The intention of the Mourning Cafe is to provide connection to anyone who feels isolated in their grief - we have grief and loss in common.
☕️ Join us for elevenses.
We begin at 10:30am and close at midday. Herbal tea and biscuits are provided. We are mindful of dietry requirements - gluten free and vegan options are always available.
‘I attended yesterday and felt hugely peaceful, liberated and positive after hearing so many others sharing their experiences of loved ones; I didn't feel ready to share just yet.
Hannah held such a beautiful space for everyone and I felt thoroughly moved by the whole experience.
Thank you Hannah’
☕️ Who is the Mourning Cafe for?
Members of our city attend Dying to Share events because they are:
- In grief about a loved one(s) dying.
- Anticipating loss and living with grief following a loved one's medical diagnosis, or caring for someone with an incurable illness.
- Feeling isolated in their grief and/or noticing there is an expectation they move on and 'recover' from their grief
- Seeking out impartial connection as they process the emotions of their own medical diagnosis.
- Not yet experiencing someone close to them dying and wondering how they will cope.
The Mourning Cafe is an opportunity for members of our local community to share and story-tell their experiences of grief and loss with the intention to increase awareness of death and dying with the desire to help us all live and die well.
Be supported as you share with like-hearted locals, come alone, or with friends
This event is for everyone and for all ages.
Find out more via our online community notice board.
Dying to Share is supported by Brighton and Hove City Council and is free to attend.
Dying to Share gatherings are held on the last Thursday of the month between 7:30-9:15pm on the third floor of the Cornerstone Community Centre.
Venue
The Mourning Cafe is held on the top floor of the Cornerstone. It is beautiful, calm space and very private. It is fully accessible and has a lift for wheelchair access.
Meet Hannah Rayya
Hosting Dying to Share and the Mourning Cafe is a role I deeply cherish. Sitting in circle is a sacred act, yet there is something wonderfully informal, familiar and cosy about coming together with a mug of warm tea.
Dying to Share is about connection - we have grief and loss in common. I host a place for everyone to share what is present for them.
Many people attend Dying to Share more than once. I believe this is because they find something special and heart-warming in the connection members of the circle create. Many feel isolated in their grief. Dying to Share gently softens the experience of isolation, members realise they are no longer alone - healing happens in community.
My experience
Supporting family members throughout their dying journey, I desired to find a way to assist others in our community die feeling loved, held and safe.
I discovered the art of Soul Midwifery and completed my training with Felicity Warner.
I later volunteered as a Community Companion at St Barnabas Hospice in Worthing. At the Martlets Hospice in Hove, I volunteered to sit with the dying. Individuals who had no family and had expressed they did not want to die alone.
During 2020-21 I worked for the home care agency Caremark. As a care assistant I visited people's homes to provide personal and bespoke care.
