SUPPORT GROUPS

Bereavement Support

Have you recently lost your life partner, or know someone who has? St Giles runs two Bereavement Support Groups which puts people in touch with others who are going through the same experience, allowing people to access the help and support they need over the long term.



During the 15 years that the groups have been running over 150 people have benefited from this service. The groups are run in a friendly and professional way and there is no charge to attend. The groups are neutral spaces for people of all faith and none.

For more information please contact Matthew Hughes on 01689856 931 or via email on jmath@btinterent.com 

More about Support Groups

At St. Giles we place a high priority on our pastoral care of people. 



Whether it is a family preparing for their child's christening, a couple getting ready for their wedding day, bereaved persons coming to terms with their loss, or general issues around life and relationships we aim to offer people love, support and help that can make a huge difference in these important experiences.  

 

Dementia Support

Around 850,000 people in the UK have some form of dementia, 17,000 of whom are under the age of 65.  This is expected to rise to one million by 2025.

As this illness is now so prevalent it is not surprising that most of us will have experienced or known about somebody in our circle of family and friends who has or is suffering with Alzheimer’s or some form of Dementia. 

The experience of watching someone you love and care for disappear into the dark hole of Alzheimer’s or Dementia is a very traumatic and harrowing one. 

The person that you once new and related to slowly becomes unavailable, as all normal forms of communicating and relating slowly disappear.  It is almost as if you have to grieve for them whilst they are still alive and then grieve for them all over again when they finally die, even though this may come as a relief for them.

Over the past few years we have been running a support group for those who are caring for people with Alzheimer’s or Dementia. 

The group offers a place where people can share and talk through their feelings about what they and their loved ones are going through, and swap practical advice about nursing homes and resources in the Borough. 

The group is open to all, irrespective of faith.  There is no fee for the meeting.

If you would like to know when the next Group will be running, or for  more information please contact the Rector on 01689 856931 or email jmath@btinternet.com .

Caring can be a very stressful and isolating experience, so why not come along and get some support.