39 tcf.org.uk The aim of our time together was to encourage our wonderful volunteers to focus on their own self-care, learn more about the charity and their volunteering roles in an environment where they weren’t required to offer support to others. We began the weekend in small groups, sharing about the loss we had experienced which ultimately brought us to our volunteer role with TCF. One volunteer commented “The small groups are a great way to start and not so overwhelming as having a big group, I found this beneficial and liked the way it was done, a mixture of both light heartedness and understanding of why we were attending the event”. Another told us, “When you have been bereaved a number of years it is lovely to be given an opportunity to talk about our beloved children in a safe and supportive environment”. Later in the programme, we shared more about the charity itself, focussing on our objectives for the next few years, a tour of our website, and changes and additions to our peer support layers. These sessions were warmly welcomed by a number of volunteers with one individual remarking that they were: “Excellent” and that they “really didn't fully realise all the behindthe-scenes work that goes into the running of TCF. I really was in awe of the organisation and proud to be part of it”. Another mentioned, “This was extremely useful especially (the run) through the website with all the different options as it had changed quite a lot since I last looked. It’s definitely a big improvement, easier to navigate and more attractive and informative to people logging on for the first time”. First overnight retreat for TCF volunteers In April, our first ever retreat for volunteers was held in Hinsley Hall in Leeds. Our staff team, led by Volunteer Manager, Ruth Mercier, and Grief Companion Scheme Manager, Shirley Gower, were delighted to welcome 40 volunteers from around the country, including Scotland and the north of England, as well as individuals who had travelled from the south of the UK to be with us. TCF NEWS | SUPPORTIVE EVENTS
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