Members of our Young Person Parental Loss Group
We support patients to discuss and explore their future needs- this can be around writing cards, letters or planning funeral wishes. We offer support to discuss illness with children and young people. We have books and ideas which can help families to talk about what can be difficult subjects. Supporting patients, family and friends at different times throughout illness. This support continues into dealing with grief. We can engage with outside organisations to support people in their care who are working with families who are impacted by life limiting illness.
Being able to offer a safe and confidential space is very important. We are able to support clients to share their emotions and often fears which they may hold back from their families and friends. The Patient and Family Support service help by allowing a space to share thoughts and feelings.
While this can be challenging it, it is well researched that allowing a client this space to acknowledge what is going on in their head and heart can support what is a very difficult situation. Supporting families to share with children and young people, again allows all voices to be heard. We can liaise with nurseries, schools which supports families and builds stronger networks of support.
Helping patients and families to acknowledge how life has changed helps to look at coping strategies that can support all those involved.
Joy has over 25 years’ experience of working in palliative care, including supporting the educational service at ACCORD, and is the Project Manager of the Renfrewshire Bereavement Network.
Joy is supported by two trained counsellors and a team of volunteers in our Patient and Family Support service.
Mhairi has a post graduate qualification in person centred counselling. She has undertaken additional training in working creatively with children and young people, and has over ten years’ experience of working in palliative care
<span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">Mariusz is a qualified Person Centred Counsellor. Prior to joining ACCORD he worked in various helping professions for 20 years which included social care and social work, and more recently general and children and young people counselling.</span></span></span>
<span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="color:black">Ingrid is a qualified counsellor with a Masters in Pluralistic Counselling working with adults and young people. . She attended art school in her 20's and then worked in the voluntary sector for over 20 years before retraining as a counsellor in her late 40's. She has worked as a counsellor supporting all age ranges, including young people in secondary schools for 3 years. Lived experience of supporting those with cancer has led to working in palliative care. </span></span></span>
Joy is a qualified counsellor with a post graduate qualification in counselling and supervision. She holds additional qualifications in supervision which enables her to support the team. Joy has extensive training in working with families and working creatively. <p>Joy has over 25 years’ experience of working in palliative care, including supporting the educational service at ACCORD, and is the Project Manager of the Renfrewshire Bereavement Network. </p> <p>Joy is supported by two trained counsellors and a team of volunteers in our Patient and Family Support service.</p> <p> </p>
<p>Mhairi has a post graduate qualification in person centred counselling. She has undertaken additional training in working creatively with children and young people, and has over ten years’ experience of working in palliative care</p>
Bereavement Groups
If you join one of our bereavement groups you will share a confidential space with others who are also dealing with grief. The groups are focused on specific losses, partner loss, parental loss, sibling loss. The groups are never more than 8 people and will be facilitated by one of our counsellors. The groups run for 8 sessions and meet every two weeks. Each person’s grief is unique to their own individual experience, however there are many commonalties that can be shared in the group, which helps to take away the isolation that grief can bring. We encourage that you try and attend all sessions.
Walking with Grief Group
Our walking with grief group has been running for a number of years. The group meets every Friday at our outreach building based at the RAH. Those attending the group have all been bereaved, some are walking more recently with their grief while others are further on in how they are living with grief. The walks are all around 1 hour long and are low level walking. The group have an annual day away where the group choose where they would like to go.
Gardening Group
Our gardening group meets at the hospice and tend to two areas at the back. The group meets on a Thursday and is led by a horticulturalist. Everyone who attends the group have all experienced their own grief.
Upcoming Groups
In the coming months we are building on the walking and gardening group. We are planning to expand the opportunities to meet the needs of more people by offering groups in art, crafts, cupcake making, poetry, relaxation, yoga and a cinema group.
If at any time you find yourself in crisis, please contact the Samaritans or Breathing Space
To access the patient and family support service, you can be referred through your GP, Hospital consultant or specialist nurse. You may be connected to another of ACCORD’s services, which can also make a referral.
If you wish to explore if we can support you in any way, you can call and speak with us directly.
Every year we hold an Annual Service of Remembering. This is a very important time in the life of ACCORD. The service is a mixture of poetry, music, readings, and prayer. This special time we endeavour to meet the needs of all those attending.
Each year we look at a theme for the service. This year due to the 40th Anniversary of ACCORD Hospice, we will be doing “Rubies of Remembering”.
If you would like more information about our Annual Service of Remembering please email SOR@accord.org.uk.
Below you will find are some frequently asked questions
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