Liverpool Bereavement Service

19/12/2025

Liverpool Bereavement Service – Christmas Closure 🎄
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Please note that Liverpool Bereavement Service will be closed for the Christmas period from Friday 19th December 2025, reopening on Monday 5th January 2026.
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To everyone who has been part of our journey this year — clients, volunteers, supporters, and partners — thank you for trusting us and allowing us to support you through moments of grief and loss.
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We wish you a peaceful Christmas, and hope the New Year brings light, comfort, and gentle healing. 💚 🌟

19/12/2025

A Heartfelt Thank You to Our Team 💙💚🧡
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As we come to the end of 2025, we want to take a moment to say a truly heartfelt thank you to all our volunteer counsellors and staff at Liverpool Bereavement Service and Oakleaf Children’s Service.
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Your compassion, commitment, and quiet dedication continue to make an immeasurable difference to the lives of adults, children, and families navigating grief, loss, and change. Day in and day out, you show up with care, empathy, and professionalism — often holding space for others during their most difficult moments.
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We are deeply grateful for everything you have given this year — your time, your energy, your skill, and your humanity. We simply could not do this work without you.
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From all of us, we wish you a peaceful Christmas and a healthy, hopeful New Year. Thank you for all that you do 🧡✨

19/12/2025

A Big Thank You to K J Services 🍫
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We would like to say a heartfelt thank you to K J Services for their generous donation of chocolate selection boxes for all the children we support through Oakleaf Children’s Services.
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These thoughtful gifts helped bring a little extra joy and comfort to children and young people who are navigating grief, loss, and difficult times — especially during the festive season.
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Acts of kindness like this make a real difference and remind the children (and our team) that they are seen, cared for, and supported by their local community.
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Thank you, K J Services, for your generosity and for helping us spread a bit of warmth and kindness 💙💚🧡

19/12/2025

We want to say a huge and heartfelt thank you to Sarah Murphy, who not only ran a half marathon to raise funds for Liverpool Bereavement Service and Oakleaf, but also showed incredible kindness to our volunteer counsellors this Christmas with generous gifts of tea, coffee, and beautiful homemade Christmas craft treats.
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Sarah completed the half marathon in memory of her lovely mum, “Nanny Noo”, and shared this on her fundraising page:
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“Liverpool Bereavement Service and Oakleaf helped me and my girls through the darkest time of our lives. We lost a lovely mum and a much-loved Nanny Noo, and Lesley, the amazing counsellor, helped us through that heartbreaking time by listening and supporting us. I want to raise money to help anyone else who needs the wonderful, kind, and loving support of LBS and Oakleaf.”
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Sarah, thank you for trusting us with your story, for raising funds so others can receive the same care and support, and for thinking so thoughtfully of our counsellors at such a busy time of year. Your generosity — in so many forms — means more than we can say. 💚🧡🩵
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🔗 You can still support Sarah’s fundraising here:
https://www.justgiving.com/page/sarah-murphy-6

19/12/2025

A Huge Thank You to Our Santa Dash Fundraisers 🎅 💙 ❤️
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We want to take a moment to say a heartfelt thank you to everyone who has fundraised for Liverpool Bereavement Service through this year’s Santa Dash. Your kindness, creativity, and generosity truly mean the world to us.
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🐾 Thank you to Claire Yates and Izzy the dog.
Izzy took part in the Liverpool Santa Dash this Sunday, raising funds for LBS with a wonderful message: “Don’t buy things you don’t need for Christmas — sponsor Izzy instead.”
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We’re so grateful to Claire and Izzy for supporting local, grassroots bereavement support in such a joyful way.
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🏃‍♂️ Thank you to the Liverpool & Wirral Widow & Widowers Friendship Group.
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We’re honoured that members of the group are taking part in the Liverpool 5K Santa Dash to raise funds for LBS.
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A huge thank you to Barbara McShane, Phil Joinson, Dave Bliss, Phil Harris, and Peter Finnigan for getting involved — some in red Santa suits, some in blue, all showing unity, care, and support for one another.
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To everyone who was running, walking, donating, sharing, or cheering from the sidelines — thank you. Your support helps us continue offering free and low-cost bereavement counselling to adults, children, and families across Merseyside.
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We truly couldn’t do this without you 💙

05/12/2025

He's at it again! ​ Peter Finnigan is rallying the running troops from the Liverpool & Wirral Widow & Widowers Friendship Group.
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We are honoured that members of the Liverpool & Wirral Widow & Widowers Friendship Group are taking part in the Liverpool 5K Santa Dash to raise funds for Liverpool Bereavement Service.
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Participants include:
Barbara McShane, Phil Joinson, Dave Bliss, Phil Harris, and Peter Finnigan.
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The group shared:
“Some of us will be in red Santa suits and some in blue — showing unity and support for each other. We welcome donations from our group, friends, and family to raise funds for this amazing charity that has supported many of us through the depths of grief.”
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Support their fundraising here:
https://www.justgiving.com/page/peter-finnigan-5
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To everyone taking part: thank you for your generosity and for championing our work. Your support helps us continue providing free bereavement counselling across Merseyside.

