Bereavement support
At the chaplaincy we offer support for staff and students who have experienced a loss. This could be in the form of meeting with one of our faith advisers for a 1-1 chat, attending a peer support session or one of our journaling and memory box making workshops. We are also able to offer memorial services for your loved ones or a special mention in a service to hold people experiencing grief in attendees thoughts and prayers.
Bereavement and Me
Have you lost someone important in your life? Is it difficult to see a way forward, now this person is no longer with you? Does it feel like others cannot understand your loss or that you just don't know what more you can say? If so, you may find it helpful to attend one of our Bereavement and Me groups where you will have the opportunity to share your experiences with others who are also trying to make sense of their grief and figure out how to get through this difficult time. Bereavement and Me groups are held at intervals throughout the academic year and offer a supportive, relaxed space to talk to and learn from others.
Sessions for 2024-25 below:
1-1 support
We have fifteen faith advisers available to meet with you to offer guidance and support.
Student Grief Society
The Grief Society is a place where people who have experienced loss can have the opportunity to relate to individuals within their own age group. University is already a tumultuous experience even without the process of grief. The society aims to bring a sense of feeling that you are not alone in this process. There is no pressure to talk and most of the time is spent on other subject matters. Comfort within the society is found by knowing other people are going through the same experience as yourself.
Evan Holdsworth, President of SHU Grief Society
You can follow the society on Instagram @shu_griefsoc and find out more here. (PDF, 84.7KB)
Memorial services
A Christian service can be held in memory of the deceased and/or in honour of support for an individual going through bereavement. Please contact the chaplaincy if you would like us to arrange this for you.
Resources
We have a wide variety of online resources that includes:
- videos
- online courses
- podcasts
- articles
- apps
- online support services
- Grief and bereavement guide (PDF, 694KB)
- Grief and suicide bereavement guide (PDF, 823.9KB)
Our Wellbeing service
Our wellbeing service offer a variety of support sessions as well as 1-1 appointments. Learn more about what they offer and access further resources here.
It's time
It's Time is a free online support service for young adults who have experienced the loss of a parent.
Here to hear
Here to hear is a multi-faith and multi-lingual bereavement helpline available between 10 am and 4 pm. Call 0114 395 2127 to speak to someone.
Cafe Sukoon
Café Sukoon is a peaceful and friendly place to discuss grief. It is a place where you are listened because the healing power of just listening is better than anything. Café Sukoon which stands for peace, is normalising the word grief within many communities. Find out more and join the online sessions on the 10th of each month here.