For bereaved parents - finding comfort and hope
Losing a son or daughter at any age is one of the most heart-breaking things you can ever face as a parent. Whether this happened to you recently or some time ago, we invite you to join us on this Bereaved Parent Support Weekend. You will be with others who understand your situation first-hand and are ready to listen and offer you reassurance and hope for the journey ahead.
Making time for you
Many have found that taking an entire weekend away in safe surroundings, where everything is catered for, is a time when they can begin to explore their feelings of sadness and loss.
During a support weekend, you will have time to seek help and advice from compassionate people who have also experienced the pain of losing a son or daughter. Listening to how others have started to rebuild their lives will give you hope and the assurance that you do not have to put on a brave face and cope on your own.
It is also an ideal opportunity to make caring friendships with people who you could turn to for understanding and support in the future.
What to expect
Our support weekends take place in beautiful and relaxing settings providing opportunities to walk, take time out by yourself and be in the company of other parents who are facing similar challenges.
You will have opportunities to:
• Understand some of the different ways that men and women grieve
• Discover new ways to handle relationships
• Learn strategies to help you in your journey through loss
• Have time to talk about your son or daughter
• Participate in a time of thanksgiving to celebrate the life of your child
Team
The weekend will be led by Bereaved Parent Support Coordinators Dave and Jane Park and their team. They lost their middle son Ben, then aged eleven, in 2003, and know how difficult life can be following a bereavement.
‘I don’t feel alone anymore. I have made friends for life and learnt that all my emotions are normal.’
Whether your son or daughter died last week, last month, or years ago, if we can help you on the difficult ‘journey’ of grieving, we would love you to join us. If you have ever felt that no-one else understands the pain, heartache and the devastation you feel since your son or daughter died, this weekend is for you.
For bereaved siblings - Brothers and Sisters: Life After Loss
Losing a brother or sister early in life is something no one expects – it changes everything. The gap they leave is huge.
Our residential weekend offers understanding, encouragement and support to any adult sibling in the UK who has lost a brother or sister in any circumstance and at any age.
This event is a wonderful opportunity to meet and share with others and is aimed mainly at anyone in their 20s and 30s living with loss after the death of a sibling.
The comfortable and relaxed environment creates a safe space to meet and share with others whose brother or sister has died, discover strategies to cope with life, and build resilience for the future.
‘It was really good and helpful. If you don’t feel confident speaking to others in a group you don’t feel pressured to.’
What to expect
During this event you will have the opportunity to:
• Hear from others who have suffered the death of a brother or sister
• Share your story with others who really understand
• Discover practical ways to work through the pain of bereavement and loss
• Receive comfort, hope and help for the journey ahead
Mealtimes and some sessions will be spent with the bereaved parents led by Bereaved Parent Support Coordinators Dave and Jane Park. The separate sibling sessions will be led by members of our bereaved sibling team, who have all themselves lost a brother or sister.
You are welcome to come on your own or with your parents.
‘It’s not morbid, it’s nice, it’s a place you can remember and talk about what you are finding difficult and help each other.’
Dave and Jane Park
Bereaved Parent Support Coordinators
jane.park@cff.org.uk
029 2081 0800
Further information
If you can afford to pay for a ticket, please go ahead and book. If that isn’t possible at the moment, please email our Bereaved Parent Support Coordinators Dave and Jane Park on the email above, as we may be able to help you. We never want money to be the reason you are unable to access our resources and support.
We regret that it is not generally possible to provide refunds, due to our financial commitment to the venue.
