John Adams, a funeral director from Bridgnorth, Shropshire, has successfully campaigned for his petition to introduce bereavement lessons in schools to be debated in Parliament on Monday.
The petition, signed by more than 11,300 people, calls for age-appropriate lessons on death and loss to be added to the school curriculum for children transitioning from primary to secondary school. Although the petition fell short of the usual threshold for triggering a parliamentary debate, the subject was selected on its merits.
Adams, who lost his mother at the age of 12, has campaigned for nearly three years to bring attention to the importance of helping children understand and process grief. He described the upcoming debate as a “special moment” and expressed optimism about the government eventually adopting his proposal.
Adams envisions lessons that would use stories and films depicting loss or trauma as tools for discussion.
Highlighting the UK’s tendency to view death as a “taboo,” Adams argued that teaching children about bereavement would have long-term societal benefits. His personal experience with early loss inspired him to advocate for equipping young people with the skills to navigate grief.
“Bereavement and grief is always different, it’s always unique to that person,” he said. He added:
“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.”
The debate, which starts at 16:30 GMT on Monday, will include a government minister’s response but will not result in a direct vote to implement the proposal. Adams plans to attend the debate in Westminster.
