How a new kind of bereavement support service in Edinburgh is helping people to normalise their feelings of loss. SHARON BARNARD reports


A burden shash


IT WAS William Purves, a family-run fi rm of funeral directors, who got the ball rolling. They found that while they were able to point some of their distrf


essed clients tl o berreavement


support they really needed wasn’t available. Now in Edinburgh at least, there is the right kind of help on off er in the form of Acorns, a group based berea ement support service. “Acorns is a simple concept, badly needed in a societin a society fi nding itself increasingly out of touch w th death,” says om Go don, a eti ed Church of Scotland minister, former hospice


ouch with death,i Church of Scotland minister, former hospice 18


chap ain and an experiienced berea ement pracrp act tioner who heads up the serv ctitioner who heads up the seri


chaplain and an experl


They found that while they were able to point some o their distressed c ients to be ea ement counsellors or services helping with single issues


counsellors or services helping with single issues such as the loss of a child, the general emotional


such as the loss of a child, the general emotional support they really needed wasn’t available. Now in Edinburgh at least, there is the right ind of help on off er in the form of Acorns, a oup--based bereavement support service. Acorns is a simple concept, badly needed y fi nding itself increasingly out of says Tom Gorrdon, a r retirred


enced bereavement vicei e..


“We don’t ha’t have anywhere to put our feelings of loss unless we get a chance to talk to other people. The f


The feelings can be disturbing and people


panic, worrying that it’s not going to get better. “Your GP can tell you it’s normal to feel the way you do. But when a group of bereaved people all feeling the same say it’s normal, you listen.” Acorns, which is sponsored by was piloted in Edinbur


ed by William Purves, and running across the city. The six


ed in Edinburgh twice and is now up The six-week long


programmes are held in secular venues such as community centres, libraries or function rooms.


PHOTO: SHUTTERSTOCK


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