Shining a light on National Grief Awareness Week
Date of release: 6 December 2024
Specialist Bereavement Nurses in Wolverhampton have come together to raise awareness and offer support for those experiencing grief, as part of a national campaign.
From left to right: Stacey Owen, Helena Derbyshire, and Jenny Jones, Specialist Bereavement Nurses
The Bereavement Team at The Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust (RWT) has been taking part in National Grief Awareness Week, which runs from 2 to 8 December.
This is a week-long event that encourages people to pause, reflect and acknowledge the impact of grief on both ourselves and those around us. This year’s theme is about shining a light on bereavement support services, and the teams which make a difference to those who are grieving.
The Trust illuminated the hands outside New Cross Hospital’s Emergency Department in orange – a colour which is synonymous with the Good Grief’s Trust, who founded the campaign.
Stacey Owen, Jenny Jones, and Helena Derbyshire, Specialist Bereavement Nurses, have also hosted a series of events throughout the week, providing an opportunity for people to come together, openly discuss grief, and learn about available support services.
Staff were invited to leave messages on a memory tree or memory frame and take part in in a "go for a walk and talk" activity, where they could share their experiences and remember loved ones. Additionally, a bake sale and raffle were held, with proceeds going to the SWAN (signs, words, actions and needs) Charity Fund via The RWT Charity to create a new SWAN room for families and provide vital resources required to deliver end of life and bereavement care across RWT.
The team also promoted the Bereavement Support Café for members of the public and the Better Together Café for staff – informal, friendly spaces designed to encourage conversations about grief in a supportive environment.
The team said: “Recognising National Grief Awareness Week is vital to acknowledging the significance of grief and its impact on people’s lives. We want to ensure that patients, families and staff feel comfortable discussing their grief and have access to the appropriate support when needed.
“We organised several events throughout the week to provide opportunities for both the public and staff to come together, open up about grief, and share experiences. We hope that these events raised awareness of the bereavement support services available and encouraged open conversations about grief beyond this dedicated week.
“If you require further information or support, please contact us for support on 01922 444072.”
For more information about National Grief Awareness Week, please visit The Good Grief Trust
ENDS
- For further information, please email shania.ahmed@nhs.net
