Weldmar Hospicecare is launching a new Bereavement Cafe in Lyme Regis this September, providing a vital local support network for anyone experiencing grief. The cafe will be hosted at Waffle on Broad Street and welcomes all, regardless of whether their loved one was cared for by Weldmar or not.
“We run successful bereavement drop-in groups at the hospice in Dorchester, and they’re incredibly beneficial,” says Jenny Wood, Weldmar’s Patient and Family Support Lead. “People really appreciate the peer support. We’re very fortunate to have such a lovely venue, and Waffle Lyme has been so kind to allow us to be here on the first Wednesday of every month. It will be a very relaxed drop-in with coffee and a chance to chat with others who truly understand the journey of grief.”
Earlier this year, staff and members of Lyme Regis Town Council proudly took part in the Abseil for Weldmar Challenge, raising over £1,800 to support the incredible work of Weldmar Hospicecare. The NHS contribute around 19% of the overall costs of running the charity which leaves Weldmar needing to raise over £27,000 per day to fund the free of charge services through support from the local community, by fundraising and shopping at the chain of charity shops and outlets across Dorset.
The town council are delighted to see Weldmar continue to bring much-needed services to the community with the launch of the new Bereavement Cafe.
The first Bereavement Café will take place on Wednesday 3rd September from 10am to 12pm.
Sophie Olszowski, a Weldmar Patient and Family Support volunteer, highlights the need for the service in the town: “Lyme is at the very far western end of the area that Weldmar supports. My husband was cared for by Weldmar, which was fantastic, but now, four years later, I live in a town where there isn’t any provision for people who have been bereaved. For those of us who could go into Dorchester for support sessions, it’s a very long way. Having something out in the west of the county specifically for bereaved people feels really important.”
Lu Worrall, a Weldmar Community Nurse Specialist based in the charity’s Specialist Hospice at Home West Dorset Hub, is particularly passionate about the new service. “Being able to provide a bereavement cafe here in Lyme Regis is an exceptional offering,” she states. “It means that our loved ones can continue to be part of Weldmar’s care, and people will have a place where they can talk about those they’ve lost and begin their grieving process. I’m deeply proud to work for Weldmar and to have us at Waffle, just across the road from our shop, is truly special.”
Ruth Wright is the Community Coordinator at Waffle Lyme, and says: “The bereavement café provides people a chance to share their experiences, find comfort in mutual support and feel less isolated in their grief. After successfully partnering with Hospiscare in Axminster, it seemed natural to offer a similar project when we opened Waffle in Lyme Regis. There was no other current support of this kind available to our local community without them having to travel a fair distance. We are delighted to be partnering with Weldmar and look forward to welcoming and supporting the community in this way. We are waffle powered – every waffle purchased supports our community work.”
The Bereavement Cafe will run from 10am to 12pm on the first Wednesday of every month at Waffle, 37 Broad Street, Lyme Regis, DT7 3QF. Anyone experiencing bereavement is welcome to drop in, and a small tea or coffee is just £2.