Good News Church Melksham’s The Bereavement Journey® story.

Father Stuart Cradduck

The Good News Church in Melksham recently celebrated running its 12th The Bereavement Journey Course – having first run the programme after coming out of lockdown. 

The Church had the opportunity to take over a space in the town centre that had been used as a charity café. The café opened originally for community activities including a morning drop-in, where people could simply come and have a coffee and a chat. 

Over the years this café and various drop-ins have grown exponentially and become a haven for those bereaved and needing support in the town. There is now an established hub. Community members are engaging, and they feel they have a safe space in which to be themselves and enjoy life again, little by little. 

The local doctors’ surgeries all have Social Prescribers attached to them.  After the lockdowns, people in the community had become socially isolated and health had been severely affected. Rather than immediately prescribing medication, the doctors were prescribing social involvement activities.  

The drop-in had grown from the social prescribers bringing their clients to the space. Friendships grew, and the community expanded quickly. 

John, Good News Church Leader, says “The first course was extraordinarily successful, and we were quickly approached to run a second course by people who had seen the impact on their friends. As the social prescribers heard about the course they asked if some of their clients could also join. 

During the second course, a man who had lost his wife 10 years before had become reclusive, angry and bitter, joining the group at the suggestion of his Social Prescriber. Two weeks into the course he said, “I’m ready to begin life again.” The change in the man’s demeanour and appearance so touched his social prescriber that she asked if another group could be run for more of her clients.” 

John Firth and The Good News Church have certainly seen expansion, connections, referrals like never before and lives changing for the better. 

Here are a few comments from participants that have attended: 

“I know now I am not on my own.”  “I feel so encouraged to face my problems” 

“I now understand what grief is. I can talk with others now. 

It has been so helpful – understanding loss and how to deal with it.” 

“The course has allowed free expression of feelings without judgement, and that has been liberating for me.” 

John comments – “We have seen tears turned to laughter; loneliness turned to friendships. Those who have joined us have gained invaluable tools to continue their walk, and their journey with grief.”