Our Bereavement Support Cafe draws people together who are experiencing grief for mutual support and friendship. We meet every second Monday of the month, 1pm-2.30pm. Steve tells us how he finds the group:

"Hi, I’m Steve. I lost my wife Julie, the wind beneath my wings to cancer in November 2023. I went to an introductory lunch at Christ Church in December 2024 and signed up for it then. TBH there is never a best time to join in, but I would recommend you do. In my experience, it has been positive . 

The welcome is friendly rather than formal, and everyone is included, whatever your background. The group is run by volunteers, and Tina heads it up. She keeps you informed to when the next cafe is and makes sure there is plenty of tea, coffee and cake, and manages a library of helpful books and resources on the topic of grief. Intrinsically we all sit together and chat, sometimes about our own situations and our dear departed. This isn’t compulsory, but comes up as most of us have that in common.  Although not everyone has been recently bereaved, some of us have. I brought a friend from the other side of Sheffield who was only bereaved last December and they will be happy to return.

But conversations vary as we develop our friendships, including about our great aunts, our kids, grandkids, nieces or great nephews. Subjects can actually be anything in reality. Likely one or two have gone to tramlines or at least one gig in July.  In order we can chat to everyone, if we want to, we can rotate around the tables without giving offence. 

The next café is at 1pm on the second Monday of this month. On behalf of us new friends in the group, may I say you will be most welcome."