Loss and Grief Awareness Week 2014
Loss and Grief Awareness Week 2014
This week marks the start of Skylight’s
inaugural Loss and Grief Awareness Week. It is being held
from today Monday 28 July and continues
until Sunday 3 August.
The week aims to raise awareness about the unique challenges that children, young people and adults face when they’re grieving a difficult loss, of any kind. It will also offer ideas about ways people can support their friends, family, whānau, neighbours and communities through such hard times.
There are a number of events being held across New Zealand throughout this week to provide support to those experiencing difficult times. Some highlights include:
• The grief café at Southern Cross in
Wellington on 30th June at 7.30pm. This will
involve a guided conversation in relaxed surroundings about
the experience of grief. People who come along can expect to
go away with at least one thing that will help through
difficult times of grief.
•
• A
meditation memorial with candle lighting at the Mary Potter
Hospice in Wellington on 1st August at 4pm. This is
a wonderful opportunity to share experiences with others,
and a chance to remember someone or something really
important to you.
•
• The bereaved
parents group in Christchurch are meeting at the Beat Street
Café on 1st August at 6.30pm. All are welcome to
bring a candle and a photo of a loved one; candles will be
lit at 7pm.
•
• Heart Kids NZ are holding
a memorial service on 2nd August at the Barn at Ambury Park
to honour all heart kids who have passed away. The
building will be open from 12pm for quiet reflection and the
service will commence at 1.30pm.A special early evening
community concert organsied by Seasons™ Onehunga,
featuring musical contributions from a range of community
groups and schools. The venue will be the St
Matthew-In-The-City Anglican Church, 187 Federal St,
Auckland Central.
•
We are meeting from 6.30 pm
onwards at Beat Street Cafe. If you want, you can bring a
candle and a photo of your loved one/ones. All are
Welcome.
Candles will be lit at 7 pm as part of a
simultaneous nationwide event.
(This event is organised by 'bereaved parents Christchurch' group. We meet monthly on the second Saturday of the month at Whareora House (by Barrington Mall, Athelstan St) Christchurch at 10 am. Email chrisguerin@clear.net.nz)
Skylight is hosting a unique event on July 30th - combining a guided conversation with others about the experience of grief with the atmosphere of a warm cafe.
Come and enjoy the company of others in relaxed surroundings and learn more about the little talked about and common human experience of grief.
Expect to go away with at least one thing to help you through the difficult times of grief and share with others what has worked for you.
Tea, coffee, drinks and food will be available for purchase from the café/bar.
For a full list of events, see our Loss and Grief Awareness website at http://www.grief.org.nz/events/
Says Tricia Irving Hendry, Deputy Chief Executive at Skylight, “The aim of this week is to raise awareness of loss and grief and to promote ways of supporting those who are experiencing difficult times. We’re hoping this awareness week will make a genuine contribution to the wellbeing and resilience of New Zealanders and will become an annual focus. "
We invite all those who are grieving, those who are supporting others, and those who work in support organisations, to be part of this awareness week. Together, we can help support and educate our community about what grief is like, demonstrate ways to offer support, and show how to find the right kind of extra help, if it’s needed.
Ends