You are not alone

Thank you for visiting our website. If you’re here, you may be grieving the loss of someone important to you. We understand that grief can feel overwhelming, unpredictable, and deeply personal. There is no right or wrong way to grieve and no set timeline for when you may need support.

The City and East London Bereavement Service (CELBS) is a community-based charity in Tower Hamlets. We offer specialist counselling and support to help you navigate your grief whenever you’re ready. Whether your loss was recent or many years ago, we are here to listen, support, and walk alongside you.

📧 Email: admin@celbs.org.uk
📞 Call us: 020 3022 5177

Understanding Grief

Grief can be messy, complicated, and different for everyone. It may bring emotions you’ve never experienced before, and they can come and go in waves. Some of the feelings you may go through include:

  • Shock or numbness – feeling disconnected from reality

  • Anger – frustration, resentment, or questioning “why?”

  • Sadness or loneliness – a deep sense of loss

  • Guilt – wondering if you could have done more

  • Depression or meaninglessness – struggling to find purpose

  • Anxiety or panic – feeling unsettled or out of control

Grief doesn’t only affect your emotions—it can also bring physical changes, such as:

  • Difficulty sleeping, nightmares, or vivid dreams

  • Changes in appetite and trouble concentrating

  • Aches, pains, or increased anxiety

  • A desire to withdraw from social activities

If you are feeling lost or unsure about your grief, talking to a counsellor may help. Our trained professionals offer a safe space where you can explore your feelings at your own pace.

Our founder, Colin Murray Parkes, said, “The pain of grief is just as much part of life as the joy of love: it is perhaps the price we pay for love, the cost of commitment.”