Current Events

A gentle, welcoming community event creating space to talk openly about grief and loss, hear lived experiences, ask questions, and connect with others through conversation, music and food.

Do you ever wish we could have more open conversations about grief, loss and bereavement? Would you like to understand more about what happens when someone dies, or how to support yourself, or others, through times of change, uncertainty and loss? Are you curious about what helps people feel less alone in their grief?

This gentle, welcoming event creates space to talk openly about grief and to challenge the stigma that often surrounds it. Through short talks, small-group conversations, lived stories, creative experiences and shared food, we explore how grief is lived and supported and supported by community, alongside some of the challenges we can face. There will be opportunities to hear people’s personal experiences of loss and what has helped them through, alongside practical and emotional perspectives on bereavement.

The event is designed to be relaxed and supportive. You can drop in at any point and you are equally welcome to stay for the whole event. Whether you are personally affected by grief, curious to learn more, or working locally with people around loss and bereavement, you are warmly invited.

Alongside the conversations, there will be a warming lunch of soup provided by The Good Heart (£3 per cup), plenty of tea and cake, singing from Companion Voices, and spaces to reflect. We will be displaying the Somerset Speak Their Name Memorial Quilt and the beautiful tree mural created collaboratively at last year’s event.

There will be an optional opportunity to experience weaving a willow coffin in a thoughtfully held space, taking place separately from the main event, with no obligation to join. The day is hosted by members of the Frome Grief Network, who bring a breadth and depth of experience in supporting people around grief and loss.

Lunch at a cost of £3 per head for cup of soup. Cake also available to buy. Tea and coffee free.

This event includes open and honest conversations about grief, dying and loss, which people may find emotional. We’ll do our best to make the space supportive and will have volunteers available for anyone who needs a bit of extra care. Please bring cash or card for lunch and cake

Event Programme

10.00am – Arrival and welcome
10.15am – Frome Grief Network panel

A small panel of speakers will each offer a short 3-minute introduction to their area of experience and what they can explore in smaller groups.
Examples of topics may include- ‘What happens when someone dies and understanding practicalities’, ‘Coping with difficult feelings around grief and loss’ and ‘the role of ceremony and ritual in bereavement’.

10.30am – Small group conversations and creative spaces
You choose where to spend your time by moving to different areas of the room to sit with one of the speakers around a topic that interests you.
You can also choose to take part in willow coffin weaving in a separate, held space.

There is no obligation to take part in anything- you are welcome to observe, rest, move between spaces, or simply be.

11.15am – Stories of grief and loss
Three people will share lived experiences of loss, responding to gentle questions around stigma, support, and what has helped them through.

12.00pm – Lunch and connection
We gather around tables for a warming lunch of soup (£3 per cup), with plenty of tea and cake. Each table is lightly held by a member of the Frome Grief Network to support gentle conversation. Companion Voices will offer gentle background singing.

12.30pm – Your questions and reflections
We respond to questions and thoughts from our ‘No silly questions’ box, opening space for shared reflection and dialogue.

1.00pm – Close and goodbye