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Lockdown puts Rutland village bereavement group on hold days after launch




A community bereavement service has been put on hold for a second time by national lockdown just days after its launch.

The Bereavement Help Point in Ketton held its first fortnightly drop-in session on Monday, but will have to wait until the latest lockdown lifts before it can meet again.

Ketton parish councillor Glenis Southern and Claire Henry, an expert in palliative care and director of The Loss Project, came up with the idea at the end of last year.

Ketton parish councillor Glenis Southern, Claire Henry MBE, and Sinclair Rodgers, Ketton PC (42972435)
Ketton parish councillor Glenis Southern, Claire Henry MBE, and Sinclair Rodgers, Ketton PC (42972435)

"We went live yesterday, but have to put it on hold because of lockdown as we can't get together safely," said Claire.

"Hopefully if it is only a four-week lockdown we will only miss one session.

"It will take more than Covid to knock us down - we are not defeatist here in Rutland. The people have been incredible."

A steering committee first met in January, and volunteer training began in March, only to be halted by the first lockdown later that month.

Four volunteers were trained over the summer and the group will work together with a trio of hospices - Loros, based in Loughborough, Dove Cottage, in Stathern, near Melton Mowbray, and Sue Ryder Thorpe Hall, in Peterborough.

It has been modelled on a pioneering community bereavement service in Staffordshire, and will work closely with Ketton Parish Council and Dying Matters in Rutland, which launched in May to improve people’s end of life experience

"Getting the three hospices to work together is absolutely amazing," added Claire, who was awarded an MBE in 2013 for her services to improving end-of-life care.

"It is a drop-in for anyone who was bereaved yesterday or 10 years ago - bereavement hits people in so many different ways.

"It;'s not about counselling, it's about support, and encourages people who have suffered bereavement to go out and gives them somewhere to go.

"We decided to hold meetings on a Monday afternoon because we understand that weekends can be a really long time if you are on your own.

"It is a listening ear and an opportunity to talk about your bereavement, and we can also signpost people to further support."

More volunteer training is planned for the new year and Claire is also looking to set up similar groups elsewhere around the county.

"We are now getting a lot more people who would like to volunteer," she explained.

"It has been a real community initiative, driven by the people of Ketton, for the people of Ketton.

"We are keeping it to within a five-mile radius of the village, but we are looking at rolling it out into other areas in Rutland who are interested, but we first want to make sure it is working properly here."

The group is scheduled to meet every first and third Monday of the month from 2pm to 4pm at the Ketton Sports and Community Centre.

For more information, call (01733) 225900.



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