A charity is signposting people to free grief support sessions this festive season.

Sue Ryder, which runs the Duchess of Kent Hospice in Reading, is raising awareness of the support available to those who are grieving as part of National Grief Awareness Week.

The end-of-life care and bereavement charity offers a range of services and hopes to reach out to those who may find the festive season particularly challenging.

Sue Ryder's service director, Louise Lucio, said: "Grief can feel isolating at any time, but it can hit people harder during the festive season.

"This is why we want to remind people of the support available here in the region and the steps people can take to acknowledge their grief and care for their emotional well-being."

The charity runs several 'Grief Kind Spaces' across the Thames Valley.

These are described as 'welcoming and supportive' drop-in sessions for anyone who has been bereaved.

They are run by Sue Ryder volunteers, and people are encouraged to share their experiences of grief to help them feel heard and less alone.

Ms Lucio added: "You don’t have to have received any support from Sue Ryder previously to drop in to a Sue Ryder Grief Kind Space."

These Grief Kind Spaces are regularly held at various venues in the area and operate on a drop-in basis, with no need for registration.

In light of the additional support that people might need at this time of year, the charity has announced the dates, locations, and times for the sessions in December and early January.

These include:

  • Thatcham Garden Centre, Bath Road, Thatcham: Tuesdays, 10am to 12pm, on 3, 10, and 17 December 2024, and 7 January 2025.
  • Sheeplands Garden Centre, Hare Hatch, Reading: Wednesdays, 10am to 12pm, on 4, 11, and 18 December 2024, and 8 January 2025.
  • FBC Centre, Gorse Ride North, Finchampstead: Wednesdays, 10am to 12pm, on 4, 11, and 18 December 2024, and 8 January 2025.

Carrie Connolly, Sue Ryder’s Grief Kind Space coordinator for the region, said: "Grief doesn’t have a timeline, and the holidays, festivals, or seasons you traditionally celebrate can be an emotionally complex time.

"We really hope by sharing details of the Sue Ryder bereavement support available here in Thames Valley over the coming months, we can help people find a way to navigate this season."

Sue Ryder encourages anyone who is grieving to attend these sessions.

They hope to provide a safe and supportive environment for people to share their experiences and feel less isolated during this challenging time.