Grief and Bereavement Network

Welcome

Grief is a natural response to loss but can often feel overwhelming. People experience all kinds of difficult and unexpected emotions, from shock or anger to disbelief, guilt, and profound sadness, which can disrupt your physical health, making it difficult to sleep, eat, or even think straight. These are normal reactions to loss. Coping with the loss of someone or something you love is one of life’s biggest challenges, but you don't have to go through this alone.

If you are experiencing grief or bereavement and the complications of coping with balancing this with work and home life then this network may be for you. It is a peer support and discussion group as well as a resource bank for its members. All staff should be assured that this network will offer a safe, welcoming and confidential environment.

Our aims:

• To provide a safe place for all bereaved staff to share experiences of grief and to be offered peer-to-peer help, support, guidance and compassion.
• To offer resources to employees to help them in their grief journey.
• To provide an online platform for employees to virtually meet and share their stories, experiences and resources for coping with grief.
• To meet regularly in person on-campus so employees can come together to talk about their grief and find fellowship, understanding, support and guidance.
• To invite speakers or external agencies to work with the network to develop knowledge and understanding of grief and bereavement where possible and appropriate.

Join the network via this confidential form

Local support groups and resources

• WAY (Widowed and Young) – the only national charity in the UK for people aged 50 or under when their partner died. It's a peer-to-peer support group operating with a network of volunteers who have been bereaved at a young age themselves, so they understand exactly what other members are going through. This website also has a fantastic useful links section.
• Cruse Bereavement Care – Cruse's vision is that all bereaved people have somewhere to turn when someone dies.
• BCS Plymouth – the Bereavement Counselling Service (BCS) is a charity which offers specialist bereavement counselling in response to complicated grief and traumatic loss.
  
• Survivors of Bereavement by Suicide – exist to meet the needs and break the isolation experienced by those bereaved by suicide. They are a self-help organisation and aim to provide a safe, confidential environment in which bereaved people can share their experiences and feelings, so giving and gaining support from each other.
• Bereavement Advice Centre – there are many practical issues to manage when someone dies; Bereavement Advice Centre supports and advises people on what they need to do after a death.

• The Miscarriage Association – if you have been affected by miscarriage, ectopic pregnancy or molar pregnancy, we hope you will find here the information and support that you need to help you through.
• Sands – supports anyone who has been affected by the death of a baby before, during or shortly after birth. We offer emotional support and information for parents, grandparents, siblings, children, families and friends, health professionals and others.
• Marie Curie – provides care and support through terminal illness. Every day of your life matters – from the first to the last. That's why the right care at the end of your life is so important.
• NHS Choices – bereavement resources.
• Mind – Provides information on the effects of bereavement, where to go for support and suggestions for helping yourself and others through grief.
• Royal College of Psychiatrists – information is for anyone who has been bereaved, their family and friends, and anyone else who wants to learn more.