SQUAMISH
BEREAVEMENT SUPPORT GROUP
“Courage
To Grieve”
For Those Experiencing Loss Through
Death
The Bereavement Support Group started
small in October 2005 from within our church and through out 2006 grew
into a Community based program. The first two 6-week facilitated
support groups were lead by myself and funded by the Living Through
Loss Counselling Society of B.C. (LTLC). This funding was given
with the understanding that a local organization would completely take
over the program. This is where our church appeared with a
financial commitment. With this support, two more 6-week programs
were provided. At that time, a member of the community Liz Wood
joined me as a facilitator. To assist us with group facilitation
we both took a seven-week Bereavement Training Course in Vancouver.
With the backing of the church board in May 2006, I applied for and
received a grant from the Squamish Community Foundation (SCF).
This grant was given with the understanding that the church would
provide a space for the group to meet, photocopying and limited
advertising. As well, the grant money is only to be used for the
Bereavement Support Group and not go towards the general workings of
the church. This grant has made it possible to make plans and
expand our program.
We were able to produce a brochure that is distributed throughout the
Sea to Sky corridor. We were
able to have Judy Capes, a Therapist with LTLC come up to Squamish and
give a Bereavement Facilitator’s Training Workshop to four
people. This past Christmas we had an evening session entitled
“Managing the Holidays”, for those who have lost someone close through
death and find the holidays a difficult time. As well, we
have continued to offer the 6-week facilitated program. We have
provided support and information on the grieving process to a wide
variety of people both male and female. People have come from as
far away as D’Arcy and Britannia. Some have lost a parent, some a
spouse, some a sibling and some a child. Each group has had
between 6-10 people with the group maximum being ten. The course
evaluations completed by each participant have been very
positive. The Caring Ministry graciously provided the baking,
which always received favourable comments on the evaluation form, under
the heading ‘other comments’.
The programme is now offered under the aegis of Sea-to-Sky Community
Services
Respectfully submitted,
Wendy
Sellers