7 February 2024, 19.00 – 20.30

Online Via Zoom

BOOK FOR THIS GROUP

When you book for this group you will be directed to a new web page which asks you to tell us about your bereavement/s. We ask you for details of your bereavement/s so we can make the group as helpful as we can for you. 

LOSS OF A SIBLING

ABOUT THE GROUP

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.

PRACTICAL INFORMATION

This group is primarily for anyone over the age of 18 who is bereaved of a brother or sister.

We do apologise but this online group is not suitable for anyone bereaved 3 months or less. If you are under 3 months bereaved please contact the Helpline on 0345 123 2304 for listening support.

To keep the group as helpful as possible, we limit the number of attendees. Please note we give priority to siblings who have not attended an online group before.

Once you book you will receive more details and the Zoom link closer to the meeting date. Just a reminder to check your spam or junk email folders if you haven’t received the link for the online meeting by the day of the meeting. Please contact info@tcf.org.uk if you have any questions or queries.

Please can we ask that you join the group using a desktop computer, a laptop or a tablet. We do apologise but it is not appropriate to join a Zoom sharing session using a mobile phone as you will not be able to see the other participants in the group.

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.

Group numbers will be limited so do please book via this web page to secure your place. We can only take bookings online and if we are fully booked priority will be given to those siblings who have not attended a Compassionate Friends online support group before. Once you book, you will receive an automatic acknowledgment by email. Nearer the time, you will receive the details of the Zoom link to attend the group. Just a reminder to check your spam or junk email folders if you haven’t received the link for the online meeting by the day of the meeting.

Please contact events@tcf.org.uk if you have any questions or queries.

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

If you are concerned about giving your contact details online when you book, please email us at helpline@tcf.org.uk or info@tcf.org.uk saying you want to join the group.

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.

 

From siblings who have attended a previous group:

'Sharing the loss of a sibling with other people going through tremendous grief and sharing stories/experiences as well as difficult feelings and emotions was very helpful to me.'

"Thankyou for such a supportive and safe space in last night’s online session for us who have lost siblings ❤️ "

'I found the group very helpful and to meet people who have lost siblings in different ways. I think it is helpful that people are present who have experienced their grief (so far) over very different timescales. The facilitators were very friendly and supportive and managed the group well, being responsive to whatever people brought.'

BOOK FOR THIS GROUP