WELCOME TO OUR 'SIT WITH HOPE' CAMPAIGN
The Good Grief Trust launched a new national initiative, on the 10th of June at The Royal Windsor Flower Show 2023.
The aim of our new SIT WITH HOPE campaign is to help improve awareness and signposting to bereavement services, across the UK.
Grief can be complicated but access to support should never be.
We know that many of those who are bereaved, across the UK, do not know where to turn for help. The Good Grief Trust has a choice of 1000 + charities and tailored local and national support services under one umbrella.
Plaques with a QR code, direct to our website, will be placed on benches and seats out in communities across the UK, such as parks, urban spaces, hospital gardens, beach walks, and many more. We want anyone who is grieving, and looking to find advice and support, following a bereavement, to be able to find Help and Hope in one place.
Sit with Hope
The Good Grief Trust exists to help anyone affected by grief and signpost to tailored bereavement services.
We want to make it very public that this support is available across the UK - and to let those grieving know where to turn for help when they need it most.
So, what better way to spread the word, than to give us all the opportunity to connect with others and share our thoughts and feelings, or perhaps quietly reflect in a community space, out in nature?
To this end, our Sit with Hope initiative was born. Sit with Hope benches will provide that space and the means to access 'help and hope in one place'.
With plaques on benches and seats around the country that feature a QR code, which directly connects to The Good Grief Trust website - where you can find a wealth of advice and resources that guide you every step of the way and signpost to a choice of bereavement support organisations.
PLEDGE A PLAQUE APPLICATION FORM
Please complete this form to order your individual plaque/s.
Cost: £15 donation per plaque
(P&P included for shipping within UK)
Click here to make payment via our GoFundMe page.
If you require 10 or more plaques; please email hello@nullthegoodgrieftrust.org to order and we will send an invoice.
'SIT WITH HOPE' CAMPAIGN - PRE-LAUNCH PRESS AND MEDIA COVERAGE
The Lorraine Show
The Good Grief Trust Patron, Dame Penelope Wilton DBE talks to Lorraine Kelly about the launch of our Help and Hope Benches, June 2023.
The One Show
Alex Jones discusses the ‘Sit with Hope’ campaign with Dame Penelope Wilton on The One Show.
Thank you to Tobias Ellwood MP for Bournemouth East (left), Chair of the APPG on Bereavement Support Group, and Sir Robert Sym, MP for Poole, for supporting our campaign.
Linda Magistris, CEO and Founder of The Good Grief Trust recently met, Becky Protopsaltis, Regional Medical Examiner Officer for NHS England, Siobhan Harrington, CEO and Rob Whiteman CBE, Chair of the Royal Bournemouth Hospital Trust in the gardens of the Royal Bournemouth Hospital to unveil the first Help and Hope plaque in Dorset.
We thank all involved for their support for this new national initiative and for pledging plaques on benches across Bournemouth, Poole and Christchurch NHS Trusts.
Tobias Ellwood MP and Sir Robert Sym MP
Both local MPs pledge to support SIT WITH HOPE campaign, and will be asking all MPs to pledge a plaque in constituencies across the country.
Rob Whiteman CBE, Chair and Siobhan Harrington, CEO of The Royal Bournemouth NHS Hospital Trust
Rob and Siobhan discuss the importance of offering help and hope for the bereaved, and how pleased they both are to be able to offer both relatives and staff a special place to sit and think within the hospital grounds.
JOIN OUR CAMPAIGN! 800 plaques pledged to date!
Pledge a plaque to help the bereaved find advice and support
The location of your bench will be added to our map.
SIT WITH HOPE LAUNCH EVENT 2023 - THE ROYAL WINDSOR FLOWER SHOW
Thank you to Alex Denman, Show Director and all who supported the Launch Event for Sit With Hope.
Our Good Grief Garden was designed by Jamie Butterworth, Chelsea Gold Medal Winner and David Dodd, of Pots and Pithoi generously donated our benches. We cannot thank you enough for your kindness and generosity towards this campaign.
Linda Magistris, CEO and Founder of our charity met Her Royal Highness, The Duchess of Edinburgh who kindly visited our Good Grief Garden, to learn more about the Help and Hope plaques.
Do you need to speak to someone now?
24 HOUR SUPPORT LINES
Samaritans | 116 123 (UK) | For anyone at anytime for any reason |
Childline | 0800 1111 | Support for 18yrs & under and their relatives |
Silverline | 0800 470 8090 | Support for the over 50's |
DAY/EVENING SUPPORT LINES
National Bereavement Service | 0800 0246 181 | Mon - Fri 09:00 - 18:00, Sat 10:00 - 14:00, Sun – CLOSED |
Cruse | 0808 808 1677 | Nationwide bereavement support |
Cruse Bereavement Care Scotland | 0808 802 6161 | Mon - Fri 9am-8pm and Sat/Sun 1-4pm |
Child Bereavement UK | 0800 02 88840 | Helpline (9 - 5pm) |
Child Death Helpline | 0800 282 986 0808 800 6019 | Every evening 7-10pm Mon/Thurs / Fri - 10am - 1pm Tues/Wed - 10am - 4pm |
Bereavement Advice Centre | 0800 634 9494 | Practical advice (9 - 5pm) |
DrugFam | 0300 888 3853 | Drug and Alcohol addiction The helpline line is available between 9am and 9pm seven days a week. |
Sands | 0808 164 3332 | 10am-3pm Mon to Fri daytimes and 6pm-9pm Tues to Thurs evenings Free confidential helpline for anyone affected by pregnancy loss or the death of a baby. |
Survivors of Bereavement by Suicide | 0300 111 5065 | 9am-9pm every day |
Breathing space Scotland Helpline for when it becomes difficult to cope | 0800 838587 | Monday to Thursday - 6pm - 2am Friday 6pm - 6am |
The Compassionate Friends | 0345 123 2304 | Open every day 10 am – 4 pm, 7-10 pm |
The Lullaby Trust | 0808 802 6868 | Monday - Friday, 10 am – 5 pm |
Marie Curie | 0800 090 2309 | Open Monday - Friday, 8am – 6pm Open Saturday, 11am – 5pm on Saturday Practical and clinical information and support on all aspects of end of life and bereavement. |
The Greater Manchester Suicide Bereavement Information Service
| 0161 983 0700 | Open Monday – Friday, 10am-4pm |
Useful links
Living Well, Dying Well: Train death doulas whose aim is to support people to live their life as meaningfully as possible right to the end, enabling them stay in control of their final weeks of life | Talks about the work of a death Doula: An article talking about the work of a death doula, helping people stay at home to die, surrounded by loved ones |
Ruby Care: A charity helping people, their friends and family face the end of their lives | Cancer Research Anticipatory Grief: A forum for those either facing death themselves or caring for the dying |
A death Doula talks about her work: empowering the dying and allowing them control their life to the end | Five important points for the dying: Both if you, or someone you love are beginning to face the end |
Five regrets of the dying: A nurse has recorded the top 5 regrets of the dying. | Final Fling: A website advising people on how to plan for the end, from finance to funerals |
Warnings against pre-paid funeral plans | Macmillan: Practical guidance for both the dying and relatives on how the body prepares for death |
Marie Curie: Practical and emotional advice on keeping the dying comfortable | Dying Matters: Helpful advice regarding planning ahead. This article talks about topics from financial matters to organ donation to funeral planning |
The Hospice Biographers: Offers the terminally ill the chance to record their memories and voice for their families and friends | Compassion in Dying: A charity helping people plan their own care and end of life wishes |