The Compassionate Friends

PWCF funding through the small grants programme has helped The Compassionate Friends (TCF) in Wales by assisting with the cost of peer support groups. We have supported TCF since October 2021, and so far 502 bereaved parents have benefitted from this funding.

TCF Wales runs a variety of activities, including local support groups, online support groups, a helpline and weekend retreats. Through publishing a range of leaflets, they also help to raise awareness of the issues surrounding the loss of a child in a variety of settings such as hospitals and funeral directors.

Recently, TCF has been able to restart the in-person support groups. These are facilitated by a bereaved parent, and are hugely important to the individuals that attend, providing a safe shared space for people to discuss their emotions and experiences. Online support groups remain popular, and often allow for more specific support – for example, there is a group for parents bereaved by a road traffic incident, and another for those bereaved by COVID-19.

One bereaved mother said ‘I just felt like there was a sense of relief in being surrounded by others who have walked a similar path, no expectations of meeting milestones or feeling a certain way but feeling accepted.’

To learn more about the work of TCF and the support they offer, please click here.