The Bereavement Cafe CIC

15/03/2026

If you are coming to the Afternoon Tea 26th March - please let me know ASAP any dietary requirements
Jane

15/03/2026

Mother’s Day can bring up all sorts of feelings.

For some people it is a day of cards, flowers, family meals and celebration.

For others it can feel very different.

Today might be a day where you are missing your mum deeply.
Or grieving the loss of your child.

It may also be a reminder of the baby you never got to hold, the children you longed for but could not have, or the fertility journey that did not go the way you hoped.

Some people will be spending today without their children through distance, circumstance or difficult family situations.

Others are living with estrangement, where the relationship with a mum or child is complicated, painful or no longer there.

Some mums are navigating today as solo parents after the loss of a relationship or partner.

For many people, pets become family, especially after other losses. Pet mums who have loved and lost a much loved companion may also feel that ache today.

And of course there are those grieving their mum, sometimes many years later, when a day like today quietly reminds us who is missing.

Sending love to all 💔❤️‍🩹

11/03/2026

I love the voice note I just listened to off one of our Volunteer Facilitators, Karen.
She’s updating her family dentist on how they all are, Karen came to us for support after the death of her beloved Husband… whilst in the chair, she was talking to him about The Bereavement Cafe CIC, the support she’s received and how she’s now supporting others and giving back, clearly touched, her Dentist said he’d love to be involved in some way - so there and then - she signed him up as a Patron!
Starting at just £10.00 per month it’s an affordable way to support a local cause, or to show your community and social responsibility as a Business Partner.

https://thebereavementcafe.co.uk/become-a-friend/

09/03/2026

Support for someone Grieving can be life saving!
Today we welcomed 37 people plus 1 Labrador to The Bereavement Cafe

We broke into 3, facilitated & fully supported groups, mixed with people who were new to our service, those who have been coming for a couple of years, and those who come “When they need to”.. between us we share various losses, Parent, Partner, Grandparent, Child, sibling and friends, all are equally valid within our space.

It takes bravery and a huge leap to walk through those doors, into a group where you know your deepest, worst feelings will surface, afraid of how you’ll be, and honestly I take my hat off to every single person.

Thank you as always to everyone who comes along and share their open, honest thoughts and feelings with others, you really don’t realise who else you are helping when you speak ..

And many thanks to Brookfield Hall Event Manager Susanna for allowing our special guest Lottie the Lab come along to offer cuddles and comfort to us (Lottie is a retired Guide Dog)

For future dates please see our website
Www.thebereavementcafe.co.uk

08/03/2026

People often underestimate the grief of losing a pet.

Heartbroken owners struggle on quietly, thinking those around them will not understand.

Anyone who has loved a pet knows that bond is real.

They are part of our routines, our homes and our hearts. For many people they become a companion after the death of a loved one, which can make that loss feel even deeper.

So of course their loss hurts.

We are having lots of beautiful conversations in the background on ensuring our Grief Awareness and support is available to everyone, no matter what that loss is.

More information coming soon.

Have you ever lost a pet?
What was their name? 🐾

Rainbow Bridge Pet Funerals

07/03/2026

Not everyone who wants to run a grief support group should.

That might sound a little blunt, but it’s something we see time and time again.

Every week we receive messages from people who feel drawn to supporting others through grief in their community. People with big hearts who want to help others feel less alone.

But we also meet people who have attended grief groups and come away feeling more distressed than when they arrived. Not because anyone meant harm, but because the space wasn’t held properly, the language used wasn’t helpful, or the person leading the group simply wasn’t equipped to manage the room.

We also hear from people who have tried to start their own groups with the very best intentions, only to realise too late that holding a room full of grief is far more complex than they expected.

When someone walks into a grief support space they might be overwhelmed, angry, numb, confused or barely holding it together. Holding that space well takes understanding, boundaries, experience and the confidence to guide a room when emotions run high.

That is exactly why we created our Certified Facilitator and Grief Support Training with The Bereavement Café CIC.

This is a full, in-depth training day packed with knowledge, lived and learned experience, and insight gathered from supporting hundreds of grieving people across our communities.

It’s designed for people who feel called to offer grief support, and also for those already running community groups, wellbeing hubs or support spaces who want to upskill and do this work properly.

We cover how to hold space safely, manage group dynamics, understand the deeper layers of grief, and use language that truly supports someone rather than unintentionally shutting them down.

We keep the groups small so the training stays practical, reflective and genuinely in-depth. Our sessions regularly sell out.

If you feel drawn to offering grief support in your community, or you would like to strengthen the support already offered within your space, keep an eye out for the next training dates or get in touch to find out more.

March and April training dates are now full. New date for May is now live and in the comments below 👇

04/03/2026

Nobody grieves the same.

How it looks for one person
is completely unique to them.

Yes, there will be similarities.
Stories we recognise.
Moments we relate to.

But grief is not a competition.
It is not a timeline.
And it is not something to compare.

Don’t judge how someone grieves.
And please…
don’t measure your own grief against someone else’s.

Your grief is your relationship continuing in a different form.
And that will never look the same as anyone else’s.

