Compassion Autumn Winter 2023

20 tcf.org.uk adversity. While I managed to get through the loss of William, I cannot imagine dealing with a vast range of other things. Like being a citizen of Ukraine and being bombed and having my home and country destroyed, or seeing up close the aftermath of a major road incident. For others, the thought of losing a child is beyond their comprehension. Since the loss, I have seen the world through a very different lens. Stressful periods at work and in my home life are easier to manage, and I feel I am a more compassionate and empathetic person than I was before. While I haven’t lost my determination and tenacity to succeed, I do believe I am a more rounded personality, which has benefited me both at work and in my personal life. By way of example, I have volunteered for a couple of charities since William died. The first was with teenagers that had lost a parent, while for the last five years or more, I have been providing helpline support for bereaved parents. It’s the Club none of us want to belong to, but here we are. The Bereaved Parents’ Club Podcast (BPCP) is a new venture starting up in 2024. It’s being set up by Debbie Enever, whose only child, 15 year old Dan, was killed by a speeding driver in 2018. “ Being a bereaved parent is pretty much the only credential I have for this!” Debbie explained. “I have struggled to join in with group activities, but I felt that establishing a podcast as a space for us all to share stories, and explore themes of our losses, is something that could be really valuable. ” Several contributors have already pledged their support and will feature in episodes that Debbie intends to start recording and broadcasting in January/February next year. They include TCF representatives, the Good Grief Project, Rueben’s Retreat, an Autistic parent, and Clare Louise, author of And Always Annaliese. Debbie adds, “ I want to create a podcast that tells the stories of our children and explores aspects of parental grief that are of relevance and interest to us. I can only make this any good for anyone by using a diverse range of contributors. I'm hoping that the first few episodes will be so valuable that I'll be encouraged to make more, and that they will become a really important resource for bereaved parents. ” Debbie is especially keen at this early stage to find a contributor who has been bereaved of their only child (for more than three years). If that’s you, please do contact her using the details below. Debbie is keen to ensure that the audio podcast is as inclusive as possible and would love to hear from TCF members about the kind of things they’d like to hear about. Please email with your ideas! Debbie@bereavedparentsclub.org.uk bereavedparentsclub.org.uk Bereaved Parents’ Club Podcast COMPASSION | FEATURE - BEREAVED PARENTS’ CLUB PODCAST P.S. Debbie has also written a blog, Middowed, if anyone wants to check it out. Her memoir about the first year of grief after Dan’s death will be out in eBook and paperback in May 2024. Taken from Sales Unplugged a new book by TCF volunteer, Michael Walford- Grant. Proceeds from pre-sales of the book are shared with TCF. Find out more at justgiving.com search for Michael Walford-Grant.