Search

  • Visit & Contact
  • The Mill
  • Online Shop
  • Log In
  • My Account
  • Log Out

Your local charity in Lancashire

Patrons: Sir Bill Beaumont, Sir Duncan Nichol, Dr Lynne Livesey, Dr St John Crean, Mark Lawrenson and Tisha Merry

Donate
  • Care we provide
    • We help patients and families have quality of life, to the end of life.

    • Column
      • Back
      • the work of the charity is only possible because of the support it receives from the local community.

        Care at the hospice
      • Caring for people at home
      • Medical Outpatient Clinics
      • Lymphoedema clinic
        • Lymphoedema in babies, children and adolescents
      • Referrals and discharge
    • Column
      • Support for carers & family
      • Bereavement and Remembrance
      • Befriending service
      • Compassionate Communities
      • Patient Safety Incident Response
  • Support us
    • Our care is only possible because of the support we receive.

    • Column
      • Back
      • The work of the charity is only possible because of the support it receives from the local community.

        Fundraise for us
        • Organise a fundraiser
        • Give money raised
        • Join in a hospice event
        • Global Adventure Challenges
      • Donate
        • Donation Form
        • Make a monthly donation
        • Make a one-off donation
        • Donate money raised
        • Pledge Gift Aid
      • Play the lottery
        • Lottery terms and conditions, legal information and advice
        • Join our lottery
        • Lottery results
        • Gift cards and wedding favours
        • Update your details
      • Wills
      • 1985 Business Club
    • Column
      • Charity shops
        • Find your nearest shop
        • Donate to our shops
        • Online Shop
      • Volunteering
      • Enter our raffle
      • Yellow Ribbons
  • Events
  • About us
    • We are an independent, local charity working in Central Lancashire.

    • Column
      • Back
      • Our purpose
      • Our team
      • Job vacancies
      • Knowledge Exchange
      • Resources for all
    • Column Two
      • The Mill cafe
      • Room hire
      • Give feedback
      • Lancashire and South Cumbria Hospices Together
      • Our plans
  • News
  • Remembrance Book
  • Donate
St Catherine's Hospice > Hospice News > ‘Hospice bereavement support gave me the courage to enjoy life again’

‘Hospice bereavement support gave me the courage to enjoy life again’

A Chorley man who attends St Catherine’s Hospice’s bereavement group says the support he has accessed – and continues to receive during lockdown – has helped him to find his smile again following the death of his beloved wife.

Brian Bramwell has been attending the charity’s monthly bereavement drop-in sessions since 2016 after his wife Maureen spent her final days being cared for on the hospice’s inpatient unit.

She had been diagnosed with liver cancer in May that year, which quickly spread to her lungs and brain, and she spent around three weeks at the Lostock Hall hospice that August.

Many services offered by St Catherine’s are affected by the Coronavirus outbreak, so staff and volunteers are working hard to reach out and keep in contact with members of the community to provide support remotely where possible, such as offering counselling, bereavement and befriending support via phone and video calls.

As the hospice is not currently able to host its monthly bereavement or carers drop-in sessions, wellbeing calls are being made and practical help offered instead, such as a shopping service for those who are vulnerable and socially isolated.

Brian said: “St Catherine’s has been a huge support for me, and they’re still in contact now, thinking about me and asking how they can help, which is so reassuring and good to know.

“I felt a difference as soon as Maureen arrived at the hospice – I could stop being her carer and just be her husband again. It allowed us to spend quality time together which was so important.

“While we were there, someone from the charity’s support team told me about the bereavement group and I’ve been going ever since. It’s helpful speaking with people who know what you’re going through. It’s very informal; you can talk about your grief and experiences, or you can just have general conversations, it depends how you’re feeling.

“Sometimes they have speakers who offer practical advice and ideas, such as cooking for one or organising a holiday by yourself, and other times it’s just a coffee evening where you can socialise and get that peer support from others, or speak with the St Catherine’s support team. It’s a very welcoming environment.

“It’s taught me that there’s no right or wrong way to grieve. It’s given me courage to carry on and not feel guilty for laughing and smiling, or enjoying myself. Life does go on, just in a different way.

“I’ll be forever grateful to St Catherine’s for helping me to see that, and for caring for Maureen and helping us to be a couple again in her final weeks and days.”

Cheryl Scott, Support Team Manager at the hospice, said: “One of the special things about St Catherine’s is that our care and support extends far beyond the death of a loved one. Our staff work with the whole family to plan a person’s care and identify what is important to them, both in terms of their health and social wellbeing.

“We help the people we support and those close to them to experience quality of life and enjoy quality time together while they are able. So, when the time comes, we continue to be there for their loved ones in a range of ways, including hosting remembrance evenings, providing one-to-one counselling, and inviting them to attend our monthly bereavement support group which is open for everyone; not just those known to St Catherine’s.

“In response to the changes brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic, we are embracing technology and doing all we can to continue communicating with those we support and identify the best way to continue services during these challenging times.

“For example, bereavement volunteers have been recruited to make phone calls; wellbeing phone calls are being made to those who usually attend our bereavement and carers drop-in sessions, and a shopping service is being offered for anyone who needs it; telephone contact is being made with relatives of patients being cared for on the inpatient unit who are unable to visit due to the restrictions; and we’re continuing to meet with relatives following the death of a loved one to identify those in need of bereavement services.

“It’s a very difficult time for everyone, but we’re all pulling together and we’re so grateful for the incredible support and encouragement from our communities, supporters and volunteers, without whom our vital work would not be possible.”

Back to News

Share with your friends!

Newsletter Signup

Sign up to our newsletter and receieve updates on our charity, successful fundraising events and much more!

Sign up

Sign up to our newsletter

Sign up to our newsletter and receieve updates on our charity, successful fundraising events and much more!

    Required

    Required

    Count me in!

    We'd love to keep in touch with you letting you know how your wonderful support is making a difference to St Catherine's, and informing you about other events and campaigns which might be of interest. We’re very proud of our ethical approach to fundraising and, rest assured, your information will be stored securely and we will not pass your details to any third party.

    Please let us know your preferred way(s) for us to contact you:

    Post

    Email

    Phone

    SMS Message

    For further information about how we use your data, please click here to read our privacy statement.

    Count me in!

    You’re a valued member of the St Catherine’s community and we’d love to keep in touch with all the latest news, events and campaigns from the charity. Let us know the best way to contact you by clicking below.

    Count me in!

    Visit Us

    Connect with us

    Connect with us on social media to keep up to date with the daily news from St Catherine’s and our cafe and community hub The Mill.

    Rate and review our services

    Patrons: Sir Bill Beaumont, Sir Duncan Nichol, Dr Lynne Livesey, Dr St John Crean, Mark Lawrenson and Tisha Merry

    © 2025 St Catherine’s Hospice Reg Charity No: 512186 Company Limited by Guarantee: 1602467

    • Privacy policy and use of Cookies
    • Accessibility Statement
    • Sitemap
    • Chair’s pension statement

    St Catherine’s Hospice, St Catherine’s Park, Lostock Lane, Lostock Hall, Preston, PR5 5XU

    Designed and built by BlueWrenBlueWren

    Boost your donation by 25%

    With Gift Aid, your donation of £ would be worth £ at no extra cost to you.

    Added to your basket

    Continue Shopping Go to Basket