Unique bereavement support service launches in Edinburgh

Service hailed by medical and support groups across the capital

11 April 2011 14:45

Edinburgh families are the first in Scotland to benefit from a unique bereavement support programme launched today.

Open to anyone experiencing bereavement, Acorns is free and offers practical help and group support over a six-week programme.

This is the first such group-based bereavement support service in Scotland, open to all and not restricted to single issue bereavement, such as the death of a child. Acorns’ aim is to normalise the feelings and emotions surrounding death by sharing them in a group environment with others going through the same experience, and offering guidance from experienced practitioners.

Edinburgh Council, Lothian Hospitals, the Maggie’s Centre, NHS 24’s help-line service, ‘Breathing Space’, and the Marie Curie Hospice have all welcomed the initiative, recognising that this pioneering service meets a real gap in the provision of bereavement support.

The Lord Provost of Edinburgh, George Grubb commented: “From my years as a minister, I know that people who have been bereaved often do not know where to turn for support, so I am sure this new service will be greatly valued here in Edinburgh. Acorns is to be commended for its work in putting such valuable support programmes in place.”

Acorns is headed up by Tom Gordon, an experienced practitioner in bereavement issues and a former member of the bereavement support team in Edinburgh’s Marie Curie Hospice.

Tom explained: “Acorns is a simple concept badly needed in a society finding itself increasingly out of touch with death. The feelings experienced during bereavement can be disturbing and people panic, worrying that it is not going to get better and that what they are feeling is not OK.

“Your GP can tell you it is normal to feel the way you do. But when a group of bereaved people all feeling the same say it’s normal, you listen.”

Unlike one-to-one counselling offered by the NHS Scotland or single-issue charities, Acorns gives the support of the group as well as practical help with the day to day issues people face following a death.

The programme is made up of six sessions covering feelings, money, health, cooking, socialising and the future. Each session is run by an experienced professional including a nutritionist, a GP and a Citizens Advice Bureau worker.

Acorns was successfully piloted last year in Liberton and Oxgangs with 28 people taking part over two programmes.

The programmes will continue in 2011 in venues throughout Edinburgh, starting in March and continuing in May, July, September and November. Venues include Oxgangs Library, Braidburn Inn, Life Care in Stockbridge and Blackhall Library.

People on the pilot programmes formed connections, arranging to meet out-with the group. The groups ended the isolation of bereavement and helped members to talk openly with others who understood personally what they were going through.

In society today there are limited models for grieving and people often find it difficult to know what is normal or appropriate behaviour. They find the feelings they experience disturbing, and while the vast majority of people do not need specialist counselling, they do need support to help them get through this very difficult period in their lives.

Monique Blair, who lives in Penicuik, attended the pilot programme last year following the death of her husband.

She said: “The Acorns programme was completely different to the counselling I had tried in the past.

"It has helped me to cope. It made such a change to be surrounded by people who were going through the same thing, albeit at different stages, and who could really understand how crazy it can make you feel. It is much more relaxed than individual counselling because the focus is spread around the group and you only speak if you want to. I was reassured to hear other people were experiencing similar feelings and that it’s perfectly normal."

Sandy Young, lead chaplain in Lothian Hospitals, and lead for the Scottish Executive’s Bereavement Strategy in Lothian, said: “This is a valuable service and I am delighted to hear the pilot programmes have gone well and that they are being rolled out this year. It is my understanding that Acorns is the only service offering this type of structured programme to the bereaved in Edinburgh and the Lothians and will be an important option for those seeking to piece their lives together following a bereavement.”

The Acorns Bereavement Support Programme is sponsored by William Purves, one of Edinburgh’s oldest and best known funeral directors. Still privately owned, this family - run business can trace its roots back over five generations.

Today five great great grandchildren of its founder work side by side in the firm to uphold the principles on which it was founded.

To attend a programme or to find out more information contact Acorns on 0131 208 1882 or email Tom Gordon at acorns.info@gmail.com.

Photo courtesy of Joe Houghton.