22 June 2021, 19.00 – 20.30

Online Via Zoom

LOSS OF A SIBLING

Sometimes, as a brother or sister, it is unclear where to turn for support. We need comfort, understanding and empathy from those around us but we are not always able to find these. We may not like to approach our parents when their own pain is so raw. We might think that they are already too over-burdened to talk, or that our own emotions are less important than theirs. Sometimes we focus on relationships outside the family, but our friends might not have been in this situation and may not know how to deal with us. They may be surprised at our reactions.

This will be a safe place to meet other siblings to share our feelings.

At this time we are running this event as a facilitated online group using Zoom .

Unfortunately due to the nature of online groups we will be limiting the number of attendees and booking is via our website. We will confirm your attendance by email.

If this event is fully booked we are hoping to run further groups at a later date to give more siblings the opportunity to attend.

Please check here for more details shortly or contact events@tcf.org.uk

Please note that these online events are run by bereaved sibling volunteers. Our volunteers are not professionals and so what we offer is a uniquely warm, comforting and supportive online group organised and facilitated by siblings who have also experienced the loss of a brother or sister and have found understanding and hope themselves through The Compassionate Friends.

If you are newly bereaved:
Please note, our online support group meetings may not be the most appropriate form of support for the very newly bereaved . We know how vulnerable we can be in the early weeks and months of our grief and how raw the pain and heartache can feel.

In an online support environment, we will of course do all we can to express our empathy to the newly bereaved verbally but we won’t be able to offer the very important physical presence and contact that physical groups can offer especially when group members become very upset. Our online meetings tend to be shorter than physical meetings which also means that we won’t have as much time to hear from all group members in the ways in which we would do if we were meeting face to face.

We know that in the early days of our grief, there may be a strong need to tell our ‘story’ about the loss of our sibling. We know that this is a very important part of grieving – however, our support groups, whether online or face to face can only offer the opportunity to say a little about your loss and in not too much detail so as to enable everyone to have a chance to speak and also to minimise the risk of anyone attending being re-traumatised around their own loss by hearing graphic details of someone else’s loss. It would help to know how early you are in your loss and whether you are already receiving TCF support – what we don’t wish to do is increase the vulnerability of any bereaved person by not managing your expectations about what our support group offers and is unable to offer. We may make contact if we need to explore with you whether our online group support is the most appropriate way to support you at this stage in your loss.

Please note this group is for bereaved siblings in the UK only – if you want to join from abroad please contact us on events@tcf.org.uk

From a sibling who attended a previous group:

'I found it very refreshing to attend a dedicated group for the first time. I felt as if I was in the right place with people who understood while also being very humbled from hearing the other participants sharing.'

'Lovely to have a chance to meet other people living with the same feelings as me.'

Please give your feedback here.