Det Nationale Sorgcenter

What Det Nationale Sorgcenter does

Det Nationale Sorgcenter is a Danish non-profit organization founded in 2000 that provides free grief support to bereaved individuals and their families across all age groups. The organization operates a nationwide footprint of six regional offices (Copenhagen headquarters, Aarhus, Odense, Vejle, Aalborg, and Næstved) and reaches users through the Sorglinjen telephone/chat/SMS/mailbox hotline (open daily 17–21), café evenings, conversation groups, family camps (Familiecamp), the Fortrolige Voksen mentoring program for young adults aged 18–27, men's groups, the Sunday Club for men 65+, and age-segmented grief therapy for children/youth, adults aged 28–64, and adults over 65. All volunteer-staffed services use a peer-to-peer model where every volunteer has personally experienced loss, while treatment programs are delivered by psychologists with specialized training.

The digital platform layer consists of self-service guides (Sorgguide.dk, Ventesorgsguide, Sorgvejviser, Pårørendevejviser) plus the Brevkassen mailbox service, with the Sorgpanel generating ongoing first-party research on Danish grief experiences. The organization is funded through a mix of Danish government allocations (satspulje, regional partnerships with Region Midtjylland, Region Sjælland, and Danish Regions), foundation grants (PUF, Jascha Fonden, Ristrupfondet, Hoffmann og Husmans Fond), individual donations, and fee-based professional training (including a diploma module co-developed with VIA University College). H.M. Dronning Mary serves as royal patron; the board is chaired by Mads Koch Hansen with Louise Herping Ellegaard as a recent addition; director Preben Engelbrekt (also founder) leads operations alongside Vice Director Maja Barfod Hørsving. The organization has expanded significantly in recent years, adding offices in Vejle (2023), Aalborg (2025), and Næstved (2026), launching Fortrolige Voksne (2025) and Familiecamp (2026), and entering Greenland in partnership with local health authorities.

Name

Det Nationale Sorgcenter

Legal name

Det Nationale Sorgcenter

Website

https://sorgcenter.dk

Company type

Private

Founded year

2000

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Det Nationale Sorgcenter is a Danish non-profit founded in 2000 that delivers free, nationwide grief support to bereaved individuals aged 13+ across Denmark via a peer-volunteer hotline, age-segmented therapy, support groups, and digital guides, operating from six regional offices.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Bereavement and Grief Support Services

NAICS

Other Individual and Family Services (624190), Individual and Family Services (6241), Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (624120), Social Assistance (624)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Misc Health & Allied Services, Nec (8090), Services-Health Services (8000)

akta.pro primary industry

Bereavement & Grief Support Services (Hospice-Affiliated/Independent) (HLADAHAL)

akta.pro secondary industries

Bereavement & Grief Support Services (Family Aftercare) (HSABAFAI), Non-Hospice Serious-Illness / Community-Based Palliative Care (In-Home) (HSABAFAF), Caregiver Support, Coaching & Training (HLADALAG)

Keywords

• Grief support services
• Bereavement counseling
• Peer support programs
• Family bereavement therapy
• Community mental health

Headquarters

HQ city

Copenhagen

HQ country

Denmark

HQ region

Europe

Offices6 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Government and Public Funding: Det Nationale Sorgcenter receives government grants and public funding to support its operations. The Danish Parliament's satspulje (pooled funds for social initiatives) has provided specific allocations, including 8 million DKK over 4 years for youth grief support. State-backed initiatives and regional partnerships also contribute funding.
2. Foundation and Donor Support: The organization receives support from foundations including PUF, Jascha Fonden, Ristrupfondet, and Hoffmann og Husmans Fond for specific programs such as Familiecamp. Individual donations are also solicited through the 'Støt nu' (Support Now) campaign on the website.
3. Training and Course Fees: The organization offers professional courses and diploma modules for healthcare workers and other professionals, including a 'Vejleder for børn og unge som pårørende' (Advisor for children and youth as relatives) diploma module delivered in partnership with VIA University College.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels8 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

Det Nationale Sorgcenter delivers free, nationwide grief support services in Denmark for individuals aged 13+ who have lost a close person or have a seriously ill close relative. Offerings span the Sorglinjen helpline (phone, SMS, chat, mailbox), age-segmented psychological grief treatment for children/youth, adults and the elderly, peer-support programs (café evenings, conversation groups, men's groups, Sunday Club), long-term Fortrolige Voksne mentoring for bereaved young adults, Familiecamp family retreats, and digital self-service resources (Sorgguide, Ventesorgsguide, Sorgvejviser). Services are delivered through six physical offices plus nationwide digital channels and are funded by government grants, foundations and donations.

