What to expect fromthe bereavement group

• A very friendly and open group where everyone istreated with care and respect

• Encouragement for everyone to have a voice althoughwe understand that speaking for some is moredifficult than others

• Listening with open ears

• Support, friendship and guidance to help you travelalong your grief journey

• Understanding that everyone grieves differently andloves differently so each person has a personal griefjourney to make

• Enable you to talk, share, and listen to others who arealso going along their grief journey and together wecan with care, support and friendship travelthis difficult road together

We would love you tocome and join our group

Here are a few quotesfrom past members…

www.rosedalefuneralhome.co.uk

“it has been interesting to listen to otherpeople’s views, it shows that my feelings arenormal”

“this group has been such a support, I am lookingforward to joining the monthly group”

“I would recommend the monthly follow-ongroup, you are met with smiles andrefreshments and you make friends”

“We all understand how everyone is feeling”

“Take a deep breath and go, it’s a great help toshare stories”

“In the time I have been coming to the group, I’veseen people change and be able to talk veryopenly about what they are going through”

“My doctor advised me to go and I was veryunsure but I’m so glad I did, please give it atry, it’s great”

“I would certainly recommend the follow-on groupto anyone who has been bereaved”

FOLLOW-ON GROUPONCE A MONTH

ANNUALSOCIAL EVENT

THE WALK OFREMEMBRANCE

CHRISTMAS SERVICEOF REMEMBRANCE

Events heldduring the year:

Frequently asked questions… Weeks 1-8 of theBereavementSupport Group

How much does it cost to attend?This group is free to attend and open toeveryone no matter which funeral directorsthey used or how long ago their love one died.There is no charge to attend andrefreshments are provided free of charge.If you wish, at the end of the group you maymake an optional donation, but there is noobligation to do so. Any donations given areused to pay for resources to run futuregroups, or to subsidise an event such as amemorial service or group outing.

How long does the group last?Each session lasts for 1½ hours.We follow an eight-week programme set outby the Centre for Grief Journey written byDr Bill Webster.

What do you do at each session?We work on a different part of the griefjourney each week, such as yearning, guilt,anger, learning to live with sorrow orloneliness. We usually watch a video thatexplores other people’s feelings around thetopic for each week, and we may also sharea poem or reading.You may be asked to bring in a photo ormemory to share with the group.We may incorporate an activity such asmaking a memory jar. This is a very poignantactivity and encourages us to reflect onspecific memories about the person whohas died.

Do I have to attend all eight weeks?We ask you to come and meet us in sessionone and by the end of session two we ask youto commit to the eight-week programme.By this time, bonds are formed and we thenclose the group to new members.

Does it matter what relationshipI had with the deceased?It doesn’t matter what yourrelationship was with thedeceased. Many people whoattend have been bereaved of ahusband or wife, but there areothers who are grieving for apartner, friend, parent, siblingor child.

Does it matter howlong ago I was bereaved?It doesn’t matter how long agoyou were bereaved thegroup is open to all. Wehave had a gentlemanattend who lost his firstwife more than 40 yearsago but had nevergrieved. However, if yourbereavement is very recent, it may bebetter to wait for a few months.

Does it matter if I have cometo a group before?You are welcome to attend the groupmore than once if you feel it would bebeneficial.

Can I bring a partner, friendor child?If you feel you would like to bringsomeone along with you then please doso, particularly if you feel you need moralsupport on the first week. It is howeverimportant that you feel able to speakopenly with them present. Please feelfree to discuss this with us beforedeciding.

We have put together an eight-weekbereavement support programme inconjunction with Dr Bill Webster andThe Grief Journey.

What we look at and discuss in theeight-week programme:

We will look at the following: yearning,numbness, grief, mourning, confronting ouremotions and fears, guilt, anger, depressionand loneliness, re-organisation and change.

Each week we look at different aspects ofthe grief journey and as a group we look athow these emotions are affecting us andhow we are coping with having to deal withthese emotions. We spend time togetherdiscussing and looking at videos producedby Dr Bill Webster. During the eight weekswe will share memories and bring in photosand items that we hold dear, enabling thegroup to gain an insight into the relationshipyou had with your loved one.

We believe that no one person’s grief isworse than the next, as your grief is theworst kind of grief for you.

At Rosedale Funeral Home, we believe thatto openly share in a safe environment is

the key to enabling us all to travel alongthe grief journey. Each of us travelalong this road at a different pacebut with support, friendship andunderstanding the road we have totake can be eased and to travel down

this road with others who empathiseand understand, can ease those feelings

of isolation and loneliness.