30 tcf.org.uk Weekend retreat for parents bereaved by suicide or substance use When: 26-28 July 2024, Where: Hinsley Hall, Leeds tcf.org.uk/hinsleyhall2024 Northumberland support day for bereaved parents When: 7 September 2024 Where: Riding Mill (close to Hexham) tcf.org.uk/northumberlandday Bereaved fathers support day When: 19 October 2024 Where: London Booking will open later in the year. 2024 – Forthcoming retreats TCF NEWS | SUPPORTIVE EVENTS Bereaved siblings meet up “We cried, we laughed, it rained but the sun also shone at times”. TCF volunteer, Rebecca organised a meet up of bereaved siblings in London and has shared with us her thoughts on the day together with others bereaved of a brother or sister. “I arranged an informal meet up on Sunday 26 May in Regents Park in London. It was a good turn out with eight of us meeting up, grabbing some food and having a picnic in Regents Park. I had met some people before but there were also some new faces who were more recently bereaved. We talked about our lives in general but of course also about the impact of our huge loss and how this affects our relationships with family and friends. Even though it can be hard to attend these things I always leave feeling glad that I connected with other people who know how I feel. I hope it also helps those siblings who are more newly bereaved to know that their feelings are all part of the grieving process, that they can be talked about and we are here to listen. For me I think it is also a way to honour my sister, to keep talking about her, because even though she has passed my relationship still continues with her but in a different way. I like the way these informal meet ups are relaxed, there is no agenda, just a get together with other siblings who can relate to each other despite the different ways our siblings died. Of course, there will always be differences in the way we grieve and our relationship with our sibling but it also felt to be about how we can navigate our lives without our much loved sibling being a part of that. As hard as it can be, we can carry on and try to live as well as we can. We cried, we laughed, it rained but the sun also shone at times. I am very grateful to everyone who attended and I hope to see all those faces again soon.”
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTM0NTEz