Connecting Devon and Torbay communities through shared grief

Art workshops, grief cafes and music are the latest events to roll out in Finding Connection Through Loss project.

Free death cafés, music performances and art sessions are being rolled out across libraries in Devon and Torbay to help connect local communities through the shared experience of dealing with loss.

Libraries Unlimited launched the Finding Connection Through Loss project earlier this year with Arts Council England funding.

Emily Macaulay, Service Delivery Manager from Libraries Unlimited said: “Library staff hear stories about loss from their users every week. Loss of family members, loss of connections with their community or neighbours, loss of employment opportunities, loss of support structures. These stories and experiences have only been amplified by Covid and the impact that is having on communities.”

“Libraries are a space where people who have experienced loss come to feel connection. Some will choose to just ‘be’ in the space, maybe just quietly reading, while others will want to interact, perhaps at an event. We launched this project to try and formalise and develop some of the valuable work we already do in this area, giving people a chance to share their experiences with others going through the same thing.”

At Exeter, Barnstaple and Crediton libraries, Death Cafés will allow people to enjoy tea and cake, and meeting others who want to share their experiences of death. The aim is to create a safe space where people can talk about their hopes and fears around death and dying or just come and listen. It is a discussion group rather than a support or counselling session and there’s no set agenda and no need to book. Anyone is welcome to come along.

The sessions will be held:

Further Death Café sessions will be held at Okehampton and Holsworthy with flower pressing sessions and the chance to dedicate a flower to a loved one. The finished work will be displayed in a special illuminated box (restored by Men in Sheds, Okehampton). Anyone wanting to take part in the flower pressing but unable to attend the session, can pick up everything they need from Okehampton and Holsworthy libraries throughout February, until Tuesday 22^nd March, or email info@honeyscribe.org to receive a pack in the post.

For more information about the Death Café sessions please contact Aly on alizoun@alid.co.uk

In Torbay there will be live performances of music created from previous Libraries Unlimited supported workshops about grieving. People shared their experiences with musician Hugh Nankivell, who has created songs that he will perform alongside singer and violinist Emma Welton, and singer and percussionist Lyndon Forster, on their tour ‘An Empty Space – songs about grieving’. There is no need to book – just drop in. For more information about these performances contact Hugh at griefmusicproject@gmail.com

Tour dates and locations are below:

Libraries Unlimited has also created a BSL video inviting Deaf people to join the Finding Connection Through Loss project.