Parliament to debate bereavement lessons petition

A funeral director's petition calling for bereavement lessons to be taught in schools as part of the curriculum will be debated in Parliament on Monday.

John Adams, from Bridgnorth, Shropshire, lost his mum when he was 12.

More than 11,300 people have signed his petition, which is below the usual threshold to trigger a parliamentary debate but the subject was chosen on merit.

Mr Adams said, after almost three years of campaigning, the debate was a "special moment" and he was hopeful the government would eventually adopt his suggestion.

"I believe that the MPs now see this as a necessary step in the curriculum," he said.

"I think they understand the need of this now in society."

He wants to see age-appropriate learning on death and loss made compulsory for children approaching the end of primary and the start of secondary school.

"A lot of children’s stories and films have loss or trauma or bereavement in them," Mr Adams said.

"All we're going to be doing is dissecting and pausing and looking about what the characters in these stories are going through.

"It's about how they can be a bit more understanding and show more compassion overall."

Mr Adams described death as a "taboo" in the UK and said giving children the skills to understand it would be "positive for society".

The funeral director added his own experience of loss early in life made him want to help other youngsters process grief.

"Bereavement and grief is always different, it's always unique to that person," he said.

"Involving young people can be really beneficial, not just for them at that moment in time but for the years to come. That's how true healing is done."

Petition debates do not end with a vote to implement the request but a government minister will respond.

Mr Adams will be in Westminster to see the debate, which starts at 16:30 GMT on Monday.