The Bereavement Café
Support for All
The Bereavement Café was founded after the death of my husband, Steve, in 2018.
Like many people after loss, we quickly realised the world around us was not prepared for the enormity of grief.
Long waiting lists, limited support, outdated ideas around bereavement and a lack of honest conversation often left people feeling isolated, misunderstood and unsure where to turn. Much of the language around grief focused on “moving on”, “stages” or trying to fix emotions that simply needed understanding and hearing.
The reality of grief reaches far beyond sadness alone.
It can affect identity, confidence, relationships, concentration, work, parenting, wellbeing and a person’s entire sense of safety and normality.
We know grief does not end after the funeral.
And we know people do not simply “get over it”.
What many people need most is understanding.
A place where they can speak openly without judgement, feel less alone and begin to make sense of life after loss in their own time.
What started as one small café has grown into an award-winning organisation supporting people, workplaces, schools and communities through grief awareness, education and compassionate conversation.
Everything we do is built on both lived and learned experience, with one simple aim:
To help people feel heard, understood and less alone in grief.
The Bereavement Café isn’t solely for those mourning the loss of loved ones. We also welcome those who are in charge of the welfare of children and young adults. Please reach out to see how we can assist in providing training to equip these young minds with strategies to manage the grieving process more smoothly.
Our work is built on both lived and learned experience, combining compassionate support with grief awareness, education and practical understanding.
We recognise that grief affects everyone differently and that loss reaches far beyond the person who has died. There is no right way to grieve and no timeline people should be expected to follow.
Alongside our peer support cafés, we work with workplaces, schools and communities to improve grief awareness, challenge outdated ideas around loss and help people feel more confident supporting others through difficult conversations.
Everything we do is centred around one simple belief:
Grief needs understanding, not fixing.
Changing How We Talk About Grief
We believe grief awareness matters everywhere.
In workplaces.
Schools.
Families.
Communities.
Because when people feel heard earlier, we reduce isolation, fear and the long-term impact unsupported grief can have on everyday life.
Through support, education and compassionate conversation, we are helping create safer, more grief-aware communities where people feel heard rather than avoided.
Join us, grab a drink, and we’ll be here, eager to meet you.
Hello, I’m Jane.
The sudden loss of my husband in 2018 left me and my children in a whirlwind of grief and confusion. That first year was a haze of administrative tasks, an endless flow of tears, and a constant adjustment to the daily changes life threw at us. Celebrating special days and anniversaries only brought more tears as we tried to navigate through what others termed our “New Normal”. We floundered.
Despite the known fact that 1 in 29 children experience the loss of a parent or sibling before they reach 16, the support my children received at their school was minimal.
This realisation pushed me to seek answers. I decided to invest in training, aiming to understand how we could better help children in their grief journey. It was a personal endeavour, as I still had my grieving children to care for. But it also became a platform for advocacy. I felt compelled to shed light on the lack of sufficient bereavement support in schools and other child-care services.
In sharing our story and the heartache we experienced, I hope to inspire others to enhance their understanding and knowledge about grief.
As I delved deeper, I discovered that the struggle for support extended beyond just children. Every person I met had a tale about their own grief, or about someone they knew who was unable to find the support they needed in their time of loss.
These experiences culminated in the creation of The Bereavement Café, a space dedicated to providing much-needed support for those dealing with grief.
The Bereavement Café Services
The Bereavement Cafés
Creating welcoming spaces for those coping with loss to gather, share their stories, and find comfort in shared experiences.
Grief Awareness Workshops
Designed to help individuals, schools, and businesses understand and better support those navigating the complex journey of grief and loss.
Youth Bereavement Cafés
We provide support to children dealing with grief through our Youth Cafes, located within their learning environments. These weekly group sessions help them understand and express their emotions.
Living with Loss Workshops
Designed to provide guidance and strategies for individuals who are learning to navigate daily life amidst the deep sorrow of losing a loved one.
5 week Group Workshop
Support & Listening Service
A safe space where individuals can openly share their feelings and experiences of loss, and receive empathetic support from others who understand their journey.
One to One Listening
We recognise the healing power of being heard and understood, which is why we provide dedicated one-on-one listening sessions.
Fresh Coffee & a Chat
Compassionate Peer Support
The Bereavement Café offers a safe, welcoming space where people can talk openly about grief without pressure, judgement or expectation.
We are not a counselling service. Our facilitators and volunteers are trained in grief awareness and bereavement support, alongside bringing their own lived understanding of loss. This helps create real conversations, human connection and a space where people feel heard, understood and less alone.
Some people attend to talk.
Others simply come to listen or sit alongside people who understand.
Both are equally welcome here.