Support in Bristol
Bristol has a compassionate community of people and organisations supporting those who are dying and those who care for them.
For specific grief support pop onto the Good grief page. If you hear of other great offerings please do let me know so I can keep this page updated :)
Bristol based End of life doulas
Other wonderful offerings in Bristol including individuals and small groups
St Peter's Hospice
Brentry, Bristol
Is the hospice that serves the whole of Bristol and also includes South Gloucestershire and North Somerset for over 40 years. They provide free adult hospice care for everyone that needs their support, including those diagnosed with a life-limiting illness, to those that care for them.
Holistic, non-medical services include:
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Hospice neighbour scheme
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Events and community support
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Wellbeing services and workshops
Generally the hospice is a very friendly and inviting place to be. It may be surprising to hear that they only have 15 in-patient beds at the hospice so the majority of their services are either day services or are offered out in the community. On their website they have a wealth of helpful information and a 24 hour clinical advice line.
Charities
These charities, although they are national do offer some holistic support for those with a end of life diagnosis and their loved ones. Macmillan and Penny Brohn are cancer specific and the Old Persons Forum is for those aged 55+
Macmillan is the largest cancer charity working alongside the NHS to offer support to those with a cancer diagnosis. They do offer holistic support directly in Bristol, through their wellbeing centre based at Southmead hospital. On this page there are lots of handy links including oncology specialist massage therapists, support groups and a drop in centre.
Marie Curie provides a better end of life for more people, whatever the illness. They are available for anyone living with any illness they’re likely to die from, and those close to them. They provide free palliative and end of life care, information and support. Although a national charity they can also provide local support in Bristol.
Penny Brohn UK is the primary cancer health and wellbeing charity. They help people feel better in mind, body and spirit by offering everybody with cancer a choice of personalised cancer care. All free, safe and backed by research. Penny Brohn although national has a base just outside of Bristol in Pill.
Sue Ryder are here to make sure that everyone approaching the end of life or living with grief can access the support they need. They do not have any hospices or care centres in Bristol. But they offer comprehensive online grief support service and have loads of useful informaiton on their website.
Hospice care eases the physical and emotional pain of death and dying. Letting people focus on living, right until the end.
Although a national charity their website has a wealth of support for those at end of life and their loved ones.
Dorothy House are the hospice covering BANES and parts of Wiltshire and the east Mendips. This also includes places like Keynsham, Midsomer Norton and Bath. They offer extensive services, similar to St Peter's hospice in Bristol, including community offerings both online and at Dorothy House
End of life doulas
An end-of-life doula (or death doula) is a non-medical companion who provides emotional, practical, and spiritual support to people with a life-limiting illness and their families. Helping them navigate the dying process with dignity and peace. They offer consistent presence, help with planning, advocate for wishes, provide comfort, and connect people to resources, working in homes, hospitals, and hospices.
End of Life Doula UK website offers a wealth of information and you can search the EOL Doula directory
Death Cafe's Bristol
At a Death Cafe people, often strangers, gather to eat cake, drink tea and discuss death. Their objective is 'to increase awareness of death with a view to helping people make the most of their (finite) lives'. They are not a grief support group, but people can share their experiences, their fears, their hopes or come and ask the questions that they can't ask anywhere else.
The active cafes in Bristol to my knowledge are at Divine Ceremony (Bishopston), Arnos Vale (Totterdown) and the Bristol Older Persons Forum (BOPF) (Harbourside).
Not all of the Bristol Death cafes are on the primary website, but it is a lovely resource and shows how widespread the initiative is across the UK and beyond.
Death Cafe's Bristol
This section is about highlighting the incredible support being offered by individuals and small groups across Bristol for those at end of life.
Some of these are paid services and some are free or donation based. I hope to keep developing this list so do let me know others to add.
Death Cafe's Bristol
Other wonderful offerings in Bristol
Companion Voices
Companion Voices are singers based in Bristol who gather to learn songs and prepare themselves to sing for people at the end of life. They share their voices, compassion and loving presence, whether in person or virtually, when called upon to do so. They meet every 3rd Tuesday, 7-9pm in Easton.
Penny Brohn hub
There is a wide range of private practitioners available for 1:1 and small group therapies working from The Penny Brohn UK Hub in Clifton. This includes alternative therapies, massage and counselling. They all have experience of working with those at end of life.
Friends of Bristol
Supporting the patients, visitors and staff of Bristol’s leading cancer specialist centre, the Bristol Haematology & Oncology Centre. Website great resources offerings referrals for wigs, financial advice and carer support.
Grace Emmerson
Relaxing and restorative hands on treatments for those with end of life, oncology and grief tending. Based in Redland, Bristol.