West Essex charity, St Clare Hospice, is now enabling people in Harlow to connect with others and access in-person grief support with the return of its Bereavement Cafés.

During the pandemic, the hospice moved its Bereavement Cafés online, in order to carry on connecting and supporting people through their grief.

The hospice has been taking cautious steps to return to offer this support on an in-person basis since July - trialling Bereavement Cafés on a weekly basis at the hospice and subsequently returning to other locations.

Bereavement Café events offer a space for people experiencing loss to connect with other residents who have had similar experiences.

It is a place to speak openly about their experiences, or just be in the company of others who understand.

Anyone who has experienced the loss of someone close to them, no matter how recent or long ago, is welcome to attend a Bereavement Café event, it is free to attend.

There are now three in-person Bereavement Cafés, including the hospice, located on 98 Potter, Harlow – on Saturday, October 30, 10am – 11.30am.

One Bereavement Café attendee, Margaret, said: “The first day I came over I was so nervous, but by the end of the afternoon I was so happy that I came.

“The cafe has helped me a lot and although I don’t feel the need to come every week, now I have made some very good friends and we get support with each other.

“I feel I have slightly moved on a tiny bit with my life.”

Fiona Venus, Bereavement Support Services Manager, at St Clare Hospice said: “Although our online communities have been a fantastic way of helping people experiencing grief to stay connected, especially through previous lockdowns, we know that some people find it easier to open up and share their experiences with others when they are in the same room.”

People who have used the hospice’s bereavement services have said that they’ve been able to return to work; felt more confident, less isolated and more supported; developed new support networks and made genuine friendships.