Online Support Group for Parents Bereaved of a Child with Complex Needs

11 July 2024, 19.00 – 20.30

Online Via Zoom

BOOK HERE

Losing a Child with Complex Needs

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. 

ABOUT THE GROUP

To be bereaved of a much-loved child is heart-breaking. We may have had a child with learning difficulties, physical disabilities, mental health issues, neurodiversity, multiple health problems, a lifelong disability, complex needs, or a disability following an injury or illness. We may have been grieving already, in some respects. We have already experienced the pain of watching our child deteriorate in health. They may even have made progress in their health on occasion. Now it can feel like this has been so cruelly snatched away from us.

There may have been uncertainty in the lead up to our child's death. It might have appeared likely or it might have been unexpected. Whether or not it was anticipated, it still might have come as a complete shock. We may have the sense that there was never enough time to say our goodbyes and create precious memories.

This occasional online support group is for parents who have experienced the loss of a son or daughter who had complex needs or disabilities.  Please note our sharing together in this group will not focus mainly on the cause of death of our child but very much on the impact of our loss .

The group will offer you an opportunity to talk and share with other parents.

PRACTICAL INFORMATION

This group is primarily for anyone who is bereaved of a child who had complex needs or disabilities. 

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 parents 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 parent volunteers. Our volunteers are not professionals and so what we offer is a uniquely warm, comforting and supportive online group organised and facilitated by parents who have also experienced the loss of a child 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 parents 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 parents in the UK only – if you want to join from abroad please contact us on events@tcf.org.uk

What parents have said after an earlier group:

'...it was such a lovely feeling to meet other people, without judgement, to discuss issues that might be hard to discuss with others who have not been on this journey. I felt I really understood/connected with the other parents and that they understood me when I spoke. It felt validating, helped to ease the loneliness and shone a light on the different circumstances we were each experiencing from our trauma.'

BOOK FOR THIS GROUP HERE