Our Helpline is open every day (10 am - 4 pm and 7 -10 pm).
The line is always answered by a bereaved parent who is there to listen and empathise.
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Join us for the first London walk of 2020
Easter Monday, 13 April, Canary Wharf
Join bereaved dad and experienced walk leader, Terry, in the first of this year's series of walks in and around London for bereaved parents, siblings and grandparents. Come and spend your Bank Holiday with others on an interesting and enjoyable day out together.
Meet at 11 am at London Bridge station. No need to book.
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Supportive weekend for parents bereaved by suicide, addiction or substance use
19-21 June at Woodbrooke, Birmingham
An opportunity to spend a few days away with people who truly understand what it means to be a parent bereaved in these particularly difficult ways.
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A place where there is no need to explain, or justify one's existence. A place just to be, to speak a very familiar language and to be understood, to make new friends, to be loved and to love in return."
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Supportive retreat for childless parents
(parents with no surviving children)
24-26 July in Oxfordshire
A unique weekend especially for parents who have lost their only child or children. If you are newly bereaved, please do know there will be a team of bereaved parent volunteers to help and support you. Come and meet with others in safe and supportive surroundings and find comfort, hope and reassurance that you are not alone.
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"I came away knowing there is some trickle of light in this grief we all share".
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Still some limited places remaining for these supportive weekends in the north of the UK...Please book soon to be sure to be there!
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Scottish Gathering
For bereaved parents, siblings or grandparents
1-3 May in Stirling
You will be warmly welcomed in a safe, supportive and compassionate environment. Here you can speak freely about your loved one and share your precious memories with others who truly understand as we have all walked in your shoes. Open to everyone in the UK and beyond!
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North East England Supportive Gathering
22 -24 May in Bishop Auckland, Co Durham
Come and spend a few days away with others who understand what it means to be a bereaved parent. This small retreat weekend offers you an opportunity to surround yourself in the comfort and warmth of a dedicated team of bereaved parent supporters.
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Bursaries are available for all our supportive events in cases of financial hardship.
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Date for your diary
... Join us at the
Annual General Meeting
of The Compassionate Friends...
Saturday 21 November 2020, 2 pm at Friends Meeting House, London
. Hear more about our charitable activities and play your part in helping us to develop our support for bereaved parents and their families.
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Thoughts from our new Chair of Trustees
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Our new Chair of Trustees, and bereaved dad, Andrew Miller, writes with honesty about the loss of his 19 year old son, Fabian, and his hopes for his 3 years tenure as Chair of our charity.
"It is hard to think of a comparable charity. TCF is there to help those who find themselves in a situation that was beyond their imagination and understanding".
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Each leaflet is downloadable from our website - click on the cover image to view.
If you would like printed copies then contact us by
email
or on 0345 120 3785. All leaflets are free to bereaved parents and their families.
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Sponsor a leaflet in memory of your loved one
The cost of sponsorship is £350 and we can include your dedication message in the leaflet. This is a wonderful way to honour the memory of our loved one - by supporting the printing and distribution of our helpful publications.
We are urgently looking for sponsors for:
* A Mother's Grief
* Prolonged and Intense Grief
* The Bereaved Lone Parent
* Our Child's Digital Legacy
Perhaps your support group, a member of your wider family, a family friend or your work colleagues would like to support your loss and remember your child or children by sponsoring one of the leaflets.
To find out more or to offer sponsorship
email us
or call 0345 120 3785.
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Donating members receive our bereavement support magazine,
Compassion
4 times a year. It is full of articles and features written by bereaved parents and families for bereaved parents and families.
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Support our work with bereaved families
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If you are a donating member of TCF - thank you so much.
If you've been helped by TCF but haven't joined yet please do.
A regular direct debit of just £5 or even £10 or more a month can really help us to plan and develop our peer support and services for bereaved families. Thank you.
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Your friends, colleagues and extended family can support our work by becoming a
Friend of TCF here.
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Could you start a local support group?
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As a group facilitator you would hold (often with others) a monthly group meeting for bereaved parents. You will create a caring, safe and supportive atmosphere that encourages group members to share their grief and experiences. As a good facilitator you will do more listening than talking and will be resilient and comfortable listening to the experiences and feelings of others.
Come along and find out more at our Training and Information Days:
BIRMINGHAM on 25 April
EXETER on 6 June
LIVERPOOL on 12 September
LONDON on 24 October
Reserve a place
by
email
or telephone 0345 123 2304
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Could be a volunteer Grief Companion?
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The Grief Companion Scheme initially began as a pilot project; but matches are now being made with newly bereaved parents already benefiting from this one-to-one contact. Join us as a volunteer Grief Companion and use your own experience and ways of coping to be alongside another bereaved parent.
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Volunteer on our National Helpline
Our Helpline provides support and information to bereaved parents, family members and professionals every day of the year.
We are looking for caring, empathetic, reliable and committed bereaved parents who could regularly donate a few hours per month to answer calls from home. Full training is given.
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Eggshells by Bryan Clover
Bryan talks openly about what the first year and a half of life was really like without his daughter, Evie. It explores the confusion, the pain and how so many friends just walked away when he and his wife were at their lowest ebb. It is brutally honest and there's no happy ending. But, it also offers hope and the knowledge that you aren't alone.
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Upright with Knickers On by Gina Claye
A book giving voice to many bereaved mothers and fathers, reflecting on difficult issues such as anger, guilt, exhaustion, and extreme symptoms of post traumatic stress. Exploring practical ways of coping with grief, this book contains many helpful ideas on what can help and offer hope tothe bereaved on their journey of grief.
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These books and many more are also available from our unique library.
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Do you live near or in Liverpool?
Our charity will benefit from the Community Matters scheme within the restaurant at
John Lewis Place To Eat, Liverpool One
in March, April and May.
Please tell as many people as you can about it so that if any of them go there to eat or drink coffee during the next three months they might be persuaded to put a green token in The Compassionate Friends box! We would love a lion's share of the £3000 available. Thank you!
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Shop at your local Co-op and support TCF
Every time members shop at Co-op throughout the UK 1% of what they spend on selected own-branded products and services goes to help fund community projects where they live. The Co-op also gives all money raised from shopping bag sales to their causes to help even more.
Up till 24 October, TCF is one of the local causes chosen by the Co-op Local Community Fund. You, your friends and supporters can help us to raise as much as you can by using your local Co-operative store. If you are a Co-op member, you can also vote for TCF by signing in to your Co-op account.
TCF has
already raised £865
since the end of October and we have seven months to go! Help us to raise much more!
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Shop at
AmazonSmile
- it's exactly the same as shopping at Amazon - and supports TCF
Sign up to
easyfundraising.com
and donate every time you shop at over 4000 stores at no cost to you.
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Finding Spring Again
"Looking back at my description of the winter of “my early grief”, I know that I have come a long way from that time of despair. I have found, especially after the first two years, that with each subsequent spring, I have rediscovered some of the pleasure I used to feel. I have also learned that just because I have found things to feel joyful about again doesn’t mean I am dishonoring my daughter’s memory. I now take her along with me in my mind and my heart".
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For more information on support and services for bereaved parents, siblings and grandparents see our website at the buttons below.
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