Shropshire MP tells Parliamentary debate on bereavement about the death of his father when he was eight
A Bridgnorth funeral director's petition calling for death and bereavement to be added to the National Curriculum was discussed in Parliament, with a Shropshire MP speaking about the impact of losing his father at a young age.
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John Adams, of Perry and Philips Funeral Directors in Bridgnorth, began his campaign last year and launched a petition that has garnered more than 11,000 signatories.
The Westminster Hall debate in Parliament on children and bereavement took place on Monday during National Grief Awareness Week 2024.
They also discussed a second petition calling on the government to record the number of bereaved children to ensure that they are supported.
South Shropshire MP Stuart Anderson said: "I was delighted to meet John Adams, whose campaign as a local funeral director to have grief education taught at schools is inspirational.
“Since my father died when I was just eight years old, I know just how much of an enduring impact childhood bereavement can have.
“I also know that many others in South Shropshire feel the same way, with almost 2,000 fellow residents having signed John’s petition calling for content on bereavement to be added to the National Curriculum. Schools can play an integral role in supporting children and families with the emotional impact of such a devastating loss. I believe that we must better equip schools with the resources that they need to support children with the emotional impact of such a devastating loss."
More than 10 per cent of signatures to Mr Adams' petition came from Ludlow, Bridgnorth, and the surrounding areas.
Mr Adams has been working with Child Bereavement UK and many organisations in the education sector including the Good Grief Trust to champion 'grief education.' It follows John’s own experience of losing his mother Maria when he was 12.
Mr Adams said: "As a funeral provider and community-based co-operative that believes in the power of education, we believe that our society needs to talk more about death, dying and bereavement so that we can handle it when we’re affected by it.
“We advocate that to live better lives, we need to talk about, and understand death. This starts with education. 127 children a day are bereaved of a parent, 18 babies or children under 16 die every day but currently there is no requirement in the curriculum for schools to educate on grief."
