Support for Bereaved Parents and Siblings

We are here to support you following the devastating loss of your child or sibling. We provide an informal, quiet space for you to meet with other bereaved parents and siblings and share your experiences.

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At SLOW we know that your grief cannot be fixed, and we do not strive to ‘make things better’.

Instead we give you space and support, so that you may, in your own time, slowly rebuild your life.

In this way, we believe there is hope to be found in connecting with other bereaved parents and siblings, relief in sharing the pain of grief, and company in bearing the unbearable, alongside others who are living with loss.

December 2023 Update

All our support groups are running as normal this month until Thursday 21st December. After a short winter break, our groups will resume from Monday 8th January 2024. See below for dates of all our upcoming groups or alternatively see the SLOW calendar.

We have space available in most of our groups. If you are new to SLOW, contact us at info@slowgroup.co.uk or on 07532 423674 for more information on we can can support you.

“Being listened to and understood is, for bereaved parents, a ray of hope amidst a world that has fallen apart.”

SLOW Member

Whether it’s weeks, months or years since your child or sibling died you’ll be welcome here at SLOW.

Face to Face Bereaved Parents Weekly Groups

Islington and East Croydon, London based, face to face daytime group on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays during school term time.

Face to Face Bereaved Parents Monthly Group

Islington, London based, face to face evening support group once a month.

Zoom Weekly Bereaved Parents Groups

Daytime support groups every Tuesday and Thursday via Zoom during term time for bereaved parents across the UK.

Zoom Monthly Bereaved Parents Group

Evening support group held monthly via Zoom during term time for bereaved parents across the UK.

SLOWsibs Quarterly Workshops

Quarterly workshops in North London for bereaved children (aged 6-15 years) who have lost siblings.

SLOWsibs 18+ Bereaved Adult Sibling Support

Evening support groups held monthly via Zoom for bereaved adult siblings (aged 18+ years).

Take a look at our calendar to find out when the next support groups and workshops are taking place.

Get in touch

For further details for all our groups and workshops contact 07532 423 674 or info@slowgroup.co.uk

You can also get in touch via our contact form and connect with us on social media

Take a look at our calendar to find out when the next support groups and workshops are taking place.

Select one of the highlighted dates and then follow the link below the calendar for more information.

Our supporters

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Recent articles from the SLOW blog

Baby Loss Awareness Week 2023: Nikki’s Metro Interview

Baby Loss Awareness Week 2023: Nikki’s Metro Interview

Oct 9, 2023

In Baby Loss Awareness Week, Nikki Peterson,. SLOW’s Bereavement Support Services Manager talks about the loss of her daughter Rosie with The Metro newspaper.

Paul Laity asks: Can I forgive myself for my daughter’s death?

Paul Laity asks: Can I forgive myself for my daughter’s death?

Sep 5, 2023

Paul Laity grapples with guilt over his daughter’s death and campaigns for Martha’s Rule

ITV Documentary: ‘Jason and Clara: In Memory of Maudie’

ITV Documentary: ‘Jason and Clara: In Memory of Maudie’

Mar 29, 2023

SLOW Patrons, Jason Watkins and Clara Francis, feature in an ITV documentary bravely retelling Maude’s devastating story.

« Older Entries

Follow SLOW activities on Instagram

It’s National Grief Awareness Week, a time to su

It’s National Grief Awareness Week, a time to support those who are grieving and to normalise grief. The theme this year is ‘Better Together’ and we truly understand, from our support groups, the benefits of connecting, sharing and grieving together. In the words of our members:

“I find the meetings so supportive and helpful. I feel so much less lonely among people where grief is understood and accepted.”

“I have to say with my hand on my heart, SLOW is what has helped me the most. When I leave each SLOW meeting, I just feel grounded and supported. And almost gradually, you don’t see it while it’s happening, but you take little pigeon steps and you can look back and think, look that’s the way I was and look at me now.”

“I feel like I trust the space in the room, there's genuine listening and genuine connection.”

Thank you so much @thegoodgrieftrust for raising awareness of grief.

If you need support, SLOW offers regular support groups both in person and online and all our groups are facilitated by trained bereaved parents and siblings. Click the link in our bio to find out when our sessions run.

To help us support even more bereaved families after the devastating loss of child or sibling, please donate via the link in our bio.

#griefawarenessweek
#griefawarenessweek2023
#nationalgriefawarenessweek
#nationalgriefawarenessweek2023
#bettertogether
#slowgroup
#thegoodgrieftrust

Our adult sibling support group, SLOWsibs 18+, is

Our adult sibling support group, SLOWsibs 18+, is gathering in Kings Cross on Saturday 9th December 2023 from 11.30am till 3pm. The meeting will be hosted by our lovely bereaved sibling facilitators, Shushma Jain and Sarah Gosling.

