New bereavement support network

A community bereavement support network has been set up, thanks to a new approach by Torfaen Council.

The council's Building Resilient Communities team heard about plans by Richmond Road Baptists Church, in Cwmbran, to set up a bereavement support group earlier this year.

The team was aware another group had recently been set up at Bethlehem Chapel, in Blaenavon, and there was a separate group who met at Merchant's Hill Baptist Church in Pontnewynydd.

Kate Noyes and Sophie Griffiths, from the Building Resilient Communities team, put the three groups in touch with each other, together with Two Locks Community Church, in Cwmbran, which was also considering offering bereavement support.

The team offered to pay for 10 volunteers to take part in Cruse bereavement training and the newly formed collective was successful in applying for a community activity grant for items such as printing, arts and crafts and memory boxes.

Cllr Fiona Cross, Executive Member for Communities, said: "Earlier this year, we adopted a three-year Communities Strategy to support groups providing well-being opportunities in their communities, and to help connect them with individuals in need of help. 

"The Bereavement Collective is a great example of how different groups identified the same need within their communities and by working together, with support, they have come up with a sustainable, resilient solution that will make a big difference to many people."  

Gemma Buckle, community worker from Richmond Road Church, said: "The support from Kate and Sophie has worked really well. We wouldn't have known about the other groups and we wouldn't have considered applying for funding. 

"The support of the Building Resilient Communities team has reduced the time it would have taken us to set up our own group by about a year."

Sue Driscoll, secretary of Bethlehem Chapel, in Blaenavon, said: "I set up the Good Grief Club following the death of my husband Kevin last year. I was aware of the group in Pontnewynydd but not about the others. 

"Having the collective in place means we can support each other and share ideas. It also means people have different options of groups they can go.

"Everyone's experience of grief is different and it doesn't end when you get past the firsts. We want to help people experience grief as a positive thing."

As well as providing ongoing support and promotion, the Building Resilient Communities team is arranging for the groups to have additional training in bereavement by suicide and support for recently bereaved children and young people, or those facing the imminent loss of a loved one.

The Bereavement Collective groups meet on the following days:

• Good Grief Club, Bethlehem Chapel, Blaenavon, every last Wednesday of the month, between 10am-12pm and 6pm-8pm
• Bereavement Support Group, Merchant's Hill Baptist Church, Pontnewynydd, every 2nd and 4th Wednesday, 10am-12pm
• Bereavement Friends, Richmond Road Baptist Church, Pontnewydd, 1st Tuesday of the month, 10am-11am
• Counselling and 1:1 Bereavement Support, Two Locks Community Church, Cwmbran, every Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, 10am-12pm.

Find out what is going on in your local area on the Connect Torfaen website

The Building Resilient Communities team is part funded by the UK Government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund. Community activity grants are fully funded by the UK Shared Prosperity Fund.

(Photo L-R: Sophie Griffiths, Sue Driscoll, Gemma Buckle, Kate Noyes)