Support for Bereaved Parents and Siblings in London
We are here to support you following the devastating loss of your child. We provide an informal, quiet space for you to meet with other bereaved parents and share your experiences.
News from SLOW
We currently have two vacancies for Group Facilitators in North and South London.
The deadline for applications is 2 August 2019. You can find more information on working for SLOW here.
Support Group facilitator – NORTH London
SLOW, a charity supporting bereaved families, is actively looking to recruit a Facilitator to move the organisation to its next level
SLOW
Based in London, SLOW has offered emotional and practical support to bereaved families that have lost a child in any circumstances for over eleven years. Our unique approach to working with parents and siblings is highly regarded by our members and professionals and we have recently won the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service.
Our work is centred around regular support groups for bereaved parents and quarterly creative workshops for bereaved siblings. Since SLOW began we have drawn on our own experience as bereaved parents and built a community that supports itself.
SLOW currently runs weekly daytime support groups in North and South London, as well as monthly evening support groups in North London. Our North London (Islington) support group is currently thriving and therefore due to demand we are planning to open another weekly daytime group in this area.
The Role
Purpose of role
To assist with the setting up and the ongoing facilitation of a new weekly support group in North London. You will also communicate with bereaved parent members outside of the groups, attend supervision and meetings. This is a self-employed, sessional role that will require travel to support group venue(s) and work from home.
Location
This role will require attendance at our support group venue in North London. Other duties will be carried out at home – the facilitator must have access to a computer and telephone. SLOW will pay direct expenses relating to the role (e.g. telephone, broadband, and stationery charges) and travel where agreed.
Hours
Hours to be mutually agreed but likely to be between seven and ten hours per week during school term time (39 weeks per year) @ approximately £20 per hour with the potential for more hours.
Please see the recruitment section of our website as we are concurrently advertising a South London Facilitator’s role. This North London role and the South London role could be combined if the applicant so wished.
Role description
SLOW is looking for an exceptional individual for this exciting role to:
- Work with the founder, business development manager and trustees to help develop and deliver the vision and strategies of SLOW
- Set up and facilitate a new weekly daytime support group in North London (exact location and day / time to be confirmed)
- Attend debrief sessions, clinical supervision and write reports on group meetings
- Provide direction to volunteers as required
- Correspond with bereaved parents by telephone and email to guide them into the groups or signpost them to other services
- Attend networking meetings and presentations of SLOW work as necessary
- Attend regular team meetings
Essential Experience
- A bereaved parent of at least 3 years, please note that this is essential for the role.
- Group facilitation experience in a formal setting – i.e. health, self-help, well- being etc and / or personal experience as a participant attending an organised support / self-help experiential group – e.g. bereavement support group, group facilitation training, church group, etc.
- Commitment to SLOW’s open and reflective way of working with parents, embodying a kind and compassionate stance
- Excellent listening skills
Desirable Experience
- Good telephone, IT and communication skills
- An interest in the principles, literature and experiences of grieving for a child or sibling and a commitment to exploring how this can be used to help bereaved parents and families
Application Deadline: 2 August 2019
Applications to:
Please apply by sending a CV and covering letter of no more than two A4 pages describing your interest in, and suitability for, this role to recruitment@slowgroup.co.uk
Support Group facilitator – SOUTH London
SLOW, a charity supporting bereaved families, is actively looking to recruit a Facilitator for its South London support groups
SLOW
Based in London, SLOW has offered emotional and practical support to bereaved families that have lost a child in any circumstances for over eleven years. Our unique approach to working with parents and siblings is highly regarded by our members and professionals and we have recently won the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service.
Our work is centred around regular support groups for bereaved parents and quarterly creative workshops for bereaved siblings. Since SLOW began we have drawn on our own experience as bereaved parents and built a community that supports itself.
SLOW currently runs weekly daytime support groups in North and South London, as well as monthly evening support groups in North London.
The Role
Purpose of role
To facilitate our weekly support group in South London (Streatham). You will also liaise with bereaved parent members, attend supervision and meetings. This is a self-employed, sessional role that will require travel to support group venues and work from home.
Location
This role will require attendance at our support group venue in South London. Other duties will be carried out at home – the facilitator must have access to a computer and telephone. SLOW will pay direct expenses relating to the role (e.g. telephone, broadband, and stationery charges) and travel where agreed. Please note initial training and in-group experience will take place in Islington, North London.
