Winchester Bereavement Support

08/12/2025

Today marks the end of Grief Awareness Week. Again we would remind anyone who is struggling at this time of year with the absence of a loved one, that it is OK to reach out for help. There are many resources available, including of course our trained bereavement visitors.

It costs £5.00 per visit for us to visit those who are in need of support. This includes continual training to ensure that our team are fully aware of how to support people. Many people are unaware that we are entirely volunteer led and rely entirely on donations to run. WE hope to reach even more people in need during 2026.

08/12/2025

Today marks the end of Grief Awareness Week. Again we would remind anyone who is struggling at this time of year with the absence of a loved one, that it is OK to reach out for help. There are many resources available, including of course our trained bereavement visitors.

It costs us £5.00 per visit for a volunteer to visit those who are in need of support. This includes continual training to ensure that our team are fully aware of how to support people. Many people are unaware that we are entirely volunteer led and rely entirely on donations to run. WE hope to reach even more people in need during 2026.

Send a message to learn more

08/12/2025

The Blackpool Tower is lit in orange this evening in support of Grief Awareness Week.

Be kind and gentle with yourself this festive season, when joy and grief can often sit side by side 🧡

If you’re dealing with grief or bereavement, we want you to know you’re not alone. Local support services are here to help.

Visit: https://www.blackpool.gov.uk/Residents/Life-events/Bereavement-support.aspx for more information.

05/12/2025

Our volunteers had a wonderful day yesterday, meeting many residents of Wi******er in the city centre, and were able to spend time talking about the importance of having access to support if you’ve been bereaved, especially at this time of year, when the absence of loved ones can be felt the most. Thank you to all those who took the time to stop and chat with our fabulous volunteers

04/12/2025

If you are out and about in Wi******er today, perhaps doing Christmas shopping, or visiting the Christmas market, do pop in and say hello to our wonderful volunteers who are manning a stand in St Maurice's Covert (opposite Marks and Spencer's) raising awareness of the help that is available if you are struggling with bereavement at this emotion laden time of year. Rumour has it they have cakes on the stand, so well worth a visit! they will be there until 4pm today

02/12/2025

Today marks the start of National Grief Awareness Week. At a time of year when many of us are looking forward to the festive season, for some it it a difficult time remembering loved ones who are no longer with us. If you or someone you know is struggling, we are here to help. And do take a look at the The Good Grief Trust's page for further help

Today is the start of 2025.

This annual campaign runs between the 2nd - 8th of December, and we are now in our 7th year to raise awareness of the impact of grief and loss on a national platform.

We hope this week brings new hope, new connections and new friendships and better understanding of the issues faced by those grieving across the UK.

Please get involved!

Hashtags





• Share social media posts with your friends and neighbours
• Tag The Good Grief Trust and we will share to help promote your event/work
• Help us raise awareness of the support available to the bereaved under our umbrella
• Join a local Walk and Talk group near you
• Plant a seed in memory of someone this Christmas

Pop along to our campaign website to download posters and find our NGAW25 Event Calendar:

https://www.thegoodgrieftrust.org/ngaw/

Order Seed Packs and Campaign goodies here:
https://www.thegoodgrieftrust.org/good-grief-shop/

28/11/2025

A huge thank you to Abbotswood court care home who today invited some of our amazing volunteers to come in for a Christmas buffet as a thank you for all the wonderful things they do. I am reliably told the buffet was delicious and the ladies all had a wonderful time.

Thank you for recognising the work of our lovely volunteers

27/10/2025

Last week we celebrated the latest volunteers to join us as Bereavement Visitors. We are so grateful to these lovely people who bring a wealth of experience and knowledge to the team, and are prepared to share that to help people who need support in coming to terms with the loss of a loved one.

This latest group have now completed their training with us, and are a great bunch of people, with interesting and relevant backgrounds. Welcome to the team ladies!

24/10/2025

https://www.hampshirechronicle.co.uk/news/25550920.hampshire-heroes-honoured-churchill-living-awards/

This week we are celebrating one of our lovely volunteers who has been named as Hampshire's Local Hero in the first ever Churchill Living Local Hero Awards. Rosemarie, 86, has dedicated more than 15 years to our charity, helping people navigate grief and loss with compassion and care. We rely entirely on volunteers like Rosemarie, who is also an active committee member and regular event organiser. Her empathy and gentle presence have comforted countless people during their most difficult moments. One client said: “When my wife died I felt lost and lonely. It left a big hole. Rosemarie didn’t fill that hole, but she helped me to manage my grief. I was able to find a future when, at first, I didn’t think I had one.”

Rosemarie says she felt “truly honoured” to receive the award and the £1,000 donation that accompanies it. “Wi******er Bereavement Support means so much to me, and I’m so proud to be part of a group of volunteers who give their time so selflessly. The donation will help us reach more people who are struggling with loss and need someone to listen.”

Huge Congratulations Rosemarie - richly deserved!

14/10/2025

We are thrilled to announce that the Royal Wi******er Golf Club have chosen Wi******er Bereavement Support as their Charity of the year.

This is fantastic news as we gear up to meet the increased demand - up by 50% in the last year - for our services.

The golf club expects to raise a five-figure sum to enable WBS to help those who seek its support and listening services after losing someone close to them.

RWGC Captain, John Quinn, said: “WBS do great, great work. Our club has made a commitment to support WBS so they can continue their work and to help them grow their services both to meet existing demand and increase their geographical area of support.”

“Anyone who has lost someone close knows just how difficult it is to cope with. Whilst many people have great networks of support, many do not. And others feel more comfortable talking to someone trained in listening and understanding. These are the needs that WBS help fulfil.”

The donation from Royal Wi******er Golf Club will help WBS to expand its team of caring, compassionate, dedicated and well-trained volunteers. In so doing, they aim to double the number of local people they are able to support in their time of need.

Leonie Mountney, Chair of WBS said, “We are thrilled and so grateful to have been chosen by the Royal Wi******er Golf Club as this year's charity. Such a generous donation, at a time when there are more calls for our services, means we can enlist more Bereavement Visitors and their professionally trained Supervisors to help many more people struggling to come to terms with the death of a loved one”.

WBS is a free, confidential, one-to-one home visit or telephone service for anyone aged 18 or over, serving a 10 mile radius across Wi******er including Romsey, Chandlers Ford, Sutton Scotney and Alresford. “We want people to know we are here for anyone grieving at any time. Just a phone call or email is the first port of call to get the help of a Bereavement Visitor”. says Leonie.

The WBS service is available for adults at any stage of bereavement by contacting support@wbs.org.uk or phoning 07450 649679. If you would like to volunteer with WBS, please contact info@wbs.org.uk.

10/10/2025

Today is world mental health day. Bereavement has such a profound impact on mental health - and you shouldn’t have to face it alone. If you are struggling following a bereavement then please do reach out to us. We’re here to listen

04/09/2025

Are you a trained Supervisor, or a supervisor in training, with membership of BACP, UKCP or HCPC and at least three years post qualification experience, including bereavement counselling?

If so, Wi******er Bereavement Support would love to hear from you. We are looking for a new supervisor, local to Wi******er, to join our team to provide monthly supervision for a small group of voluntary bereavement visitors. We would be prepared to consider a supervisor in training as we offer a contribution of up to 50% towards training costs, subject to a commitment of approximately three hours pcm, for a minimum period of 24 months.

You would be fully supported by other volunteer supervisors and by monthly meetings with a Senior Supervisor. This is an unpaid role but reasonable expenses are reimbursed. For further information and a full role description please email secretary@wbs.org.uk