Life After Loss Grief Cafe .

24/09/2026

Very welcome news on bereavement entitlement -not only on the length of leave but the losses now thankfully included.

I’ve long advocated for improvement around grief and bereavement support , education and awareness and it really feels like the tides are changing .

From inclusion on the National Curriculum to Extended leave to 3rd sector support being recognized and supported alongside the NHS and other organisations these are all positive steps towards a society that acknowledges grief and supports those that are bereaved with a timely , compassionate & affective approach.

The new law will also cover foster, kinship care and adoptive relationships, as well as early pregnancy loss.

23/09/2026

is my favorite day of the week.
It’s the 4th week of the month so we have both our Life After Loss Grief Cafes .
Morning at Tickhill and our Evening session at Conisbrough.

I’m very fortunate to have a wonderful volunteer Sue who took this mornings session while I was invited to attend a seminar at E & M Newsome Funeral Directors with staff from Harrogate Court Extra Care by Valley Care who we will be collaborating with very soon . We heard all about the service the Funeral directors provide.

Knowing our attendees are in good hands when I’m not available is so reassuring just like knowing when our loved ones die they are cared for respectfully and with dignity .

23/09/2026

Nobody really prepares you for how hard mealtimes can be after your spouse dies.

For years, maybe decades, dinner was something you did together. You talked about what you wanted to eat. One of you cooked while the other cleaned up. You sat across from each other and talked about your day. Maybe you watched the evening news together or complained about what was happening in the world.

And then suddenly you're cooking for one.

You open the refrigerator and wonder why you should bother making anything.

Recipes make too much. Groceries go bad before you can finish them. Sometimes a bowl of cereal, a sandwich, or something you can put in the microwave feels like enough.

But I think there's something else going on that we don't talk about.

You're not just missing the meal. You're missing the person who used to be there when you ate it. That empty chair can make it feel unbearably lonely. Even foods you once loved can lose their appeal because so much of our enjoyment of food comes from sharing it with someone.

And if your spouse did most of the cooking, you might also find yourself trying to learn something you never really had to do before. At an age when you never expected to be figuring out how to shop, cook, portion meals, and feed yourself every day.

Here's the thing...making a meal for yourself isn't admitting that this is the life you wanted.

And it doesn't have to mean recreating the dinners you used to have together.

Maybe you start small. Learn one simple meal. Make enough to freeze some for another night. Eat with a friend occasionally. Sit somewhere different if the kitchen table feels too empty.

And on the nights when all you can manage is a sandwich?

Eat the sandwich.

Grief asks enough of us already.

Feeding yourself is one small way of saying, “I'm still here, and I'm going to take care of the person who's left.”

Even when dinner is just for one.

Gary Sturgis
Author of: ‘SURVIVING GRIEF – 365 Days A Year’

22/09/2026

This is what grief can look like!
Smiles all round , fresh air and fish n chips !🤗 We are a Community that is

We had another wonderful Walk & Talk this Month finding out about the history of St. Peter's Church Conisbrough and Conisbrough Castle. Many thanks to Church warden Mike Rigby for all the information and English Heritage staff at the castle for their support.

We were also joined by Doncaster Council public healths Healthy places officer Georgia Snape who runs a project called Ride , Stride & Thrive
Plus Furry friend Ruby Two who brought her Mum Julie along .

9 of us including Lindsey Beverley New who runs Conisbrough world learned about the stone column ⬇️that predates the 7th century church. The Robert Thompson Mouse Man pews, the stained glass windows and so much more . The castle visitors center is a hub of fascinating fact about our famous monument.

The viaduct , killner bottle factory the brick factory and other places of local interest were also discussed as we strolled In the lovely late summer sunshine.
If you’ve never been to our little village you’re missing a treat .

We finished off with a late lunch at the amazing Seafish Restaurant where we were very well looked after.
All in All a grand day out 🤗

Keep your eyes 👀 peeled for the next one our 1yr anniversary walk on 12/10th to Annabel’s in Loversal
DM if you’d like to join us .

21/09/2026

Please note some slight amendments to our fundraising post . Bookings will now be processed via our website www.foundmyniche.co.uk
where donations can be made .
Date and times remain unchanged .
If you have any dietary requirements please DM prior to the event .

21/09/2026

Gentle reminder that our Walk & Talk is taking place today meeting in St. Peter’s car park at 1pm. A safe space to walk and share life’s up n downs . All welcome 🤗

Weather is due to be fine. We’d suggest sturdy footwear and bug spray if you have it 🥾 🐜 IYKYK

20/09/2026

17/09/2026

So this just Happen!
To say my gasp is Flabbered is an understatement.

For the second year Found My Niche are finalists at the Club Doncaster Foundation Heart of Doncaster Awards .
If you’d like to join us on the night let me know ( so we can all be on one table )
Here’s the details in a link)

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/19L7t9qhLm/?mibextid=wwXIfr

Last year we were in the Choose Kindness Category and this year we are in the Be Well Doncaster VCFE category.

I say we because I couldn’t do this without the love and support of every single person that we’ve supported over the last 2n half years . All those that volunteer, funders that believe in us , sponsors , those that donate, interact , share, refer to us , are here on this page, have had grief therapy with me , make calls , send emails , attended events , invited me to events . This Nomination is for you .

17/09/2026

The Perfect 10/10
Yesterday
saw 10 people try qigong for the first time at our monthly Wellness Workshop at Conisbrough Group Practice skillfully guided by Sandra of Poppy Jasper CIC . 10 has always been a very significant number in my life.🙏

The health benefits of qigong including lowering blood pressure and anxiety are well known.

We also had 10 attendees at our Life After Loss Grief Cafe . We spoke a lot about expressing emotions and telling our emotional truth to those in our lives about how we are really feeling. And explaining that we don’t want them to stop asking but moreover to be beside us tears and all for as long as it takes without judgment or the need to try and fix us .❤️‍🩹

Our Wellness Workshops are funded by The National Lottery it’s a safe space to try new experiences that may just help on our grief journey .We are planning for 2027 . What would you like to see us deliver?

Video of Sandra in action ⬇️

Sandra also holds regular sessions at The Ivanhoe Centre - CCA Ltd every Thursday 12-1 if you want to experience it for yourself .