Lighting up the Bailiwick for National Grief Awareness Week

Sunday 22 November 2020

The SANDS 'Lights of Love' service, a Grief Café and a special Manclub session are among the events that will take place in early December as part of Grief Awareness Week.

The Guernsey Bereavement Service (GBS) will be taking part in the national awareness and solidarity campaign from 2 to 8 December.

A number of events have already been organised by local groups and charities, including: 

• An outdoor Christmas service of thanksgiving and remembrance at the Castel Hospital at 17.30 on Wednesday 2 December.

• The SANDS (stillborn and neonatal death charity) ‘Lights of Love’ service on Friday 4 December at St Saviour’s Church.

•  A special session at Manclub, hosted by Guernsey Mind.

• Bulb planting with the Ivy Trust.

• A Grief Café for bereaved parents at Patois Brasserie on Monday 6 December, hosted by Lead Chaplain Linda le Vasseur along with GBS.

The highlight of the week nationally is the final evening, Tuesday 8 December, when buildings nationally will be lit in yellow. The Central Dome at St. Paul's Cathedral will be the Beacon of Hope in London, in a public display of unity. 

GBS Chairman John Moses is hoping that local public buildings, care and residential homes, and the community, will join in by lighting buildings in yellow, or placing a candle or lantern in a window.

“This year in particular, with the collective grief being felt across the world, we want to highlight that each and every person that is grieving is in our thoughts.”