In a chapter session, bereaved parents, siblings, and grandparents meet together to talk, listen, share, and provide each other with emotional support after the tragic death of a child.

Chapter leaders are not professionals, and they do not give advice. They are not therapists nor qualified counsellors. Everyone will be just like you – someone who is going through the grieving process.

As we meet together, we learn from each other through our shared experiences.

At a meeting you may find:

• people of all ages, from young adults to the elderly

• people mourning the loss of an adult child and others the loss of a child who never had an opportunity to take its first breath

• people whose child died 30 years ago and others with a loss so fresh their pain is measured in days and weeks

No one comes to judge another. You will find that children are being mourned who have died from all ages and all causes. The pain is the same; that of the loss of hopes and dreams that will never be realised.

Know that there will be sadness and tears as we talk about our loss. But there will also be joy and laughter as we remember special times with our children. You don’t have to say anything if you don’t want to, but you will certainly be given that opportunity.

We only ask one thing from you – that you attend at least a couple of meetings before you decide if The Compassionate Friends is right for you. We know that support groups are not for everyone. But why not give it a try?

It’s not unusual to hear people who attend one day say, “The Compassionate Friends saved my life.”