CEO MONTHLY / FEBRUARY 2026 14 ince the days of the two world wars, death denial has been a constant undercurrent of UK society, which does not want to think about death, nor know much about the impact bereavement can have. On a mission to change this, AtaLoss exists to make sure that everyone in the UK has access to bereavement support when someone has died. AtaLoss’ bereavement support is intended to tackle this taboo subject, allowing everyone to be supported in the range of ways bereavement impacts and to journey through grief. As for what this looks like, the charity prides itself on delivering timely intervention by raising awareness of the impact of bereavement through media channels and an all-party parliament group, delivering a signposting service for bereaved people to find tailored support, and providing support in communities through both The Bereavement Journey® peer support programme and the formation of Bereavement Friendly Communities (those which have adopted AtaLoss’ bereavement support charter.) The result of this support is that AtaLoss is today the ultimate resource for those aiming to learn more about death and grief, with around 19,000 new people visiting its signposting service per month and more than 570 locations offering The Bereavement Journey®, with new locations Community Bereavement Support from a FounderLed Charity Decades of ‘death denial’ have left countless bereaved people feeling isolated and unable to access the help they need. Unsupported bereavement can have dire consequences, from poor mental/ physical health to debt and substance misuse. Prospects are much better for those who access timely support, with approximately 90% navigating their bereavement healthily. There to ensure the latter is AtaLoss, whose CEO, Yvonne Tulloch, has been named the Most Influential CEO 2026 – Bereavement Support in this feature. We caught up with Yvonne for more on this charity. being added daily across churches, prisons, workplaces, universities, and other settings across the UK. Thus, it is estimated that every £1 invested in The Bereavement Journey® to date has generated £250 in societal wellbeing. Built on Christian values, this founder-led social impact charity was established in 2016, after Yvonne was suddenly widowed and recognised the lack of support. The charity’s first breakthrough came around four years later, as the COVID-19 pandemic meant that the subject of death was on the nation’s lips. During this time, the charity began offering its services online. Queen Elizabth II’s death in 2022 was the second breakthrough, with Yvonne speaking to the press about her death lifting the lid off unprocessed loss. “As this was observed, we were noticed by the media and became spokespeople for grief and death. This has continued, with AtaLoss being turned to frequently for comment on tragedies or grief related items in the news.” Beyond the loss of her husband, Yvonne’s inspiration for this Christian-led charity actually came more than 20 years earlier, when she received a ‘calling’ that she believes to have been from God. This has shaped her vocation and motivation in the years since, leading Yvonne to be ordained in the Anglican church and experience funerals and bereavement support first-hand. Even this could not prepare Yvonne for becoming a widow however, which sent her life into freefall, reinforcing society’s need for this kind of support. Thankfully, Yvonne fell into the aforementioned statistic that 85-90% of bereaved people can navigate their loss healthily with the right support network. For Yvonne, there were two relevant support initiatives that helped her to process her grief, and it was on the back of these that she made the decision to start AtaLoss. Fast forward to today, and the charity has just undergone major growth, with its potential being recognised in 2024 in the form of a large grant, allowing for a bigger team and new structure. Today, AtaLoss comprises a diverse group of employees, freelancers, and volunteers working across the UK. Everyone is committed to the impact the charity has in changing people’s lives, but they know that their work is far from over. Future aims include embedding their signposting service into the public health sector, but achieving this will require securing around £800,000 a year in sustainable funding – a modest investment given the reach and impact of the charity’s work. ‘On this, its 10th anniversary year, AtaLoss remains more dedicated than ever to building a nation that understands and supports bereavement and making its support available in every community across the UK. For the invaluable role Yvonne continues to play in making this a reality, it is our pleasure to recognise her with a title in this feature. We strongly encourage everyone to follow the link below to the website/signposting service, to find out more about AtaLoss’ necessary work supporting bereavement. S Contact: Yvonne Tulloch Company: AtaLoss Web Address: https://www. ataloss.org/
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