Facilitator available to run death, dying & bereavement workshops

Facilitator available to run death, dying & bereavement workshops

Organisations wishing to hold workshops to provide volunteers with practical education relating to death, dying and bereavement can now apply through good life, good death, good grief to access the services of an experienced facilitator, free of charge.

Background: who are these workshops designed for?

Living through difficult times relating to death, dying or bereavement is challenging and emotionally painful, and affects individuals, families and communities.

Throughout Scotland there are individuals who provide support to people in their community, for example church pastoral visitors and volunteer befrienders. Many people who volunteer for public sector or voluntary organisations have a role which includes dealing with practical or emotional effects of death, dying and bereavement.

Many individuals working in these roles may have the inclination or potential to take on more of a supportive role relating to death, dying and bereavement, but lack the confidence or skills to do so. These workshops are designed to provide participants with the opportunity to explore how they can better support the individuals and families they meet.

Workshop Facilitator

Joan Adam worked as a Macmillan Nurse Specialist and then a lecturer in palliative care for 20 years. She has a particular interest in helping people to help themselves and others in their organisation/community.Working withpeople in a small group can help develop knowledge, skills and confidence in talking about and supporting people through a range of issues related to planning for a good death, dying and bereavement.

Workshop details

Workshop 1: How do you talk about death? (2 hours)

This workshop aims to provide participants with the opportunity to explore and discuss:

• end of life issues, planning for the end of life and practical advice on how participants might better support individuals and families in their community
• the topics and issues which may arise during a discussion about death, dying and bereavement
• their own strengths and limitations
• how to access professional/social/voluntary support services

Workshop 1 can be run as a stand alone or with workshop two which would be held 4-6 weeks later.

Workshop 2: Facilitating small group discussions on end of life issues/ bereavement and loss (2 hours)

This workshop is aimed at anyone who wishes to hold discussions/run events relating to death, dying and bereavement within their own community, but would like some guidance on how to get started. The two half-day workshops will provide participants with the opportunity to explore:

• how to listen to and respond to issues out with their own comfort zone
• their experiences, skills, strengths, weaknesses and future learning needs relating to end of life issues within their organisation/ client group/ community
• how to plan and develop an initiative within their own community

There will be the opportunity to join a virtual peer support group following the workshop as participant develop their ideas and work towards completing and running their project/ initiative .

Participants who attend both workshops will be asked to undertake some preparatory work before attending the second workshop, to consider the type of initiative they would like to develop in relation to their work/organisation.

Applying to hold a workshop

To be eligible to apply to hold either/ both of these workshops, organisations must:

• Be (or become) a member of good life, good death, good grief (membership is free).
• Be able to provide a workshop venue in Edinburgh or the Lothians.
• Be providing the workshop for volunteers.
• Provide the workshop free of charge to participants.
• Take full responsibility for organising and holding the workshop, including:

- Provide an appropriate venue for the workshop/ training (including facilities: DVD, laptop and projector, flip chart, tea and coffee)

- Co-ordinate volunteer attendance at the training (minimum attendance:10/maximum attendance: 20)

- Take responsibility for the health & safety etc arrangements at the venue

- Provide reasonable travel expenses (public transport) from Edinburgh

To apply, contact: Rebecca.