A Bereavement workshop was held at the end of November bringing together health professionals, the voluntary sector, and citizens, to assess what services are currently available for bereaved individuals in Walsall and what could be improved.
The workshop, which was arranged by Walsall Together’s Bereavement Support subgroup, begin with attendees taken on a guided tour by volunteers of Manor Farm Community Association (MFCA) around their Bereavement Garden which is placed at the rear of Rushall Community Centre.
The ‘Forget Me Not Garden’ is a safe, outdoor space where bereaved individuals can go to reflect and is a shining example of the various support groups for bereaved individuals run by the VCSE sector in Walsall.
Following such a successful example of effective bereavement support in the community, groups collaborated on various tasks to determine what services are currently available in Walsall, and recommendations for improved support going forward.
There were some great conversations with ideas including 24/7 online services, more signposting information in the community to existing services, promotion of financial support and help with burial/funeral from Walsall Council, bereavement cafes in supermarkets and promotion of information in GP practices.
Gillian Brooks, one of the volunteers, said: “I was widowed in 2021 and alongside all the grief and shock certain things stay with you - in particular the support of family and friends. After the funeral I looked into what was out there support wise and came across Manor Farm. Having the opportunity to talk to people who are going through the same thing meant so much to me. I started to volunteer myself and alongside others we have created the Forget-me-not Garden at Rushall Community Centre. Manor Farm have two bereavement groups and a weekly walk around the Arboretum on Friday afternoon. Bereavement support is so important and has been so helpful to me and many others in the difficult journey following the death of a loved one.”
Feedback about the event was positive with comments including ‘It was so amazing to meet people who are as passionate as I am in reaching our communities for adults, adolescents and children and bridging the gap together”.
The Bereavement Project Team will now work together to with the aim of putting the suggestions and recommendations into practice locally where possible.
