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Singer George Shelley finds comfort at TCF retreat

"Grief is like glitter...however much you try to clear it up it never really goes; little bits always remain".

In May 2017, the musician and presenter George Shelley tragically lost his sister in a sudden accident. Harriet Shelley was 21 and her brother's closest confidante. In his first documentary, George courageously opens up about his struggles with grief.

Having spent the last 12 months struggling to talk about his loss and to deal with it, George embarks on a series of extraordinarily candid and raw discussions with his parents and best friend in a bid to help him cope with, and better understand, the process of grieving. He opens up to them in ways he has never done before and, for the first time, also speaks to other young people who have suffered the loss of a sibling and who have found peer support through The Compassionate Friends. George finds talking and sharing with other bereaved siblings at a Compassionate Friends retreat earlier this year helpful in understanding and coping with the grief for his sister.

View the documentary George Shelley - Learning to Grieve

For more details of support for bereaved siblings (18 years+) contact info@tcf.org.uk

New leaflets for bereaved parents and families

Just published...brand new supportive leaflets for bereaved parents and their families. Click on the leaflet title below to download.

All our leaflets are written by bereaved parents for bereaved parents and are packed with helpful and supportive information.

* BEREAVED THROUGH DRUG OR ALCOHOL USE

* OUR ADULT CHILD'S PARTNER AND FRIENDS

The Compassionate Friends publish over 30 leaflets on many aspects of child loss - including specialist leaflets for bereaved grandparents and siblings. We also offer leaflets for professionals and those supporting the bereaved.

All our leaflets are FREE to bereaved parents and their families and are also available to download on the TCF website.

Professionals can order copies here or contact our office at info@tcf.org.uk

“The wound is where the light enters you”. Third supportive weekend for parents bereaved by suicide or substance use

It was a huge privilege to meet all of those parents who came to our weekend from 6-8 July for parents bereaved by suicide, addiction or substance use at the beautiful and peaceful venue of Woodbrooke in Birmingham. It was wonderful to see those who have been before and also meet the parents who joined us for the first time.

There was such an incredible atmosphere of warmth and support at the weekend. Our programme included a range of discussion groups on many aspects of bereavement, guest speakers, workshops, craft activities, and a candle lighting...plus plenty of time to talk, be together, and relax in the stunning gardens at Woodbrooke. (Some of us even managed to watch the England vs Sweden football World Cup quarter final!)

A huge thank you also to our guest volunteers at the weekend. Sangeeta Mahajan was our speaker on Saturday morning and in her honest, moving and inspiring address she told us about the loss of her son Saagar from suicide, what has helped her as she tries to cope without him, and the work she does now in prevention of young suicide.

Download the slides from Sangeeta's presentation here.

Christina Thatcher also joined us to facilitate a brilliant creative writing workshop on Saturday afternoon, where parents were able to discover structures and techniques to express their feelings and emotions about their loss and to honour their beloved sons and daughters.

View an album of a photos from this supportive retreat.

Next year's supportive weekend for parents bereaved by suicide, addiction or substance use is from 23-25 August 2019 at Woodbrooke.

Summer 2018 publications - now out

The Compassionate Friends supportive magazine for bereaved parents - Compassion - is now out. Written by bereaved parents, for bereaved parents, the magazine is mailed to all donating members of our charity, together with our charity newsletter - TCF News.