The Compassionate Friends UK

#VolunteersWeek and on behalf of our TCF trustees and everyone on the staff team, we would like to take this opportunity to offer our heartfelt thanks to our amazing volunteers, for your time, dedication, empathy and compassion. We really are grateful for the hope you offer to other bereaved parents, siblings and grandparents through your unparalleled and hugely valuable peer support. To be willing to use their own experience of of the death of a loved one to be alongside others going through this heartbreaking loss, is a wonderful gift. We are very proud of the layers of support that we are able to offer, and we are only able to do this because of our amazing volunteers. These are just a few pieces of the wonderful feedback received by TCF because of all they do: ‘Thank you so much to TCF for all the hard work you do for us bereaved parents’. ‘Even just the knowledge of sharing my grief with someone who understood what I was going through. That had experienced the same emotions and/or similar....but additionally (the volunteer) was just so great, and patient … She is so empathetic and understanding. It was also good to hear how she dealt with her grief. To hear her story. Something very special when someone shares this’. ‘(TCF) is really excellent. There is such a lot of work ongoing, it’s incredible. Talking on the helpline (in those early days), I don’t know what I would have done otherwise. It transformed my life and I never thought I would survive. So just continue with your fantastic work. ‘Thank you to TCF - to all the volunteer parents who have sadly lost a child, a son or daughter, and who support other families going through the same tragedy’. ‘The Compassionate Friends is such a wonderful organisation and everybody I have spoken to or who has emailed me has been so very kind, compassionate and helped me. Thank you so much for caring and the very special work you all do’. So, once again, thank you to all our volunteers for choosing to volunteer with TCF be alongside others offering hope when it feels that there is none. What an incredible difference you make to so many.

Our Ride Londoners are getting set for their training for their race in May. Team Tracey and Team Chris will be joined by our two trustees, George and Ken who are all riding to raise funds for bereaved parents and siblings. RideLondon Could you sponsor us by doing a bike ride, run or walk and raise vital funds for our UK National Helpline run by trained parent volunteers 7 days a week to support bereaved parents and siblings? Please get in touch at info@tcf.org.uk if you would like to discuss your plans or simply create a justgiving page that goes directly to Compassionate Friends UK for your event and tag us into your social feeds. #griefsupport #childloss #charitysupport #charityfundraising

Can you or your company/business help sponsor one of our supportive leaflets. This could be in recognition and support of a colleagues family with their permission who are coping with child loss? * Why TCF? Introduction to TCF and peer support for family and friends * My Child Has Died - Coping with Family and Friends (large print, easy to read leaflet) * Grieving for an only child or all your children The cost of sponsorship is £350 per leaflet and helps us with the design and print cost.. We can include a sponsor message or dedication to the family's son or daughter on the back of the leaflet - both on the digital downloadable and printed versions. If you would like to sponsor any of these leaflets please contact us at info@tcf.org.uk. Thank you so much for your support. We hope to publish these leaflets in the next couple of months.