FEATURE: Residents praise positive impacts of St Nicholas Hospice support group in Sudbury for coping with illness or bereavement

For many people dealing with a terminal illness or a family bereavement, the most difficult part can be the feeling that they are going through such a difficult period of their life on their own.

But St Nicholas Hospice Care believes sharing your experiences with others in a similar situation can not only help you to cope, but also provide a social setting that you may otherwise be isolated from.

The charity runs frequent open house drop-in sessions in Suffolk, including a weekly support group in Sudbury, aimed at people who have recently lost a loved one, who have been diagnosed or are caring for somebody with a long-term or life-limiting illness.

Sarah Price, family support practitioner for St Nicholas Hospice, told the Free Press: “It can be very stressful and cause anxiety.

“Everyone has different situations they are dealing with and they can get support and emotional help here.

“Sometimes, it helps with isolation. It gives them a reason to leave the house and, for some people, they even do things socially outside of the group.”

Regular attendees of the Sudbury open house group, which recently received a £5,000 grant towards its running costs from the Lady Ryder of Warsaw Memorial Trust, have spoken of the positive impacts of the sessions.

Glemsford resident June Brown, who lost her husband of 58 years in May 2018, began attending the group 18 months ago, after learning of it through the St Nicholas Hospice neighbours scheme.

“I get the support I need from the friends I have made here,” she said. “It’s helped me to be able to cope with the loss of my husband.

“I think it’s the friendship and comradeship. If I didn’t come here, I would be sitting at home on my own, feeling miserable.

“The social aspect makes a big difference. A lot of people here have lost someone and some are going through it now, so we all help and talk to each other.”

Carol Whiteman, who lives in Sudbury, joined the group more than two years ago following the death of her husband.

“Because we’re all in the same boat, we have all lost loved ones and we’re all at different stages, it helps you cope,” she said.

“I have met some really brilliant people at this group. I would be lost without it.

“If you are newly bereaved, you can see there is life after bereavement. It doesn’t mean you don’t miss your loved one any less, but it gives you a reason to go on.”

Hospice chaplain Jennie Ridley, who is also the associate priest at St Gregory’s Church in Sudbury, added: “We are here to help and give people that sense that they are not alone.

“When you are first bereaved, it can be very bewildering, but here, you get that sense that other people know what you are going through.”

St Nicholas Hospice runs its Sudbury open house at the Friends Meeting House in Friars Street every Monday, with the exception of bank holidays, from 10am to noon.

There are also regular groups in Bury St Edmunds, Haverhill, Newmarket, Botesdale and Thetford.

For further information, go online to stnicholashospice.org.uk.