Family run funeral provider, Neville Funerals, has seen a significant increase in attendance at its award-winning, free bereavement support group, Talking Elephants, with 2025 figures showing a 16% year-on-year rise, with 779 individuals accessing 115 sessions over 10 locations, including a new weekend group introduced at its Luton head office.
The initiative, established in 2015 and run by volunteers from across the Neville Funerals team, is designed to provide consistent, accessible emotional support to people experiencing grief, regardless of when their bereavement occurred.
The increase in attendance reflects a growing recognition of the importance of post-funeral care, and the pressing need for structured, community-based bereavement support—something Neville Funerals has long embedded within its wider approach to care and service.
According to a paper in the National Library of Medicine, bereavement support groups have been found to ease the grief of significant others close to the death of their loved one. However, consistency with sessions before and after a bereavement are fundamental.
James Witham, Area Funeral Manager at Neville Funerals and Talking Elephants volunteer, commented: “As funeral professionals, we all understand that care doesn’t stop at the service. Talking Elephants was created in response to a clear gap in ongoing support within our communities, and it has become a meaningful part of how we give back—offering an informal setting for people to come together, share, and be supported.”
The sessions are held monthly across Bedfordshire, Hertfordshire and Buckinghamshire, and are open to anyone in the community, not just those who have used Neville Funerals’ services. Attendees include those recently bereaved as well as individuals navigating longer-term grief—an aspect the team sees as vital to ensuring support remains accessible and effective.
James continued: “All of us operating in the industry know that bereavement does not follow a fixed timeline, and we recognise the importance of making structured support available at any stage. Talking Elephants continues to be shaped by this understanding, offering regular and reliable sessions that can reflect the varied needs of those attending.”
In an ever-changing funeral sector, Talking Elephants is a reminder of the enduring value of local, relationship-based support and the role of funeral firms in broader community wellbeing.
James added: “We have a number of wonderful regular attendees who help our volunteers to run each session and help us to welcome newcomers. It’s important to us that people feel they can attend at any point in their grief journey, our sessions aren’t just for those facing a recent bereavement. Grief support groups are more effective when they are consistent. We recognise how challenging it is to face a bereavement and the struggles of joining new groups, which is why we aim to provide a relaxed, safe and supportive environment for all attendees.
“I work closely with the team of volunteers who run our sessions and see first-hand the lasting impact they each have. As we experience another year of increasing attendee figures, we can see the rising demand for free bereavement support across the funeral industry.”