Product overview

Det Nationale Sorgcenter operates as a unified grief support organization offering a comprehensive portfolio of services for bereaved individuals across all age groups. The core offerings include the Sorglinjen (Grief Hotline) providing phone, chat, SMS and mailbox support; professional psychological treatment services differentiated by age group (children/youth, adults 28-64, elderly 65+); and peer-based community programs including Søndagsklubben (men's community), Mandegrupper (men's support groups), Caféaftener (café evenings), and Familiecamp (family retreats). The center also provides specialized matching programs like Fortrolige Voksne (Confidant Adults) for young bereaved adults, self-service resources including Sorgguide, Ventesorgsguide and Knirkekuffert, and professional development through its Kompetencecenter. All volunteer services operate on a peer-to-peer model where staff and volunteers have personally experienced loss.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Sorglinjen: Gratis rådgivningstelefon for sorgramte, åben alle dage kl. 17-21.
• Brevkassen
• Caféaftener
• Fortrolige Voksne
• Søndagsklubben
• Mandegrupper
• Familiecamp
• Sorgguide

Products and services

• Sorglinjen (Grief Hotline) Free, anonymous telephone, chat, SMS and mailbox service staffed by trained volunteers who have personally experienced loss. Available to individuals aged 13+ who have lost someone or have a seriously ill close person. Open every evening 17:00-21:00.
• Behandling for børn og unge (Treatment for children and youth) Free psychological grief therapy for children and youth who have lost a parent or sibling, or who have a seriously ill parent or sibling. Available in Copenhagen, Aarhus, Aalborg, Odense, Vejle and Næstved. Grounded in an evidence-based program developed through a 2015-2019 Danish Social Agency study.
• Behandling for voksne (Treatment for adults 28-64) Free psychological treatment for adults aged 28-64 who have lost a partner or child and still experience intense grief after 6 months. Available in Aalborg and Næstved.
• Behandling for ældre over 65 år (Treatment for elderly) Free psychological grief treatment for adults over 65 who have lost a partner or child. Includes both group therapy and individual treatment led by psychologists with special knowledge of grief in elderly populations. Available in Copenhagen, Vejle, Aalborg and Næstved.
• Fortrolige Voksne (Confidant Adults) A matching program that connects young bereaved adults (18-27) with volunteer adults (40+) who have themselves lost a parent in their youth. The relationship lasts a minimum of 2 years and provides stable adult support into adulthood. Available in Copenhagen, Aarhus, Odense, Vejle and Aalborg.
• Søndagsklubben (Sunday Club) A community for men over 65 who have lost their partner. Meets twice monthly on Sundays in Vejle and Copenhagen for shared meals and activities facilitated by volunteer men who have also experienced loss.
• Mandegrupper - Mænd & Sorg (Men & Grief Groups) Support groups for men who have lost their partner. Meets approximately every other week in Vejle and Copenhagen from September 2026 to February 2027. Free group program with volunteer facilitators.
• Caféaftener (Café Evenings) Evening gatherings for young people and adults (16+) and elderly who have lost a loved one. Held in Copenhagen, Næstved, Vejle, Aarhus, Aalborg and Odense with different themes each evening.
• Familiecamp (Family Camp) A free weekend retreat for families who have lost a child (death at least 1 year prior, siblings aged 6-20). Provides activities for the whole family as well as age-specific activities for children, youth and parents. Held at Himmelbjerggården in Jutland and Metalskolen in Zealand. Limited to 10 families per camp with a 500 DKK refundable deposit.
• Brevkassen (Mailbox) A letter-based counseling service for bereaved individuals and relatives aged 13-99 who have a child, partner, parent or sibling who is seriously ill or deceased. Two mailboxes available: one about illness and one about death. Answers are published on the website within a week.
• Knirkekuffert (The Creaky Suitcase) A dedicated tool and resource for helping children cope with grief, named metaphorically after a creaky suitcase that reveals its contents over time.
• Sorgguide (Grief Guide) An online guide providing structured information and resources for people experiencing grief, accessible 24/7 at sorgguide.dk.
• Ventesorgsguide (Anticipatory Grief Guide) An online guide specifically for anticipatory grief, providing structured information for individuals and families grieving while a loved one is seriously ill.
• Kompetencecenter (Competence Center) Professional development and training center offering courses, webinars and online courses for healthcare workers, teachers, social workers and municipal professionals working with bereaved individuals. Includes diploma modules such as 'Vejleder for børn og unge som pårørende' delivered in partnership with VIA University College.

