When someone dies, families suddenly find themselves facing some of the most difficult moments of their lives. Alongside grief can come uncertainty, practical challenges and questions that feel impossible to answer.
What if I don't know where to turn?
What if I have to face everything that's ahead on my own?
What if I need support but I don't know where to find it?
Through our conference, we want to bring those working in bereavement support services together to share their experiences. We’ll explore how better collaboration can ensure that people navigating loss are able to find answers to their questions and access the right support when they need it most.
What the day will cover
Bereavement affects every person differently, but no single service, organisation or profession can meet every need.
You’ll hear from expert speakers, charities, sector leaders and individuals with lived experience, creating opportunities for meaningful discussion, learning and collaboration.
Sessions will explore:
- The lived experiences and needs of bereaved families
- Support for families following fatal road traffic incidents and other sudden deaths
- The role of charities and other specialist organisations
- Developments in the inquest and coronial process
- The importance of joined-up support and effective signposting
- How we can improve support for individuals and families affected by loss.
Who should attend?
The day will provide opportunities to build connections and share experiences between organisations and professionals who support people after bereavement, including:
- Charities and voluntary sector organisations
- Emergency service professionals
- Family liaison officers
- Coroners and those involved in the inquest process
- Bereavement support specialists
- Healthcare professionals
- Psychologists, counsellors and mental health professionals
- Anyone with a professional interest in supporting people through bereavement.
Together, we can help ensure that no one faces bereavement alone.
Places are limited, so please complete the registration form to let us know you’re planning to attend.
We understand that talking about bereavement can feel difficult. Our Support and Rehabilitation Coordinators will be available to offer support during the day should you need it.
Q&A Panel “Grief & justice” – The complexities families face when death involves sudden trauma, police investigations, legal aftermath
• Joanne Colleran - CEO & Founder, The Bobby, Colleran Trust
• Jami Blythe - Head of Service Delivery and Development, Brake
• Karen Blair - Chief Executive, Aftermath Support
• Allison Furlong - CEO, Alfie's Squad
Allison Furlong is CEO of Alfie’s Squad, the only UK charity focused on peer support solely for children, young people and their families who have bereaved by suicide. She leads the organisations national growth, developing structure, trauma-informed programmes rooted in lived experience. Her work centres on an innovative whole family approach, building strategic partnerships and creating sustainable frameworks that allow the model to be replicated in communities across the country. Allison advocates for earlier intervention and greater recognition of the long-term impact of suicide bereavement on children and young people.
Delia Roper is the Mental Health Sergeant for Merseyside Police, leading the Mental Health Triage Team and overseeing a multidisciplinary team working in partnership with Mersey Care NHS Foundation Trust and Cheshire & Wirral Partnership NHS Foundation Trust. She is responsible for operational delivery, performance management, and the implementation of innovative approaches to mental health demand across policing.
Delia has played a leading role in developing and delivering initiatives aimed at improving outcomes for vulnerable people, particularly those experiencing mental health crisis or bereaved by suicide. She established and led the pioneering Bereavement Support Officer (BSO) pilot, providing early, compassionate support to families following suspected suicide, and has developed strong partnerships with organisations including Alfie's Squad to strengthen bereavement care pathways.
Detective Sergeant Kurt Timpson has served as a Police Officer for 26 years and has specialised in Roads Policing since 2008. He has worked as a Family Liaison Officer (FLO) since 2007 across both Crime and Roads Policing and has held the roles of Lead Family Liaison Coordinator (FLC) and Family Liaison Advisor (FLA) since 2020.
Kurt is a Lead Investigating Officer and currently co-manages the Serious Collision Investigation Unit within Merseyside. Throughout his career, he has led numerous complex and high-profile investigations and also serves as a Serious Collision Review Officer. In addition, he is the Force Lead for Roads Policing on matters relating to Human Tissue and the Victims' Code of Practice.
