Bereavement is not suffered exclusively by the elderly or retired.
We already run 4 support groups across Essex for those going through bereavement and needing additional support; in Ingatestone, Chelmsford, Braintree and Writtle. The free service, available to anyone who needs it – not just our clients – has won the team multiple awards over the 20 years or so the groups have been running, with one user of the service recently telling us; “I sincerely couldn’t have gone on without the bereavement group’s support. It took me weeks just to leave the house after my husband died, and thank goodness I found them.”
Our Operations Manager, Craig Jackson, said; “As you may imagine, the typical age for those attending these groups is 70 and above, following the death of their loved one. In recent years, however, we have seen an increase in people considerably younger wanting to attend, suffering bereavement following sickness or injury, or after the death of a parent. They’ve felt a little out of place, and so we have set up a service more suitable for people of their age range and who have to fit this extra support in around their working week.”
The new group will meet for the first time at Essex’s central library in Chelmsford on Saturday 10th February at 9am, and every four weeks thereafter. It will be informal, no counselling will be given, just people attending who have been through similar situations. Drinks and shoulders will be offered to any who need them.
If you know of someone who you feel may benefit from this service, or if you are interested in volunteering some time to help run one of our Bereavement Support Groups, please contact funerals@chelmsfordstar.coop or 0800 0284808. Alternatively, check our branch pages for more information on our other available groups or our one-to-one counselling service in Danbury.