Ann Chalmers

Ann Chalmers is Chief Executive of Child Bereavement UK and has been involved in multi-disciplinary training of professionals in areas of loss and bereavement for over 20 years. Her qualifications include a BACP Accredited Diploma in Psychotherapeutic Counselling and a University Accredited Diploma in Bereavement Counselling. She has extensive experience of running bereavement support groups, and as part an NHS Trust bereavement team provided counselling for both individuals and couples. She has also provided counselling for staff within the NHS and young people within the voluntary sector. In addition to running the charity, Ann’s work with Child Bereavement UK includes devising training programmes, providing consultancy to other organisations in the sector and representing the charity in bringing the families’ perspective to projects and initiatives of national significance. She sits on a number of national committees and steering groups, and as part of the Bereavement Services Association has been involved in the development of the 2014 Standards for Bereavement Care Services. She has developed bereavement literature and other resources for families and professionals, and publications have included contributing a chapter to each of two books, Unexpected Death in Childhood: A Handbook for Practitioners and Intimations of Mortality: Existential Perspectives in Therapeutic Practice.