A passionate advocate for family liaison, Kurt was awarded the BRAKE Lifetime Achievement Award in 2020 in recognition of his outstanding contribution to Family Liaison. He holds an Advanced Diploma in Family Liaison Coordination and Management from the University of Sunderland and is recognised as a subject matter expert in the field.
Alongside his operational responsibilities, Kurt supports the delivery of FLO, FLC and FLA training programmes across England and Wales, helping to develop and enhance professional standards nationally. He is a member of the NPCC Family Liaison National Executive Board and works closely with the National Crime Agency (NCA) National Lead to further develop policy and practice.
Drawing upon extensive operational experience, leadership expertise and a commitment to supporting bereaved families, Kurt continues to play a significant role in shaping the future of Family Liaison and Serious Collision Investigation across the United Kingdom.
Ryan joined Irwin Mitchell LLP as its North West Police Co-ordinator in 2023 after completing 17 years of service with Merseyside Police.
In his current role, Ryan conducts liability investigations in complex cases. He also designs and delivers specialist training and continuing professional development to police officers and investigators across the UK, particularly in relation to road traffic law, serious collision investigation and investigative practice.
Ryan spent the final two years of his police service as the Inspector responsible for the specialist training and equipment portfolio. Before this, he served for six years as a Roads Policing Sergeant, undertaking specialist roles including Lead Investigator, Family Liaison Co-ordinator, Pursuit Tactical Adviser and Principal Serious Collision Review Officer.
His earlier experience includes serving as the force prosecution manager for road traffic offences, where he managed the police prosecution team and worked in partnership with the courts and Crown Prosecution Service.
Jami is head of service delivery and development at Brake. Jami joined Brake in 2020 after a 20-year career in the police, where she worked as a roads policing investigator and family liaison officer. She returned to university while working as a police officer and studied for a doctorate in young driver road safety.
Jami has recently been promoted to Head of service delivery and development, after spending the last 5 years working on increasing awareness and funding for Brake’s National Road Victim Service.
Brake’s National Road Victim Service supports bereaved and injured road victims, and witnesses, providing practical and emotional support.
Karen is Chief Executive of Aftermath Support, a specialist charity supporting people affected by serious and fatal road traffic collisions across Northwest England. Since joining the organisation in 2021, she has led significant growth in services, partnerships and organisational sustainability, expanding support for individuals, families and communities affected by road trauma.
With more than 20 years' experience in the third sector, primarily within advocacy, health and social care, Karen is passionate about ensuring people can access the support they need, have their voices heard and navigate complex services and life-changing circumstances. Her work focuses on leadership, governance, partnership development, service innovation and advocacy, with a particular commitment to delivering compassionate, trauma-informed support.
Karen is also a Trustee for Wirral Mencap and volunteers as an Independent Person for CYPD complaints. She was a finalist in the Merseyside Women of the Year Awards 2026.
Ian Byrne MP is the Labour Member of Parliament for Liverpool West Derby, first elected in December 2019 and re-elected in 2024. He was born and raised in Liverpool and worked as a taxi driver and later as a trade union organiser with Unite before entering politics. He is well known for co-founding Fans Supporting Foodbanks, a community initiative bringing together Liverpool and Everton supporters to tackle food poverty.
In Parliament, Ian has been a prominent campaigner on social justice issues, particularly the Right to Food campaign and the Hillsborough Law campaign, which seeks greater accountability and transparency from public authorities following major disasters. He was named MP of the Year by the Patchwork Foundation in 2022 for his community and parliamentary work
Joanne Colleran is CEO and Founder of The Bobby Colleran Trust, established in memory of her son, Bobby. Through her vision and leadership, she has developed the charity into a respected organisation delivering innovative road safety education and specialist children's mental health and bereavement support. Her key achievements include establishing The Bobby Base, securing strategic partnerships with Merseyside Police and community organisations, and pioneering programmes that empower young people to become road safety ambassadors. A recipient of the Prime Minister's Points of Light Award, Joanne remains dedicated to strengthening the charity's impact, influencing positive change and building a lasting legacy for future generations.
