Gloucestershire 'Grief Kind Spaces' support the bereaved

The weekly sessions at John Lewis in Cheltenham are helping people deal with grief in an informal setting

New group sessions in public spaces are helping people deal with grief.

The charity Sue Ryder opened Grief Kind Spaces in Cheltenham and Gloucester, after research found 86% of people felt alone in their bereavement.

Elise Hoadley, service director for Sue Ryder Leckhampton Court Hospice, said people had described the sessions as being "a life saver".

The scheme is looking to recruit more volunteers so it can expand its services across Gloucestershire.

The charity surveyed 8,500 people who had been bereaved, who told them how important it was for them to be able to access more informal support within their communities.

"People have expressed that they felt so alone, and now they have made new friends," added Ms Hoadley.

She explained the Grief Kind Spaces, which are free, are open for "anybody from the age of 18 and older from all walks of life".

"Whether they have been known to Sue Ryder or or not, whether they have had a loved one or a pet die, because grief affects people in so many different ways."

The scheme is part of a national initiative by the charity.

"The idea is that people come along into a very informal, very friendly, very warm environment, just to meet other people and to talk," added Ms Hoadley.

Katie Holmes said the sessions help people talk and listen to others who might be experiencing the same feeling as them

Katie Holmes, also from Leckhampton Court Hospice, said: "Quite often people feel they are a burden speaking about their grief to friends or family, but our Grief Kind Spaces help remove that feeling."The volunteer-run sessions are held at the Roots, Coffee, and Community Café in Gloucester on Tuesday mornings and at the John Lewis café in Cheltenham, on Wednesday mornings.

Following their success, the charity is planning to open a third Grief Kind Space in Gloucester Quays to be run in the evenings.

Brianna Harris lost her friend Jack to cancer

Brianna Harris, 23, from Cheltenham started coming to the Grief Kind Spaces after her friend Jack, 25, passed away from cancer in April.

She says the service has been a "massive support" and a "lovely and welcoming space".

"He was unexpectedly diagnosed with terminal cancer in January of this year. By the time they caught it, it had pretty much spread everywhere," said Ms Harris.

"He was and still to this day is the funniest person I have ever met - the smartest person I have ever met in my entire life.

"A lot of people in our 20s, we don't really talk about death. I think I tried to downplay my own grief, but as the weeks went on, I was struggling with it more and more."

Kevin Humble has been using the service since his dad passed away from a stroke

Kevin Humble's dad passed away 16 months ago after a stroke. He says it created a "massive void" in his life.

"It was devastating. He was there one day, gone the next," Said Mr Humble.

He said he didn't feel he had any time to "absorb" or deal with his grief as he had to take on caring responsibilities for his mother.

"It left me with no opportunity to talk to anybody, to be emotional in front of other people."

Since coming to Grief Kind Spaces, he has noticed an "enormous difference" as he feels able to talk about his father and the issues involved with death.

"As a bloke - all the male friends I've got - no one wants to talk about it. But this gives you the opportunity to step aside from that and talk about things with utter freedom and support."