Quantifiable outcome

• Significant reduction in prolonged grief, depression, and PTSD in children and youth receiving therapy compared to control group
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles7 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Landsforeningen Mistet Barn (National Association for Bereaved Parents)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Landsforeningen Mistet Barn and Det Nationale Sorgcenter collaborate on Familiecamp, a weekend retreat for families who have lost a child. The two organizations also work together on the Sorgalliancen (Grief Alliance) alongside Hospice Sagen and Skyggebørn. Since 2024, they have worked closely to strengthen support for parents who have lost a child.
• Hospice SagencoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHospice Sagen joined Det Nationale Sorgcenter and Landsforeningen Mistet Barn in creating the Sorgalliancen (Grief Alliance), a national movement to make death a natural part of life and contribute to a more vibrant grief culture in Denmark.
• SkyggebørncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSkyggebørn joined Det Nationale Sorgcenter and Landsforeningen Mistet Barn in creating the Sorgalliancen (Grief Alliance), a national movement to make death a natural part of life.
• VIA University CollegecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDet Nationale Sorgcenter developed a professional diploma module 'Vejleder for børn og unge som pårørende' (Advisor for children and youth as relatives) in partnership with VIA University College in Aarhus. The program trains healthcare workers, teachers, and social workers to support children and youth affected by parental or sibling illness and bereavement.
• Dansk Sygeplejeråd (Danish Nurses' Organization)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIn 2018, Det Nationale Sorgcenter (as Børn, Unge & Sorg) conducted a questionnaire survey in partnership with Dansk Sygeplejeråd to investigate healthcare workers' roles and responsibilities regarding children and youth as relatives.
• Børn, Unge & Sorg (Children, Youth & Grief)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBørn, Unge & Sorg is a division of Det Nationale Sorgcenter focused specifically on children and youth grief. It has its own programs, staff, and history (celebrating its 25th anniversary in 2025 with H.M. Dronning Mary). It operates in close coordination with the broader organization's services.
• Danish Regions and Regional Hospitals (Region Midtjylland)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBørn, Unge & Sorg partnered with hospitals in Region Midtjylland to ensure better help for children and youth who are relatives of critically ill patients. The collaboration aims to systematically identify and support at-risk children.
• Region SjællandcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerA new collaboration ensures free grief support services for bereaved individuals in Region Sjælland, expanding the organization's geographic reach to include a new regional center.
• Grønland (Greenland) — Regional Health AuthorityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLarge foundation donations have made it possible to strengthen grief preparedness for children and youth in Greenland, including the development of a Greenlandic grief hotline. The organization is collaborating with Greenlandic health authorities on this expansion.
• Bag For En SagminorGTM or Marketing PartnerBag For En Sag collaborated with Børneavisen and Børn, Unge & Sorg on the 'Børnenes Bage Battle 2020' competition, a national baking event for schools and institutions to raise awareness and funds for children and youth grief support.
• Børneavisen (Children's Newspaper)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerBørneavisen partnered with Bag For En Sag and Børn, Unge & Sorg for the Børnenes Bage Battle 2020, hosting final events in Aarhus and Copenhagen and covering the competition.

Scale indicators11 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights8 records

Direct peers

• The Dougy Center: US-based pioneer in peer support groups for grieving children and families. Closely mirrors DNS's Børn, Unge & Sorg division and Familiecamp concept with peer-led group support for bereaved youth and families.
• Hospice Sagen: Danish hospice-focused nonprofit and co-founder of the Sorgalliancen. Comparable grief support and end-of-life care advocacy mission, although hospice-care-led rather than independent bereavement-specialist.
• Winston's Wish: UK charity supporting bereaved children and young people via helpline, online chat, and counseling. Comparable in age-segmented services (children, teens, young adults), training for professionals, and bereavement-camp programs.
• Skyggebørn: Danish nonprofit supporting children and young people who are relatives of seriously ill or bereaved parents/siblings. Co-founder of the Sorgalliancen alliance with Det Nationale Sorgcenter; overlapping mission in pediatric grief support, including camps and counseling.
• Landsforeningen Mistet Barn: Danish national association for bereaved parents; direct collaboration partner on Familiecamp and Sorgalliancen. Highly comparable in serving families bereaved of children and providing peer-led support in the same Danish geography.

Broad incumbents

• Cruse Bereavement Support: UK national bereavement charity offering free helpline, face-to-face, group, and children/youth bereavement services. Highly analogous mission, peer-led volunteer model, and free-to-user delivery.
• Marie Curie (UK): UK charity providing terminal illness care and bereavement support. Comparable in offering free bereavement helplines and counseling integrated with end-of-life care, but operates at far greater scale and broader scope.
• Compassionate Friends: International organization supporting families after the death of a child, with peer-led support groups. Comparable to DNS's Familiecamp focus on families bereaved of children, but operates as a global federated network.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/sorgcenter
• Facebookfacebook.com/detnationalesorgcenter
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/detnationalesorgcenter

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Det Nationale Sorgcenter