The first support day for bereaved parents in the Isle of Man takes place at St John’s Mill on Saturday.
The event is being run by Maddie Porter of Care for the Family, a national charity which is also the organiser, and she will be helped out by bereaved parent support co-ordinators Mike and Kath Coulson.
Mrs Porter said: ‘The death of a son or daughter is perhaps every parent’s worst fear. Sadly for around 25.000 parents in the UK every year that fear becomes reality and when your child dies you can feel very alone.’
The aim of the charity is to strengthen family life and help those facing family difficulties and the support team, who have all lost a son or daughter, will be on hand to talk to people.
Mr and Mrs Coulson will also share their own experience of bereavement and suggest strategies to find hope and a way forward.
‘The main aims for the event are to help parents develop resilience, rebuild their lives and discover a new “normal” for themselves and their family,’ Mrs Porter said.
She said the event was open to any parent, at any stage in the grieving process, whose son or daughter has died at any age, in any circumstance.
Tickets cost £20 and include lunch and refreshments. To book call 029 2081 800 or visit www.careforthefamily.org.uk/bpsday