What would you like other people to know?

03/03/2026

Have you booked onto our Afternoon Tea?
Many people have booked individual tickets, if you would like to be sat with friends / family can you please drop us a message so we can ensure people are sat together as best as we can.
Thank you x
Who’s having the last two tickets?

https://www.trybooking.com/uk/FZMJ

01/03/2026

How fabulous is this! Six local Guys, getting together to make a difference for two local CIC’s that have meaning to them all..
Bolton Wanderers Remembrance Group and
The Bereavement Cafe CIC

Walking through the night from Huddersfield to Bolton - we can’t wait to be at Bolton Wanderers Official to welcome them.
If you could donate in any way please follow the justgiving link below and do as it says on the tin ..
Scan The Code Make a Load
Hello we are 6 lads from Bolton wanting to raise money 💰 for to amazing causes that have benefitted people around Bolton more than we can ever imagine, The Bereavement cafe and BWFC Remembrance Group.

We will be walking through the night on the 17th April from Huddersfield Town 🏟 and heading to Bolton Wanderers 🏟 in time for the Match.

We have set up a just giving page

https://gofund.me/575197137 and are asking if you could donate to help us reach our target.

We would love the people of Bolton to come together and make a difference.

Hi our names are Ashley MacDonald Elliott MacDonald Oliver MacDonald… steve hague needs your support for Make a Load Huddersfield to Bolton

27/02/2026

Today Francesca and Jane met up with James from Rainbow Bridge Pet Funerals.
It was so heartwarming to hear of the love and care that he and Michelle offer to people when their beloved pet dies.
We are looking forward to more conversations on this topic, as well as (hopefully) be welcoming the beautiful Betty (therapy dog) to some of our upcoming sessions .. we already have the lovely Lottie, a retired Guide dog who attends Brookfield Hall and gives free cuddles when tears flow ..

Today marks exactly one year since Betty became a registered therapy dog with Pets As Therapy 🐾 💜

What a special milestone for a very special girl.

Betty is usually a cheeky, full-of-character lady at home and in the office… but the moment she knows she’s on a PAT visit, something changes. Her whole demeanour softens. She becomes calm, steady and incredibly intuitive — offering quiet comfort, gentle reassurance and a reassuring presence to anyone who needs it most. It’s honestly amazing to see.

To celebrate her one-year anniversary, Betty and James spent the day visiting Salford Royal Hospital — including Ward H2 and PANDA (Children’s A&E). As always, she took everything in her stride, making friends, accepting cuddles and bringing smiles to patients, families and staff alike.

When she’s not out on therapy visits, Betty — along with her brother Wilson — are always in the office with us. And if you ever find yourself needing a cuddle (or just a moment with a wagging tail and a warm nose), they’re more than happy to oblige 💛

We couldn’t be prouder of her. Here’s to a whole year of paw prints on hearts — and many more to come. 🐶 ✨

We're here to help - whenever you need us!

Michelle & James 🌈

27/02/2026

It isn’t just flowers, tears and hugs after someone dies.
The devastating ripple effect of one person dying is felt for months and often years - across families, friendships and wider communities.
If you would like to become a Patron and support our service, please join our “Freind’s of the Bereavement Cafe” for as little as just £10.00 per month.

https://thebereavementcafe.co.uk/become-a-friend/


fans

22/02/2026

The Bereavement Cafe CIC is now heading into our fifth year of supporting those navigating grief.

What started from lived experience and a need to be the change we so desperately needed as a young family suddenly bereaved, has grown into a trusted, safe space where people can walk in exactly as they are.

No analysing.
No judgement.
No pressure to be “strong”.

Just space to talk. To cry. To laugh at memories. To read or share words of inspiration. To say the things they can’t say anywhere else, the bad and the good.

For those who attend, it is somewhere to be open and honest about how grief really feels, way after the funeral and all the firsts, it is somewhere that nobody thinks their experience is worse than yours, most importantly - it is somewhere you will meet a group of people who will all listen, with empathy and share their experience with you.

For those of you unsure about what to expect (as there are many horror stories of bad support), We offer a certified and skilled team of Facilitators /Grief Specialists and Volunteers, trained and equipped to hold individuals and groups safely and responsibly. This is not a coffee morning. It carries weight, and we treat it as such to ensure you feel supported and cared for.

Our upcoming dated for the next few months are now on our website, with more hopefully being added shortly, including a new Online Bereavement Cafe, for those who are not local to us but need our support ❤️‍🩹

www.thebereavementcafe.co.uk

Alongside our cafes we also offer:

💚 1–1 online grief support
💚 Grief Awareness Workshops for communities and businesses
💚 Our popular “How to Run Your Own Bereavement Cafe” facilitator training

Supporting grieving people is not work to take on lightly. If you are considering starting something in your own community, we will make sure you do it properly.

For further information, you can message me directly or DM the page.
Jane 💚

Facilitator Training:
https://www.trybooking.com/uk/FYZU

Charity Afternoon Tea:
https://www.trybooking.com/uk/FZMJ

The Bereavement Cafe CIC
The Good Grief Trust
AtaLoss Charity