People of Gloucestershire will be able to access free and informal peer-to-peer bereavement support from Wednesday 22 March, when Sue Ryder launches its brand-new Grief Kind Space in Cheltenham.
Katie Holmes from Sue Ryder Leckhampton Court Hospice is supporting the opening of the Grief Kind Space. She shared her hope that the initiative would help reduce the isolation and loneliness felt by many people following a bereavement.
Katie said, “Almost every home in the UK has, or will experience the loss of someone, but Sue Ryder’s research* has found that 86% of people who had been bereaved said they felt alone in their grief.
“Our Grief Kind Space in Cheltenham will offer a free, friendly in-person drop-in session providing a safe, welcoming and supportive place for anyone who has been bereaved to share their experiences of grief, helping them to feel heard and less alone.”
Further research by the charity revealed an acute need for more informal bereavement support, which carved the way for the creation of Grief Kind Spaces.
Katie added, “We spoke with 8,000 people who have been bereaved last year and many told us what they really wanted was to meet and talk to others who had also been bereaved. I hope through our Grief Kind Space in Cheltenham at John Lewis, along with more Grief Kind Spaces opening across the country this year, we can meet this unfulfilled need.”
The Grief Kind Space in Cheltenham will be open every Wednesday from 9am until 11am in The Library at The Place to Be Café in John Lewis Cheltenham, 123 High Street, Cheltenham, GL50 1DQ.
“Our Grief Kind Space will be welcoming, inclusive and open to anyone who is over 18 and has experienced a bereavement,” shared Katie. “Whether you want to attend regularly to connect with others in similar situations or drop in for a quick chat.
“You don’t need to register and there’s no need to book. You don’t need to have received any support or care from Sue Ryder previously either. Just pop in to receive a warm welcome from our team of trained volunteers, who are there to listen if you have experienced any kind of loss at any time.”
For details of further Sue Ryder Grief Kind Spaces opening in 2023 visit www.sueryder.org/Spaces
Sue Ryder Grief Kind Spaces is not a counselling service. Anyone seeking more formal support can use Sue Ryder’s existing Online Bereavement Counselling Service and other support services.
For more information email griefkindspaces@sueryder.org
ENDS
*Survey of 2,005 UK respondents (aged 16+) and 503 UK respondents (aged 16+) who have been bereaved, which was conducted 09.07.2021 – 13.07.2021
**Sue Ryder research 2021: ‘A better route through grief: Support for people facing grief across the UK’
