A new Bereavement Café service has just been launched in Belfast to provide mutual support, comfort, and advice to anyone struggling to cope with the loss of a loved one.
It has been set up by the Northern Ireland Hospice and was launched just ahead of Dying Matters Awareness Week, which runs this week.
The Bereavement Café is a free monthly drop-in group and no appointment or previous connection to Hospice is required for anyone to use the service.
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The café offers refreshments and a chance to talk in a safe space to share experiences with other bereaved people. The session will be overseen by the Hospice community social work team.
Julieanne Conlon, NI Hospice Social Work Lead, said the new service will offer support to those experiencing grief and loss.
"We felt that there was an overwhelming need for this free service, which allows people who are grieving the opportunity to meet and chat openly with others who are going through similar situations," she told Belfast Live.
"We held our first event in May and it was fantastic. People really liked the idea of being able to drop-in and talk to others experiencing bereavement in an informal setting.
"I believe our first session proved helpful to the people who came along, with some of those attending telling me how they found it very useful for mutual support, encouragement and hope.
"It may have been daunting for some of them initially but once they got chatting to others, they felt more comfortable and relaxed."
Julieanne added: "The café is open to anyone who has had a bereavement, whether or not they have had a loved one cared for at Hospice. There is no pressure to talk unless you feel like it.
"It’s a safe space where people can talk openly about the pain of loss and also find courage and strength in knowing they are not alone."
The informal sessions take place on the first Wednesday of each month from 6pm to 7.30pm, with the next Bereavement Café session on 7th June.
No appointment is needed, simply drop in at the Old Schoolhouse Café, located adjacent to Northern Ireland Hospice on the Somerton Road in Belfast.
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