Help Peter Finnigan raise money to support Liverpool Bereavement Service

05/12/2025

Thank You Sarah – Running a half-marathon in Memory of Her Mum
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We’re incredibly grateful to Sarah Murphy, who is fundraising for Liverpool Bereavement Service and Oakleaf in memory of her lovely mum, “Nanny Noo.”
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From Sarah’s page:
“Liverpool Bereavement Service and Oakleaf helped me and my girls through the darkest time of our lives. We lost a lovely mum and a much-loved Nanny Noo, and Lesley, the amazing counsellor, helped us through that heartbreaking time by listening and supporting us. I want to raise money to help anyone else who needs the wonderful, kind, and loving support of LBS and Oakleaf.”
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You can support Sarah’s fundraising here:
https://www.justgiving.com/page/sarah-murphy-6
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Sarah, thank you for sharing your story and for raising funds so others can receive the same support. We’re deeply grateful.

Help Sarah Murphy raise money to support Liverpool Bereavement Service

05/12/2025

Thank You Claire & Izzy – Santa Dash Fundraiser
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We’re delighted to share that Izzy the dog will be taking part in the Liverpool Santa Dash this Sunday to raise funds for Liverpool Bereavement Service, thanks to her owner Claire Yates.
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Claire writes:
“Please sponsor Izzy dog to raise funds for Liverpool Bereavement Service. LBS is a local grassroots charity offering free/low-cost therapy to folks in Liverpool. Don’t buy things you don’t need for Christmas — sponsor Izzy instead.”
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You can support Izzy and Claire here:
https://www.justgiving.com/page/claire-yates-6
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Donating through JustGiving is simple, secure, and your contribution comes directly to LBS — helping us support adults, children, and families across the city.
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Thank you Claire and Izzy for your kindness and creativity in supporting our work.

Help Claire Yates raise money to support Liverpool Bereavement Service

05/12/2025

This Sunday, several wonderful supporters will be taking part in the Liverpool Santa Dash to raise funds that help us keep our free bereavement support running.
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You can support them by:
• Sponsoring our runners and walkers
• Sharing the fundraising link
• Cheering them on this Sunday
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Donate or share here: https://www.justgiving.com/campaign/lbs-santa-dash-2025
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Thank you to everyone running, jogging, and walking on behalf of LBS. Your support makes a real difference, and we wish you all the very best for the day.

We’re taking part in the 2025 Santa Dash to raise vital funds for those coping with loss! Whether we run, jog, or walk, every step helps us support adults and children in need. Please donate today 💚 🎅🌟

05/12/2025

Oakleaf – Our Children’s Bereavement Service
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We’re proud to share that Oakleaf has been featured in YogaBugs Ltd – Education Matters in a thoughtful interview with our Oakleaf Manager, Lesley, and Frazer Smith, Safeguarding Lead for the UK’s largest Multi Academy Trust.
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Read the feature here:
https://yogabugs.com/education-matters-issue-o1/
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Oakleaf supports children and young people across Merseyside who are experiencing grief, loss, or separation — through individual work, school partnerships, and group sessions.
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If you work in a school, support children professionally, or care for a young person who may be struggling, you’re welcome to get in touch. Oakleaf is not currently funded by external grants, and community support plays a vital role in keeping this service running.
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For enquiries, referrals, or information about fundraising for Oakleaf, please contact Lesley at oakleaf@liverpoolbereavement.co.uk

From all the team at YogaBugs may I extend a very warm welcome to our first edition of Education Matters which we hope is an online magazine that is both topical and courageous in its aims to raise awareness of pressures faced by UK schools and how they have managed those challenges both past and pr...

03/11/2025

🎅 We’re dashing for a cause!
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On Sunday 7th December 2025, our Liverpool Bereavement Service team and incredible volunteers will be taking part in the Liverpool Santa Dash — raising vital funds to support adults, children, and families coping with grief. 💚
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Last year, thanks to your generosity, we smashed our £2,000 target and raised £2,605 — and this year, we’re hoping to go even further!
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Every step we take — whether we run, jog, or walk — helps someone feel less alone in their grief. Your donations go directly toward providing free, specialist 1:1 counselling and creative therapies through both our adult service and our Oakleaf support for children and young people. 🌿
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🧡 How you can help:
💰 Donate — every pound helps provide vital emotional support.
📣 Share — spread the word to help us reach more people.
🏃‍♀️ Join us — sign up and dash alongside our LBS Santas!
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📅 Event: Liverpool Santa Dash
📍 When: 7th December 2025
⏰ 5k: 9:30am | Mini Dash: 11:00am
📌 Starting Point: Pier Head, Liverpool
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Let’s make every step count and ensure no one in our community faces grief alone. 💚
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👉 Donate or find out more at: https://www.justgiving.com/campaign/lbs-santa-dash-2025
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02/11/2025

💚 This Movember, we’re shining a light on something often left unspoken — men’s grief.
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Many men are taught to stay strong, to “keep it together,” to be the one everyone else leans on.
But when we lose someone we love, silence can make the weight of grief even heavier.
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Grief doesn’t make you weak. It makes you human.
Talking about loss — whether with a friend, family member, or counsellor — is a sign of courage, not failure.
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At Liverpool Bereavement Service, we’re here to offer a space where men can talk openly, without judgement, and at their own pace. 🌿
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It’s okay to talk.
It’s okay to feel.
And it’s okay to ask for help. 💚
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👉 www.liverpoolbereavement.com
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