Support for you

Brake's National Road Victim Service offers support to people who have been bereaved or injured in a road crash, as well as the family, friends and professionals supporting them.

Our support literature provides emotional support, practical information and signposting to assist families. Use the links below to find out more.

If you'd like to help us develop our support services to reach more people, please make a donation or see our fundraising ideas.

Support during the Covid-19 pandemic

We recognise that being bereaved during this pandemic may be challenging, particularly if you are not in the same country as your loved one. Government restrictions to slow the spread of coronavirus (such as restrictions on overseas travel) mean that some people cannot spend time with their loved one’s body after their death, nor hold a normal memorial gathering.

Faced with this particularly challenging type of bereavement, people may experience a range of difficult feelings and symptoms. How you react is normal for you, and understandable in the circumstances. Looking after yourself is the most important thing right now, and will help your recovery. Family and friends can also provide care and support to anyone who is grieving.

Our support resources are still available to you during this time (see links below). You may also find it useful to read some of the information on Brake UK's Sudden website (supporting those bereaved by sudden death) that relates to bereavement during, and by, Covid-19:

• Advice for you if you have been bereaved by a sudden death
• Advice on memorialising when a funeral or gathering can't be held, or you can't attend

Support following a death on the road

Procedures following a death on the road (web pages)

This guide provides information about what happens following a death on the road and practical advice on accessing further information and support.

Read the online guide.

Coping with grief when someone you love is killed on the road

This guide helps you to understand common emotions and feelings following a road death. It provides straightforward advice on how to cope and who can help.

Read the online guide.

We have also made available a PDF version of the book free to download.
Access your copy here.

Alternatively, order a free printed copy of the guide using our quick online order form, or call +64 (0)21 407 953 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. 

Picture book for children

Our book for children Someone has died in a road crash is full of warm illustrations and text that helps adults support children and answer their questions. Printed copies are available in English, Te Reo Maori and Chinese (simplified).

Order free copies through our quick online order form, or call +64 (0)21 407 953 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

     We have also made available a PDF version of the book free to download.
     Access your copy here.

Support following sudden death by any cause

Coping with grief when someone you love dies suddenly

This guide helps you to understand common emotions and feelings following a sudden death. It provides straightforward advice on how to cope and who can help.

Order a free printed copy of the guide using our quick online order form, or call +64 (0)21 407 953 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. 

 

 

Picture book for children

Our book for children Someone has died suddenly is full of warm illustrations and text that helps adults support children and answer their questions.

Order free copies through our quick online order form, or call +64 (0)21 407 953 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

 

Brake's support standards

Brake aims to deliver high quality, accessible services that are relevant, appropriate and useful for bereaved and injured road crash victims. 

Read our support literature standards.

Feedback on our resources

If you have used any of our support resources, please give us feedback on what you thought of them. Your feedback helps us to ensure that the books contain information that is relevant and useful, and helps us to secure funding to keep the books free of charge to families affected by road crashes. You can give feedback online, or by emailing This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Links

There are a number of other organisations who also work in the interests of families affected by road crashes. Find out more.

Giving back to Brake

Many of Brake's supporters and volunteers have been affected by death or injury in a road crash and want to give something back to the cause, to help Brake campaign to stop more casualties and support other people who are injured or bereaved. There are lots of ways that you can get involved, including in memoriam donations and collections, fundraising, campaigning and volunteering. 

If you'd like to chat to us about ways to get involved, fill in our quick volunteer form.

Our funders

Brake's support resources are funded by public donation and by a number of funders to ensure they remain free of charge to families affected by crashes. We would like to thank the following funders for their support: