Do you know about our Bereavement Café?
At Mary Stevens Hospice, we are proud to share news of a Bereavement café launching in Blackheath, October 15th . This will add to our existing commitment to the local community in supporting with bereavement. We currently offer 1-2-1 supportive listening , counselling, support for children and young people, Bereavement Hubs in the local area and our Wind Phone and Whispers on the Wind on site at the hospice.
At the café you will meet Vicky, one of our Bereavement Support Coordinators, who is leading the Bereavement café along with 2 trained volunteers. Vicky recalls how the idea for the Bereavement Café developed. “After a colleague spent time in the Mary Stevens Hospice shop in Blackheath, it was apparent that bereavement support was needed for the community in Blackheath. Then it was a process of finding the right venue, recruiting volunteers and spreading the word. We are thrilled and proud to be able to help in this way.” Vicky goes on to say, “Our aim is for the group to feel as though it belongs to the people attending. We also hope to give some insight and knowledge about grief and dispel the many myths around grief.”
Vicky explains what you can expect when visiting our Bereavement café, “You will be warmly welcomed by myself and our trained volunteers. Our role is to listen to you and offer any support we can. We recognise that all people experience grief differently and our aim is to provide you with the right environment where you can share your feelings openly and without judgement.” The café will also have some useful signposting material from trusted organisations which can offer guidance with the more practical parts of life. We have found that this has been incredibly useful at our other groups. Our Bereavement Hubs, in Halesowen and Stourbridge, have been well supported with attendees saying, “It felt very safe to share my feelings and it’s nice to be with people who understand. To be able to talk to staff from Mary Stevens Hospice staff and other bereaved people has been invaluable.”
Although the Bereavement Café is in Blackheath, it is open for anyone to attend, no prior connection to the hospice is needed. You don’t need to book, however, if you’d like a chat with Vicky or one of the Bereavement Support Coordinators at the hospice, please give us a call 01384-445423.
A final word from Vicky, “Grief is so hard- you don’t have to do it alone, we’re here to help.”
Our first Bereavement café is Wednesday 15th October 10-11:30am at Blackheath Coronation Social Club B65-9BD. Further sessions will be Wednesday 19th November and 17th December