Further support and guidance

Phone:

116 123

Whatever you're going through, a Samaritan will face it with you.

Visit the Samaritans website

Phone:

0800 470 8090

The Silver Line is a free, 24-hour telephone service for older people offering friendship, support, and a listening ear.

Visit the Silver Line website

Phone:

0800 448 0800

The National Bereavement Partnership provides a support helpline, counselling referral and befriending service for all those suffering from bereavement, grief, living loss, mental health issues, and those affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Visit the National Bereavement Partnership website

Phone:

0808 808 1677

Cruse helps people through one of the most painful times in life – with bereavement support and information.

Visit the Cruse website

Phone:

0808 802 6161

Cruse Scotland has been supporting bereaved adults, children and young people across Scotland for over 60 years.

Visit the Cruse Scotland website

Phone:

0800 634 9494

Bereavement Advice Centre supports and advises people on what they need to do after a death.

Visit the Bereavement Advice Centre website

Patches of love

The Donor Family Quilt is a tribute to those who have given the Gift of Life through organ and tissue donation. Each square is unique and is designed by a donor family to recognise and remember their loved ones as a visual display of love and living.

View the quilt on the Donor Family Network website

Book of remembrance

Without those who gave the gift of life, transplantation would not take place. Here we remember those who gave the gift of a lifetime.

View or contribute on the Donor Family Network website

The Gift of Life Memorial in Staffordshire, England

To pay tribute to the donors and their families who made the gift of life possible, The Donor Family Network have created a national organ donor memorial. The Gift of Life Memorial is situated at the National Memorial Arboretum in Alrewas, Staffordshire and encompasses three main themes: reflection, recognition and remembrance.

View the memorial on the Donor Family Network website

The Gift of Life sculpture in Stoke-on-Trent, England

Robin Wight's sculpture, named ‘Beyond Ithaka - The Gift of Life’ was created to honour those who have given the gift of life to others through organ donation, whilst also providing a place of peace, solace and contemplation for their families and loved ones.

Download our information sheet (PDF, 3.5MB)

A National Memorial for Organ and Tissue Donors, Scotland

The memorial situated in the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh, is a tribute to Scottish organ and tissue donors who generously donated after their death so that others could live. It’s a celebration of the sharing nature of donation. It was created to give people a peaceful space, close to nature, where they can reflect on the remarkable gift of organ and tissue donation.

The Gift of Life Stone, Wales

The Gift of Life Stone was donated by Kidney Wales and is situated in Alexandra Park in Cardiff. Hundreds of donor families from all over Wales gathered for the unveiling ceremony in 2007. The memorial provides a location in the heart of the Welsh capital for families from across the UK to visit and remember their loved ones. 

View the Kidney Wales news item from 2007 announcing the unveiling

Northern Ireland organ donation memorials

There are a number of memorials in Northern Ireland commemorating those who have given the gift of life through organ donation.

The sculptures recognise those who have saved lives through organ and tissue donation and transplantation. It is hoped these will help to raise awareness of organ donation and provide a place for people to go and reflect, if someone has lost a loved one or if someone has received an organ.

Botanic Gardens Sculpture, Belfast. Get more information on The Irish News website

Walled Garden, St Columb’s Park House, Derry/Londonderry. Get more information on the Western Health & Social Care Trust website

New Life Organ Donation Gardens, Derry and Belfast. Get more information on the Northern Ireland Kidney Patients Association website

The Donor Family Network arrange and support numerous events throughout the year. Donor Family Network Members are encouraged to be involved in as many of these as possible. Events include those which are promotional (including media coverage), educational (which include involvement with NHS Blood and Transplant), supportive and social.

Get details of events on the Donor Family Network website