Hospice launches new free online bereavement support service

Independent Suffolk charity, St Elizabeth Hospice has extended its support to the local community with the launch of its new free online bereavement support service, LivingGrief.

Following the impact of the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic highlighting the importance of technology, such as Zoom, in enabling communities to help one another. St Elizabeth Hospice has received a grant from Hospice UK, which it has used to create and trial its new online support service, LivingGrief Sessions.

The new online service, initially being hosted for six stand-alone sessions, aims to support anyone in East Suffolk who is bereaved, even if they have had no previous contact with the hospice. While it will also see the hospice extend its services by providing webinars, training and practical tools to help community groups and care homes with bereavement.

Katherine Grogan, Emotional Wellbeing Team Lead and Counsellor at St Elizabeth Hospice, said: “We understand initiating conversations about death and bereavement is very difficult but often by not talking many people can be left feeling isolated, especially during the unusual circumstances brought by the Covid-19 pandemic.

“This is why have developed our online LivingGrief Sessions, as we want to enable as many people in our community to have access to bereavement information and support to ensure nobody is left feeling isolated.”

“People experience grief in different ways and there is no right or wrong way to feel, but through LivingGrief we want to bring people together and let them know they are not alone and we are here to help, to listen and to talk whenever needed.”

LivingGrief Sessions will provide users with information on what may they experience during bereavement as well as offer guidance on how to support one another through grief and the opportunity to speak with others living through similar experiences to them, which is often beneficial.

With the first support session held on 13th January, LivingGrief Sessions will provide online group support via Zoom for one hour facilitated by members of St Elizabeth Hospice’s emotional and spiritual wellbeing team.

As well as this members of the team will be available to provide guidance via confidential conversations on the LivingGrief phone line, open Monday to Friday 9am-4pm on 01473 707999.

Two LivingGrief sessions will be in February, on 3rd and 24th February, for details of all sessions and to register visit www.stelizabethhospice.org.uk/livinggrief-sessions/ or email the LivingGrief team on: LivingGriefSessions@stelizabethhospice.org.uk.

Or register by calling 01473 707999 (Mon-Fri 9am-4pm).