Olive Academies has been proud to support the development of Ask Me: Education, a national initiative delivered by Winston Wish (now part of Child Bereavement UK*) that encourages schools to rethink how they support bereaved children and young people. At its heart is a simple principle: rather than assuming what support a bereaved pupil may need, educators should ask the young person directly and listen to their response.
Our involvement in the campaign began in early 2025, when we explored how the initiative could better reflect the realities faced by pupils in alternative provision. Since then, colleagues across OA have contributed to focus groups helping shape the training materials and guidance that now form part of the national programme.
In November 2025, we were invited to speak at the national Ask Me: Education launch event, highlighting the experiences of children and young people in alternative provision and the importance of trauma-informed approaches to bereavement.
Children in alternative provision often face significantly higher numbers of Adverse Childhood Experiences, including bereavement. The Ask Me campaign provides education professionals with the tools, insight and confidence they need to respond compassionately and effectively.
We also contributed to sector conversations through the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Grief Support and the Impact of Death on Society, helping to raise awareness of the challenges many pupils face when coping with grief alongside other barriers to learning.
Proudly, OA has engaged in the Ask Me training as early adopters during the autumn and spring terms. The campaign encourages educators to sign a manifesto that commits them to a six-point promise: to listen to bereaved pupils, to show empathy and to work alongside them to identify the support that will help them most during their education.
The work is continuing to evolve. During this term, we have begun working with Child Bereavement UK to explore the development of an Ask Me accreditation mark for schools, recognising education settings that demonstrate strong and compassionate practice in supporting bereaved pupils.
Since launching nationally in November, the campaign has already seen strong engagement across the education sector. More than 600 professionals have signed the Ask Me: Education manifesto, while over 800 have downloaded the bereavement guidance and support resources for schools. Training delivered through the programme has already reached more than 2,200 pupils, helping schools better understand how grief can affect behaviour, wellbeing and engagement with learning.
*Winston’s Wish is now part of Child Bereavement UK. As one unified organisation, the newly formed Child Bereavement will continue to support grieving young people and parents bereaved of a child, combining decades of experience to reach more bereaved families and help them to rebuild their lives.