Celebration Day

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Hospice UK is proud to be a charity partner of Celebration Day 2026. 

Celebration Day is built on a simple but powerful idea: pausing on the last Monday in May to remember and celebrate the people who made us who we are today. They may be loved ones we’ve lost or figures from history, but they are the people who inspired us, shaped our values, and continue to live on through us.  

This year, Hospice UK has worked alongside Celebration Day to help create new schools and families resource packs, supporting gentle, age‑appropriate conversations about love, loss, remembrance and grief. 

Why these resources matter now

From September 2026, grief and bereavement will become part of the national curriculum. There is a growing need for resources that help adults feel confident having these important conversations. 

Talking to children and young people about death and loss can feel incredibly hard. Many adults worry about saying the wrong thing, or about saying too much. 

New research from Celebration Day shows: 

  • 53% of parents avoid talking directly about death
  • 25% don’t feel confident having the conversation at all
  • 40% find it harder to talk about than topics like mental health or bullying 

Avoiding these conversations can leave children confused and unprepared when loss happens. With an estimated 26,900 parents dying each year in the UK, many children are navigating grief without the language or support they need, often alongside the loss of grandparents, siblings, friends, or even much‑loved pets. 

That’s why Hospice UK is proud to partner with Celebration Day on Finding the Words a set of free resources designed to support schools, families and carers to talk openly and compassionately about grief. 

Celebrating Special people in our lives

Free resources for schools

The Schools Resource Packs are designed to be practical, flexible and easy to use, helping educators feel confident leading sensitive discussions. 

Each pack includes: 

  • Step‑by‑step lesson plans tailored to different age groups
  • Ready‑made classroom presentations with supportive teacher scripts
  • Creative activities to help children and young people express emotions and remember loved ones 

These resources can be used across the curriculum and adapted to suit your school or setting. 

 

Download, Share and Start the conversation
Home and families resources

Support for families and carers

Children and young people are often best supported when the adults around them, both at school and at home, understand what they’re going through. 

That’s why we’ve also created a Home & Family Resource Pack, offering parents and carers: 

  • Gentle guidance on language and emotions
  • Practical activities to do together at home
  • Information on how to navigate their own grief alongside supporting their family 
Download, Share and Start the conversation
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Celebration Day

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All of these resources are free to download and share. 

Whether you’re a teacher, parent, carer or school leader, we encourage you to use them in your community, classroom or home, and pass them on to others who may find them helpful. 

Together, we can help children and young people find the words, and feel less alone, when grief touches their lives. 

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