Hours
Hours to be mutually agreed but likely to be between seven and eight hours per week during school term time (39 weeks per year) @ approximately £20 per hour with the potential for more hours.
Please see the recruitment section of our website as we are concurrently advertising a North London Facilitator’s role. This South London role and the North London role could be combined if the applicant so wished.
Role description
SLOW is looking for an exceptional individual for this exciting role to:
- Work with the founder, business development manager and trustees to help develop and deliver the vision and strategies of SLOW
- Facilitate the weekly daytime support group in South London (Tuesdays during term time 11am-12.30pm)
- Attend debrief sessions, clinical supervision and write reports on group meetings
- Provide direction to volunteers as required
- Correspond with bereaved parents by telephone and email to guide them into the groups or signpost them to other services
- Attend networking meetings and presentations of SLOW work as necessary
- Attend regular team meetings
Essential Experience
- A bereaved parent of at least 3 years, please note that this is essential for the role.
- Group facilitation experience in a formal setting – i.e. health, self-help, well- being etc and / or personal experience as a participant attending an organised support / self-help experiential group – e.g. bereavement support group, group facilitation training, church group, etc.
- Commitment to SLOW’s open and reflective way of working with parents, embodying a kind and compassionate stance
- Excellent listening skills
Desirable Experience
- Good telephone, IT and communication skills
- An interest in the principles, literature and experiences of grieving for a child or sibling and a commitment to exploring how this can be used to help bereaved parents and families
Application Deadline: 2 August 2019
Applications to:
Please apply by sending a CV and covering letter of no more than two A4 pages describing your interest in, and suitability for, this role to recruitment@slowgroup.co.uk
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, relief in sharing the pain of grief, and company in bearing the unbearable, alongside others who are living with the death of their child.
Whether it’s weeks, months or years since your child died you’ll be welcome here at SLOW. Find a support group near you.
North London Group
In North London (Islington) we run weekly daytime support groups for bereaved parents on Wednesdays during term time. We also run monthly evening support groups for bereaved parents and sibling workshops.
For further details contact 07532 423 674 or info@slowgroup.co.uk
South London Group
SLOWsibs Creative Workshops
SLOWsibs creative workshops are held quarterly for bereaved children, aged 6 to 15 years, that have lost a brother or sister. We provide a safe space to explore feelings and develop their creative skills.
For further details contact 07532 423 674 or info@slowgroup.co.uk
Take a look at our calendar to find out when the next support groups and SLOWsibs workshops are taking place.
Select one of the highlighted dates and then follow the link below the calendar for more information.
Please note that SLOW support groups do not run during the school holidays. All groups will resume in September 2019.
Upcoming support group meetings
South London Monthly Group
South London Bereaved Parents Monthly Daytime Support Group
North London Weekly Group
North London Bereaved Parents Weekly Daytime Support Group
North London Monthly Group
North London Bereaved Parents Monthly Evening Support Group
Next SLOWsibs Workshop
SLOWsibs Autumn Workshop 12th October 2019
Recent articles from the SLOW blog
SLOW is recruiting facilitators for our North and South London groups
SLOW is looking for facilitators for our bereavement support groups – deadline for applications 2nd August 2019
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Summer Sibling Workshop with Cloud Workshop
On 15th June 2019 SLOW held a special sibling workshop with Cloud Workshop at the Ecology Centre, in the heart of a wildlife reserve in Islington.
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Grieving your child on Fathers’ Day – article from What’s Your Grief
‘What’s your grief?’ asked fathers to share their Father’s Day grief – their responses will resonate with bereaved dads at SLOW and beyond.
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Big thanks to the amazing Harry!
Big thanks to 12-year-old Harry Sroka who ran 13.7 km in just 66 mins, raising £525.75 for SLOW.
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Holding on, or letting go?
Letting go and holding on is simply a dynamic flux, a relationship of loving and grieving.
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Comedy Night Success
SLOW’s first ever comedy fundraiser was a roaring sell out success raising over £1400 for the charity.
read moreContact us here
SLOW is an award-winning bereavement charity, based in London. Please get in touch if you’d like to find out about our London meetings.
Email us direct at info@slowgroup.co.uk or use the contact form here.
Please note that by submitting your personal details you are agreeing that SLOW may contact you and we will do so only when necessary to respond to your enquiry. Your privacy is important to us and we will never share your details with anyone. For more details please take a look at our Privacy Policy.
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