New bereavement support group at Airedale Hospital

The chaplaincy team at Airedale NHS Foundation Trust is launching a new bereavement support group for members of the local community.

Starting on 7 August 2024, the support group (Connections) will meet on the first Wednesday of every month between 2pm until 3:30pm in the restaurant at Airedale Hospital.

Connections is open to anyone who has experienced loss, no matter how recent, and wants to meet others who have gone through something similar.

The Trust’s lead chaplain, Liz Maitland, said:

“In chaplaincy, we meet so many people who have been bereaved and are trying to navigate their way through this big change in their life.

“We found that a lot of people were keen to share their stories so we wanted to offer a safe and informal space where people could get together with others who are going through something similar, share their experiences and support each other.

“We hope that friendships are formed within the group that can help attendees find a way forward and feel supported.”

Attendees can purchase a hot drink in the hospital restaurant, connect with others, learn about local support available to them and meet members of the Chaplaincy team.

The chaplaincy team would like the group to be shaped by its members and is open to suggestions about what they would like to see in future meetings, including any guest speakers or activities.

Connections is open to people of all faiths and none and there is no need to book or come to every meeting, just turn up on the day.

Support is available for people with accessibility needs or who may be anxious about joining a new group:

“We recognise that joining a new group can be daunting but we’re always happy to have a chat beforehand or meet people at the main entrance if they are nervous about finding their way through the hospital,” says Liz.

“We can also provide wheelchair support if arranged prior to the meeting.”

If you would like to get in touch or find out more, please contact Liz via email at Elizabeth.maitland@nhs.net or phone the Chaplaincy office on 01535 294 088.