National Lottery supports families dealing with loss of loved ones

Nicci said, “His blood had stopped clotting resulting in a loss of blood from his eyes, nose, ears that could not be stemmed. His liver and his kidneys were failing and he had been placed on dialysis.”

Billy was transferred from the hospital in Worthing to a hospital in London, where doctors tried to get his blood to clot using a procedure involving fresh frozen plasma (FFP). But despite their best efforts he suffered a fatal heart attack on the morning of 12th November 2020.

The loss of their son, a bright, fun-loving young man, devastated Nicci, her husband and their younger son, Henry. She said, “It was just a massive shock. I knew nothing about recreational drugs and certainly didn’t know the dangers.”

As well as dealing with her own grief, Nicci was acutely aware of the impact Billy’s death was having on Henry, who had just turned 16. She said, “He was just starting his mock exams and still had to go to school and do those. It was just a terrible time.”

Nicci talks about the loss of Billy, the devastating impact on her family and the ways they have tried to cope and come to terms with it, in a video that’s part of a new online resource created by the project Sibling Support. The collection of videos and articles, which was made with the help of funding made possible by National Lottery players, is full of practical information provided by parents and young people who have lost siblings.

Callum Fairhurst, who lost his older brother Liam in 2009, is the founder of Sibling Support. He said, “We do whatever we can to make sure siblings are always remembered. One of the key things bereaved siblings need is a strong support network - family, friends, carers. We also know how hard it can be for parents who are dealing with their own grief while trying to support their children.”

More than 100 people and organisations were involved in the creation of the videos and articles, Callum said, and the resource would not have been created without the support of The National Lottery. He added, “We wouldn’t have been able to film the stories or design these resources that are really going to help people. There are parents who are going to have support for their grief that they otherwise wouldn’t have had.”

Nicci, who has started a community interest company called Billy & Beyond that seeks to increase drug safety and awareness, said Sibling Support’s online resource would have been invaluable when her family was first bereaved. She added, “There wasn’t anywhere to go to talk to others who had had similar experiences.”

4th April 2025