Young people build communities to cope with grief

Luke Alfano founded Too Young to Grieve, a community for young adults experiencing loss, after his father died when Alfano was 21.

Alfano started the group because he felt there were few resources for young people dealing with bereavement. The organization provides a space for people aged 18 to 35 to meet in person and participate in activities like hiking, pottery painting, and football tournaments.

The group now operates in more than 20 locations, including London, Manchester, the United States, Australia, and Belfast. Members of the community, such as Chris Guiller and Katherine Macauley, say the group helps them feel less isolated by providing a space to talk about their feelings with others who have had similar experiences. Guiller now runs the Belfast branch of the organization. Alfano wants to see better resources for coping with bereavement in schools and universities.

While the Department for Education recently issued guidance requiring lessons on loss in primary and secondary schools starting in September 2026, no such guidance exists in Northern Ireland. A spokesperson for the Department of Education stated that schools have pastoral care policies and that the Council for the Curriculum, Examinations and Assessment provides resources for teachers.