Bereavement services

Helping you navigate bereavement

The death of someone significant can be one of the most challenging and painful life experiences we face. Grief is often described as a roller coaster of emotions and it can be hard to make sense of our feelings and reactions and see a way forward after a loss.

Our Bereavement Support Services are offered to those that have to cope with grief after loss. As well as one-to-one counselling we offer various support groups including Bereavement Evenings where you can meet up with others going through a similar experience.

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Our Bereavement Services

While the support of family and friends can be invaluable, for different reasons this may not always be possible. If you have experienced the loss of someone who was being cared for by St. Michael’s Hospice services, we can provide the following bereavement support:

A one-off, two-hour informal group session providing you with information about grief and loss and an opportunity to meet with others experiencing loss, in a caring and supportive atmosphere. It can be comforting to know that you’re not alone in your feelings and to meet others who are facing a similar situation can be a positive step in coping with loss.

Our bereavement coffee mornings offer a welcoming and friendly space to meet and talk with others going through something similar to yourself. There is no need to book a place, just turn up and feel free to bring a friend. We have two coffee mornings available in Basingstoke and Alton:

Basingstoke Coffee Morning
Held the last Friday of the month from 11am to 12:30pm at St. Michael’s Hospice.

Alton Bereavement Coffee Morning
Held the second Monday of the month from 11am to 12:30pm at Alton Maltings.

The Bereavement Journey is for anyone who has been bereaved at any time and in any way. This 7-week course is available to all those who have had contact with St. Michael’s Hospice. For more information or to book a place please email family.support@stmichaelshospice.org.uk or call 01256 844863

Topics include:

Attachment, separation and loss
The pain and responses of grief
Anger and guilt
Coping with others’ reactions
Delayed and suppressed grief
Adjusting to change
Moving forward healthily
Faith questions – a Christian perspective (optional)

The death of a spouse or partner is one of the most stressful events in life and can affect every part of you. Younger widows and widowers in particular face unique challenges and may benefit from specific bereavement support as well as meeting those facing similar pressures.

Our Young and Widowed Support Group is an open forum where those affected can meet with others in a relaxed setting for a casual coffee and chat, supported by a Bereavement Counsellor. Held the second Wednesday of the month from 6.30pm to 8pm at St. Michael’s Hospice, the group aims to provide peer-to-peer emotional and practical support to young, widowed people. If you were 55 or under when your spouse or partner died under the care of St. Michael’s Hospice and you feel you would benefit from attending this group, please contact us on the details show below.

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“

Initially I was not sure how I would feel about being around so many people who were feeling sad and lonely after the death of a loved one, as I didn’t feel that I needed to be reminded of the grief.

However, during the first meeting, I was reassured that this was a very positive environment, the team were very supportive and understood every stage of the grieving process.

Bereavement Journey participant