Local Charity raises grief awareness

This National Grief Awareness Week, end-of-life care and bereavement charity Sue Ryder are signposting grieving people to the local support available to them as they face the festive season.

Sue Ryder, which runs two Grief Kind Spaces in Wiltshire and Sue Ryder Leckhampton Court Hospice in neighbouring Gloucestershire, offer a range of bereavement services and want to raise awareness of the support available - especially at a time of year traditionally filled with celebrations that can intensify feelings of sadness for people who are grieving. 

Sue Ryder’s local Service Director, Elise said: “Grief can feel isolating at any time, but it can hit people harder during the festive season. This is why we want to remind people the support available in the region, and the steps people can take to acknowledge their grief and care for their emotional wellbeing.

“Sue Ryder runs Grief Kind Spaces in Swindon and Bradford on Avon in Wiltshire providing a place for anyone who has been bereaved to share their experiences of grief, helping them to feel heard and less alone.”  

Sue Ryder Grief Kind Spaces are held regularly in different venues in the area and operate on a drop-in basis with no need to register. 

In anticipation of the additional support people who are grieving might need at this time of year, the charity wants local people to know they will be operating at the following dates, locations and times during December and the start of January before returning to regular drop-in session times: 

• Swindon at Village Hotel Swindon: Mondays between 10am and 12pm on 2, 9, 16 and 23 December 2024 and 6 January 2025   
• Bradford on Avon at TheHub@BA15, Old Town Hall: Tuesdays between 10am and 12pm on 5, 12, 19 December 2024 and 9 January 2025 

Elise said: “Grief doesn’t have a timeline, and the holidays, festivals or seasons you traditionally celebrate can be an emotionally complex time. We really hope by sharing details of the Sue Ryder bereavement support available here in the region over the coming months we can help people find a way to navigate this season." 

For more information on Sue Ryder Grief Kind Spaces visit sueryder.org/Spaces 

If you are unable to attend a Sue Ryder Grief Kind Space, Sue Ryder also offers free online bereavement support including free video counselling, an online community, advice and resources at sueryder.org/grief