White Rose Conference
White Rose Conference
National Campaign
White Rose Conference
White Rose Conference
The Movement for Change
The National Campaign for Compassionate Bereavement Care, pioneered by White Rose Funerals & Memorials, is a powerful initiative born directly from the voices of families and our extensive experience on the front lines of loss. We recognise that grief and mental health challenges, including suicide risk, are profoundly intertwined.
This is not merely a forum for discussion; it is a movement to drive concrete, national-level change in how Wales addresses both grief and its severe mental health consequences. The campaign forms the urgent core agenda of our Wales Bereavement & Mental Well-Being Conference 2025.
The event’s prestige and purpose are underscored by the caliber of its attendees, serving as a vital meeting point for political and institutional leaders, including The Minister of Finance - Mark Drakeford, respected figures like Mark Isherwood MS, senior coroners, mental healthcare specialists, and community representatives. Their presence signals a top-down commitment to addressing these critical issues.
Our Impact
Tangible National Impact and Proven Results
Since 2017, White Rose has been a powerful agent of change, evidenced by real results like the introduction of out-of-hours death registration and a new bill allowing faster funerals in murder cases. Our conferences, which grew from 70 to 300 delegates, directly drive this national, progressive change.
Unmatched Influence and Inclusive Advocacy
We serve as a unique voice in the Welsh Government’s Cross-Party Groups and are recognised by coroners, policymakers, and mental health organisations. We actively break down barriers by advocating for new access to coroner's courts for the Deaf and Blind communities and championing suicide intervention training for frontline staff.
Community-Driven Care and Experience-Based Training
Our foundation is built on 25+ years of experience in community engagement, faith-sensitive care, and training rooted in lived experience, not just theory. This allows us to provide practical, compassionate, and inclusive services that continuously set the standard for bereavement care.
The Three Pillars of Immediate Action
This campaign addresses three critical areas where immediate action is needed to build a more humane and responsive system for those facing loss and related mental health crises.
Mandatory Suicide Intervention Training
This is a direct mental health intervention. The campaign demands that essential frontline professionals—including funeral directors, teachers, NHS staff, and emergency responders—be equipped with mandatory, life-saving suicide intervention training.
This demand recognises their unique position to identify and assist individuals in crisis, acting as a crucial first line of defense in preventing suicide post-loss and addressing severe mental health challenges. Equipping these staff is paramount to providing effective care that extends beyond the ceremony.
The Campaign for Dignity in Infrastructure
White Rose is leading the charge for essential infrastructure reform: a modern public mortuary in Cardiff with state-of-the-art facilities like digital MRI scanning.
By ensuring every deceased person receives a dignified resting place and significantly reducing delays in the release of bodies, this reform directly alleviates one source of immense emotional and logistical burden on grieving families, which is a key factor in post-loss mental well-being.
A Push for Inclusive Grief & Mental Health Support
This initiative seeks to dismantle the systemic barriers faced by marginalized communities in accessing effective help. We advocate for culturally sensitive and accessible support for all, ensuring that no family is left behind due to a lack of understanding or appropriate resources when facing acute grief and mental distress.
This includes securing access for Deaf families who often face communication challenges, supporting minority ethnic groups with distinct cultural and religious practices, and providing specific resources for faith communities needing urgent and timely arrangements.
Our Proven Impact Since 2017
Since 2017, our conferences have proven to be a powerful, continuous agent of change in bereavement, mental health services, and policy reform in Wales.
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Inaugural Achievements: Our first conference welcomed around 70 delegates, resulting in tangible changes like the introduction of out-of-hours death registration and the use of non-invasive MRI scanning.
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Legislative Change: Our second conference, with attendance soaring to 300, successfully generated momentum leading to a new Bill that allows funerals in cases of murder to take place within a week instead of months.
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Dismantling Barriers: We have successfully broken down systemic barriers for marginalised communities by providing the Deaf and Blind communities with new access to coroner’s courts and actively advocating for suicide intervention training for frontline staff.
Our ongoing work and our unique role in the Welsh Government's Cross-Party Groups continue to shape a more compassionate and inclusive future for bereavement and mental health care in Wales.
How To Get Involved In Our Conference
The success of the 'You Are Not Alone' Conference depends on the passion and participation of our community. There are several ways you can contribute to making the next event the most impactful yet.
How to Get Involved in the 'You Are Not Alone' Conference
The success of the 'You Are Not Alone' Conference depends on the passion and participation of our community. There are several ways you can contribute to making the next event the most impactful yet.