Hospice launches free bereavement awareness training

Birmingham Hospice have announced they will be offering free Corporate Bereavement Awareness Training.

Talking about death is normally a conversation people want to avoid. Death isn 't an easy topic to talk about in any location, including the workplace. This is why Birmingham Hospice is offering free Corporate Bereavement Awareness Training to businesses across Birmingham and the West Midlands.

Birmingham Hospice provides specialist care for people living with a terminal diagnosis and for their loved ones. Across both hospice sites in Selly Park and Erdington, and in the local community, the hospice offers bespoke, compassionate care that supports the whole family.

The hospice has designed a Bereavement Awareness Training program which will give businesses an introduction into some of the theories of bereavement and grief, to help employers and co-workers understand any emotions that people who are dealing with a loss may be feeling.

Lucy Watkins, Income Generation director said: “Here at Birmingham Hospice, we are keen to help build compassionate workplaces across the city; workplaces that support employees who are living with a terminal diagnosis, caring for someone with a life-limiting illness or dealing with loss and grief.

“We provide a free two and a half hour training session that can be delivered within the workplace, for up to 20 participants, to help employees feel more confident supporting their peers who are dealing with a bereavement. ”

Within the session, businesses will gain an understanding of the impact of grief on the individual, the wider family and the workplace, some of the secondary losses that bereavement can bring to these groups, and conversational tips to help individuals feel more confident in approaching their peers to share their condolences and offer support.

The training aims to enlighten participants about the impact of grief on the body and mind, and considerations that need to be made to accommodate this in the workplace. Signposting to additional resources will be given at the end of the session.

Birmingham Hospice are pleased to provide this training and their services free of charge to help businesses support colleagues who are dealing with grief and loss. Each year, after NHS funding the hospice needs to raise £5.5 million to enable local people living with a terminal diagnosis and their loved ones to receive the vital care and support they need.

Birmingham Hospice colleagues and volunteers are dedicated to making every moment matter for everyone they care for.

To organise a training session for your company, please contact their Fundraising Team here or on 0121 752 8779.