support in both professional and educational environments, she is now committed to bringing this vital work into South Africa – helping organisations foster compassionate, grief-informed cultures where employees, children and young people feel seen, supported, and empowered to navigate loss.
How we provide our training
Our pioneering workplace bereavement training consists of a one-day on-site course.
Delivered by qualified trainers based in South Africa, our sessions can be tailored to suit both individuals and teams. Then, we can also provide follow-up support, to reinforce learning and guide workplace policy development post-training.
Once they have completed their training, our clients will also receive access to our Members Area, which contains a wealth of valuable resources.
You will be able to access:
- Short, Informative Advice Videos
- PDF Print-Outs and Factsheets
- Webinars
- Podcasts
- 24-Hour Support Phone Number
- Access to further advice from a Bereavement Counsellor
- Recommended Further Learning Materials (including Book Lists, related Websites, Apps, Podcasts and Videos)
Our trainers ensure a safe, supportive environment where participants feel comfortable to explore sensitive topics, and develop practical solutions to workplace bereavement policies and protocols.
Young Hearts Bereavement Training
Supporting Children & Young People Through Grief in South Africa
Loss changes a child’s world in an instant. Whether it’s a parent, sibling, caregiver or someone deeply loved, grief in childhood shapes how young people see themselves, relate to others and face the future. Without the right support this pain can silently affect their confidence, learning and emotional wellbeing for years to come.
Young Hearts South Africa exists to change that. Our CPD-accredited training programme is specially designed for South African educators, support staff, school counsellors, and anyone working with children in educational settings.
This training equips participants with practical knowledge, culturally sensitive strategies, and compassionate tools to recognise grief, respond with empathy and support grieving learners.
Why Bereavement Training Matters in South African Schools
Childhood bereavement is more common than many realise, especially in a country where illness, accidents, HIV/AIDS, poverty, and crime contribute significantly to early loss.
The Reality in South Africa:
- Over 3.7 million orphans in South Africa have lost one or both parents, many due to illness, HIV/AIDS, or violence.
(UNICEF, Wikipedia – “HIV/AIDS in South African townships”, 2025) - Nearly 1 in 5 children may experience the death of a primary caregiver before the age of 18.
(UNICEF South Africa, 2022) - A 2008 national study highlighted that 21% of children (ages 8–14) had lost at least one parent, and 63% lacked a father in the household, severely affecting educational attainment and emotional health.
(PubMed, 2003/04 DHS data)
Behind every statistic is a child navigating emotions they may not have words for. The difference between despair and resilience often comes down to whether there is someone who understands what they are going through.
In every South African classroom, there are likely to be multiple learners experiencing grief, often silently. These figures highlight the urgent need for structured emotional support within schools and youth spaces.
How Our Training Helps
Young Hearts Bereavement Training empowers schools and professionals to help children and young people:
- Build Emotional Resilience: Through early intervention and supportive relationships, children can process grief in healthy ways.
- Encourage Peer Support: Learners develop empathy and understanding for classmates experiencing bereavement.
- Create Safe, Supportive Environments: Foster stable school cultures where emotional well-being is prioritised.
What We Offer
We provide nationwide training to schools, ECD centres, and youth organisations. Our approach is inclusive of learners with special educational needs (SEN) and reflects South Africa’s diverse cultural identities.
Our services include:
- CPD-accredited bereavement training workshops.
- Custom consultation on grief policies and crisis response.
- Support in developing a culture of care in your school or centre.
Ongoing Support and Resources:
Our relationship doesn’t end after the training. Participants receive access to:
- 24/7 Helpline: Real-time support from grief-trained professionals.
- Exclusive Online Portal: Videos, fact sheets, and downloadable activities.
- Bereavement Policy Toolkit: Editable templates to guide your school’s response.
- Monthly Webinars: Best practices, case studies, and ongoing development.
What You’ll Gain:
- Expert-Led Training: Delivered by professionals with lived and professional experience in South African grief contexts.
- Practical, Culturally Aware Strategies: For classroom support, family engagement, and school-wide protocols.
- Confidence and Compassion: To support learners from diverse backgrounds.
- Community of Practice: A professional network of like-minded educators and counsellors.
Training Format
- Duration: 6 hours (can be delivered in-person or virtually)
- Group Size: 5–15 participants per session.
- Included: Printable resource packs, CPD certificates, and access to our digital community.
- Optional: Annual renewal with updated resources, policies, and community access.
Why Your Role Matters
Without appropriate support, bereaved children are at increased risk of:
- Emotional distress, anxiety, or depression.
- Behavioural challenges such as withdrawal, aggression, or acting out.
- Academic disengagement or underperformance.
With the right tools, educators can become safe, supportive figures who make a lifelong difference in a grieving child’s life.
Benefits for Your School or Organisation:
- A more emotionally literate, supportive and compassionate school culture.
- Fewer disruptions related to trauma, absenteeism, or behavioural crises.
- Stronger communication and relationships with learners and families.
- A confident, well-equipped team ready to respond to grief with care and skill.
Transform Lives with Young Hearts South Africa
Every child’s grief is personal, but no child should go through it alone.
Our vision is to see every South Africa educator, social worker and youth leader trained to support grieving children, especially those in communities where resources are limited.
By sponsoring Young Hearts training you can:
- Equip schools and organizations in under-resourced areas.
- Provide ongoing access to professional guidance and resources.
- Change the trajectory of a child’s life after loss.
Whether you are a corporate sponsor, a small business owner, a school leader or an individual wanting to make a difference, your involvement matters.
Contact us today to bring Young Hearts training to your school or centre.
Let’s create a future where every young heart facing loss is met with understanding, compassion and hope.
Sources
- UNICEF South Africa (2022). Number of COVID-19 orphans nears 150,000 in South Africa.
UNICEF SA – Orphanhood Press Release - Wikipedia (2025). HIV/AIDS in South African townships.
Wikipedia – AIDS orphans - Ardington, C. (2008). Orphanhood and schooling in South Africa using nationally representative data from 1993–2005.
SALDRU Working Paper – Orphanhood & Schooling - PubMed. (2004). Challenging household dynamics: The educational impact of orphanhood in South Africa (DHS 2003/04).
PubMed – Educational Delay & Orphanhood
We are CPD certified
Workplace Bereavement is a trusted, CPD accredited training provider.
Continued Professional Development (CPD) is a type of accreditation from a global professional membership body. Its courses see individuals continuing their skills and knowledge development. For example, this could be engaging in additional courses to enhance their current work practices, or support their future career needs.
At Workplace Bereavement, all of our training courses are CPD accredited. This is a testament to our commitment to training excellence, and the tangible value of our professional development courses.
If you would like to learn more about bereavement support training and the benefits that it can bring to your workplace,
our professional team is on hand to help.
