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Scottish Gathering returns
Posted on 15 May 2022 at 20:11
The weekend of 6 -8 May 2022 saw the return, after 3 years, of the Scottish Gathering of bereaved parents, siblings and grandparents in Stirling. Over 100 attended and participated in a weekend of empathy, understanding, support and care. Thank you to the amazing volunteer team - Clare, Karen, Marion, Sharryn, Janice, Mandy, Maureen, Hugh, Ruby and Val - for organising this hugely supportive weekend.
We have already received some lovely feedback from attendees a the weekend - and sharing some of this with you here..
"I felt so understood, safe and held, to be around people who really got it....That even though life goes on, what we carry inside is something different and that we will never be the same. Deep grief and trauma changes you. I found hope that is also ok and the new me can be ok. Different but that’s ok". J, bereaved sibling
"It was my first TCF gathering. I made the right decision to meet our compassionate friends. Everyone is so kind, supportive, I’m ever so grateful for the comfort and support on this painful journey". A, bereaved parent
"My first time to a TCF gathering and and it’s every bit as special as everyone said it would be. Thank you for all the hard work involved in creating such a safe space for us to ‘be’ and supporting us all at the Scottish Gathering this weekend". K, bereaved parent
During the Gathering a special visit was made to the wonderful memorial garden created especially for The Compassionate Friends by the charity Beautiful Perth. We unveiled a lovely new sculpture to add to this amazing garden. If you are in Perth do go and visit. More details here
Here Hugh McAninch, one of the organisers of the first Scottish Gatherings shares his reflections...
In 1998 the first Scottish Gathering was in Perth and how fitting it was to have been gifted our truly amazing memorial garden for our loved ones right in the centre of this beautiful Scottish city. Each year since 2017, apart from the awful pandemic lockdown years of 20/21, John Summers MBE and Beautiful Perth have added something extra special to compliment this wonderful garden. This weekend their gift was this amazing sculpture and I was privileged and delighted, along with our CEO Carolyn Brice, to do the unveiling. The little red breasted robin at the top of sculpture holds a heart and how fitting as the theme for the weekend in Stirling was that our children and loved ones will always be anchored there. Our children, grandchildren, brothers and sisters will never be forgotten and this beautiful garden is, and always will be, a testament to that".
Read a full report on the Scottish Gathering here.
Next year's Scottish Gathering will be 24-26 March 2023. Save the date!
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