LOROS Hospice has announced it is opening a number of local bereavement hubs across Leicestershire and Rutland.

The hubs, the first of which will be in Coalville and opens on Thursday 3rd February, will be run by trained volunteers and provide a place to access information, share thoughts and talk to others about their grief.

With COVID-19 affecting so many families, there is a flood of demand for support by those who are bereaved.

Tracey Clipsham-Hughes, Counselling and Bereavement Services Manager at LOROS Hospice, said: “We know there are an immense amount of people who have been unable to access support in their grief throughout the pandemic, and have felt unable to mourn the loss of their loved ones.

“Not being able to attend funerals or gather with friends or family has paused people’s grief, rather than the natural process of grieving happening. At LOROS we recognise that some people need support around them in order to explore feelings and emotions and find new ways to live whilst grieving.

“Our new bereavement hubs will be based in the heart of neighbourhoods and provide some of the help people may need to manage their grief.”

With support from LOROS specially trained volunteers, the sessions will run weekly, these will be located in church halls and community centres.

Each session will be a drop-in, taking place weekly at a regular time, and is open to anyone aged 18 years and over who is bereaved, regardless of the cause.

This week the Coalville bereavement hub drop-in opens its doors in the Agar Nook Community Centre on Thursday 3rd February from 1.30pm-3pm.

From Friday 4th March, Birstall’s bereavement hub will be held from 1.30pm-3pm. Over the next year, LOROS hopes to open 12 more bereavement hubs across Leicestershire and Rutland.

For more information please visit loros.co.uk/bereavementsupport

Details of new hubs will be added to the webpage as soon as they are announced.