If you’d like to meet other bereaved siblings at this event or at our monthly virtual support groups contact Shushma on 07506 272 309 or at adultsibs@slowgroup.co.uk

Please do share this with any bereaved adult sibling that may need SLOW’s support.
#bereavedsibling
#siblinggrief
#bereavedsiblingsupport
#slowgroup

‘ Shining the Light ‘ our workshop with bereav

‘ Shining the Light ‘ our workshop with bereaved siblings was a busy afternoon of painting, mark making, lantern decoration, eating tea, sharing and having fun. Shining the light in the dark corners of grief and a family changed for ever , helps to make things less scary and isolating . Thank you to these wonderful young people for bringing their freedom and creativity to this afternoon #grief#creativity#bereavedsiblings

Last weekend we ran our ‘shine a light’ worksh

Last weekend we ran our ‘shine a light’ workshop for our SLOWSibs, this is a time for our young people to come together and remember their brother or sister that has died.

We began by mark making to express movement and feelings using paints in various ways. What started out as a completely blank canvas turned into a piece of beautiful art, with deep meaning and creativity from our young people.

There was lots of fun squirting bottles and painting barefoot, they splashed and sploshed using brushes and rollers and cloth. The art reflected the mixed feelings of grief, and the colours had different meanings to different siblings.

Then we moved on to lantern making. The idea was to ‘Shine a light’ on our grief and again consider the darkness and light that comes with the death of a sibling. Both the sad times and the happy memories.

It always amazes us what gets created. Everyone starts with the same materials and is given the same brief, yet the creations are so bespoke and unique. The care and consideration that goes into the creations is an absolute honour to watch.

Thank you to everyone who came along.

Our next workshop is our very popular ‘Christmas wreath making’ on Saturday 9th December. We only have a couple of spaces left.

To book a space or find out more information, please contact Nikki on info@slowgroup.co.uk

If you or your organisation would like to support our SLOWSibs financially, please contact Kelly on admin@slowgroup.co.uk

#bereavedsibling #griefawareness #griefsupportforkids #griefsupportforfamilies #bereavedfamilies

As we reach the middle of baby loss awareness week

As we reach the middle of baby loss awareness week, Nikki Peterson, our Bereavement Support Services Manager knows only too well what a difficult week it is.

Nikki was interviewed by the Metro about baby loss awareness week. In the article, Nikki speaks openly and honestly about her daughter Rosie who died when she was just 6 days old.

Nikki says, ‘It’s great the week raises awareness of baby loss and stats are highlighted showing how many people are affected - still way too many. The week can open up conversations around baby loss when all too often those that have sadly been affected feel isolated and alone. It’s also a really hard, painful and emotional week.’

The full article is available to read in our bio.

#babylossawarenessweek
#neonataldeath #childloss #babyloss #stillbirth

A massive thank you to these boys and their lovely

A massive thank you to these boys and their lovely parents who held an 'after run' fundraiser at the weekend raising £190 by selling cakes and taking donations. These vital funds will help us support even more bereaved families. Thanks so much!
#slowfundraising
#slowgroup

On a scorching autumnal day (25 degrees no less!)

On a scorching autumnal day (25 degrees no less!) our amazing SLOW team of runners smashed the @royalparkshalf ! We are so proud of this incredible team of 30 runners, who together have raised over £21,000 and counting. These are simply vital funds so SLOW can continue to support bereaved families after the devastating loss of a child.

Thank you so much to our fabulous runners and everyone who supported and sponsored this SLOW Team 2023.

There’s still time to donate if you can spare a few pennies – we’d be truly grateful!
https://www.justgiving.com/campaign/slowroyalparks2023

Finally – anyone up for running this half next October? Email Kelly at admin@slowgroup.co.uk if you’d like to join Team SLOW 2024.

Thank you

#teamslow2023
#slowrunners
#royalparkshalf
#halfmarathon
#griefsupport
#slowsupport
#slowfundraising

This Sunday, our amazing team of 30 will run the R

This Sunday, our amazing team of 30 will run the Royal Parks Half Marathon for SLOW. Together they’ve raised over £18.6k so far which is frankly brilliant. Thank you.

It will be a poignant day for many of our runners who are running and remembering these beautiful, beautiful children, who all died far too soon. Lisa and Michael (and Team Rory) are running for Rory, Neil is running in memory of his daughter Emma, Olly is running for his daughter Millie, Elise is remembering Xiomara Rose, and Jason is running for his daughter Esme.

A huge and heartfelt thank you to the entire team for their months and months of training and for running for the SLOW family of bereaved parents and siblings. We are in awe of you all! Without your fundraising we couldn’t support our families when the worst thing has happened to them.

Thank you so much ‘Team SLOW’, wishing you the best of luck for Sunday and please do spare a few pennies for them at https://www.justgiving.com/campaign/slowroyalparks2023

Thank you

#royalparkshalf2023
#rph2023
#royalparkshalf
#fundraising
#runnersofinstagram
#halfmarathon
#griefsupport
#slowsupport
#slowfundraising