Celebrating 18 years of SLOW
This year, SLOW turned 18, 18 years of supporting bereaved parents and siblings. We marked the occasion with a joyful afternoon celebrating all that has been achieved. The sun shone warmly as we gathered with so many families: those we supported many years ago and those we continue to support today. And, as always, we were acutely aware of those who were not with us, our children and siblings, so deeply missed, yet forever the thread that binds and connects us.
I have now been at SLOW for over four years, and not a year, in truth, not even a week passes without me feeling grateful to our founders, Nic and Susie, for creating SLOW in honour of their beautiful girls, Naomi Grace and Bella.
It is a privilege to lead this charity, and a privilege to be entrusted with the stories of the children who are missing.
Growing around grief
As I write this, it is Grief Awareness Week, and this year’s theme is growing around grief. Nineteen years ago, when my little girl Rosie died, I could never have imagined that one day I would be working for the very charity I needed then and still need now.
Grief has shaped my life in immeasurable ways, sometimes even positive ones. As my colleagues know, I often say that Rosie is my superpower. Without her, I doubt I’d be so open to “griefy” conversations, or able to speak so plainly about death, that one certainty we all share, and yet still, here in 2025, find so hard to talk about.
I have learned to live with my grief and truly grown around it. It doesn’t hurt the way it did 19 years ago, but it has changed shape. Rosie is always with me, on my shoulder, in my thoughts, keeping me wondering who she might be today. Sometimes the thought brings a smile; sometimes it brings tears. And sometimes, a song or a moment pulls me straight back to those early days of loss, and the rawness hits with surprising force, as it did just two weeks ago, sitting in the cinema.
Here is our recent post on Instagram marking Grief Awareness Week and reflecting on this year’s theme: Growing Around Grief, which explores this idea of growing, not beyond grief, but around it.
At SLOW we walk alongside you
SLOW offers families the space to grow around their grief at their own pace. We know grief is different for everyone. There is no neat timeline, no map, no guarantees of where the path will lead. What we can offer is companionship along that path, to walk alongside, to sit with, to listen with understanding. Together, we navigate the terrain: up and down, smooth and bumpy, forward and back. Sometimes we stand still; sometimes the way feels impassable. But together we take small steps, steps that help us learn to live with our grief, feel less alone, normalise our emotions, and reassure us that we are not going mad. These are steps that only those in this “club” can truly understand.
Thank you to the SLOW Team, our volunteers and all our supporters
None of our work would be possible without our Facilitators, whose expertise is rooted in lived experience. Thank you for the kindness and selfless support you offer our bereaved families, week in and week out. SLOW truly is a team effort.
I’d also like to extend heartfelt thanks to our volunteers, whether it’s making countless cups of tea at groups, providing IT support, drafting policies, managing email migrations, or offering supervision, each contribution strengthens our core service. Thank you.
And of course, my gratitude goes to our Trustees, who so generously give their time to guide the charity’s strategic direction and ensure sound financial management and legal compliance.
A huge thanks to our grant funders The National Lottery, The John Armitage Trust, True Colours Trust and Riya’s Rainbow.
And a heartfelt thank you to every fundraiser who has sweated, baked, walked, run, swum, or sung for SLOW this year. As funding becomes increasingly challenging for charities, we are especially grateful for every single penny. Your support ensures we can continue to be there for grieving families at the hardest time of their lives.
Looking ahead to 2026
As we look ahead to 2026, we’ll be inviting our community to get involved in our Give 5 campaign, a simple, powerful way to raise funds, raise awareness, and stand with bereaved families when they need it most. You could:
- Join a local 5k to run and raise funds for SLOW
- Set up a £5 weekly or monthly donation
- Gather 5 friends to take on a challenge or team fundraise
- Create or share 5 social posts about how SLOW helps families
- Spend 5 minutes exploring whether your workplace could nominate SLOW as a charity partner
Whatever you choose, your Give 5 pledge will make a real difference
Click the button to receive ideas, updates, and inspiration throughout 2026.
Are you ready for a challenge in 2026
And if you feel ready for a massive challenge in 2026, have a look at our challenge events, you could cycle to Paris, climb Mount Kilimanjaro, or walk the Camino de Santiago. I’m still deciding mine… something involving a paddleboard seems to be calling me. And yes, you can all hold me to that!
If you’re reading this before 15 December, we’d be incredibly grateful if you could vote for us in the Movement for Good Awards, an annual giving programme from the Benefact Group. A £1,000 award would fund 4 support groups.
Finally, however this festive season looks for you, we wish you peace and love. Go gently and take care of yourself. It’s a difficult time of year. And as I often say: “No” is a full sentence, give yourself permission to use it and do what you need.
As always, much love to you all.
Nikki Peterson
