A group supporting those who are bereaved, through the difficult days, weeks, months and even years following their loss.
Combating loneliness and social isolation of bereaved people is paramount in these difficult times. Older people can be especially vulnerable to loneliness and social isolation which can lead to depression and a serious decline in physical health and well-being, but they are not alone in this as bereavement can affect young and old alike.
NHS statistics state that in England, 51% of all people over 75 live alone and 5 million older people say the television is their main form of company. People can become socially isolated for a variety of reasons and the loss of spouses and friends feature highly in the causes of social isolation and may leave surviving partners feeling vulnerable.
In 2001, a study found that as many as 92% of young people in the UK will experience bereavement of what they defined as a ‘close’ or ‘significant’ relationship* and that around 7% will lose a parent before the age of 16**.
The impact of bereavement from a young age into middle age, with the loss of a parent, sibling or child can lead to challenges to hold life together, to form other friendship and to live a full life.
Even for those of us who have strong and supportive family and friends there comes a point when we don’t want to bother people with how we are feeling because so often there is an expectation that we should be ‘over it by now’. Bereaved people need somewhere to go when the day seems impossible to deal with. Very few need counselling or any other kind of clinical intervention; they do need somebody to listen to them: they do need care and compassion to help them through the dark days. They need friends...
Find out more at friendstogetherbereavement.org
Monday 8th December 3pm - 4.30pm Riverside Café, Farnham Maltings
So begins the well-known poem by WH Auden. It seems to sum up how we can feel when we have just lost someone close to us. It can feel as if the world should stop. How can things be normal when something so catastrophic has happened? Yet the world does go on. Time does not stop and, gradually, we pick up life again. That does not mean that the person we love is forgotten, we just need to find a way of living that re-locates that person.
What those we connect with have to say...
A brief history of the project and it's impact...
Friends Together Bereavement Support have continued to help people who have experienced a bereavement. Initially still operating a telephone service and meeting via Zoom, the group has returned to meeting in person both regular daytime and evening sessions each month, but continues on Zoom for those who find it a helpful way to meet. The group provides a much needed service to the community and whilst there are only relatively small numbers attending, the support is well received and appreciated.
Friends Together Bereavement Support have continued to help people who had experienced a bereavement. Initially still operating a telephone service and meeting via Zoom, the group has returned to meeting in person both regular daytime and evening sessions each month, but continues on Zoom for those who find it a helpful way to meet. The group provides a much needed service to the community and whilst there are only relatively small numbers attending, the support is well received and appreciated.
Friends Together Bereavement Support have continued to help people who had experienced a bereavement. Initially still operating a telephone service and meeting via Zoom, the group has returned to meeting in person both regular daytime and evening sessions each month, but continues on Zoom for those who find it a helpful way to meet. The group provides a much needed service to the community and whilst there are only relatively small numbers attending, the support is well received and appreciated.
Friends Together Bereavement Support have continued to help people who had experienced a bereavement, initially meeting in person and then operating a telephone and Zoom service. The group provides a much needed service to the community and whilst there are only relatively small numbers attending, the support is well received and appreciated. The team hopes to be able to return to meeting in person as the pandemic eases in 2021.
During 2019 Friends Together Bereavement Support continued to help people who had experienced a bereavement. Friends Together meets every Monday evening (except Bank Holidays) and in the afternoons of the 2nd and 4th Mondays of the month at the Spire Café at the Spire Church in Farnham. The group provides a much needed service to the community and whilst there are only relatively small numbers attending, the support is well received and appreciated.
During 2018 Friends Together Bereavement Support continued to help people who had experienced a bereavement. Friends Together meets every Monday afternoon (except Bank Holidays) and in the evenings of the 2nd and 4th Mondays of the month. With the move to a new venue, the Spire Café at the Spire Church in Farnham, and increased awareness among the Churches, general practices, and social services, the group provides a much needed service to the community. Whilst there are only relatively small numbers attending, the support is well received and appreciated.
2017 saw the Bereavement support group, Friends Together, join FCCT and continue to grow and flourish. With an evening group starting midway through the year to support those unable to make the daytime group. With a regular attendance each week and a supportive volunteer team, the next 12 months will hopefully see Friends Together supporting many more individuals.