A new community project in Kingsbridge, ‘Next Steps - for living, dying, grieving’ will provide a relaxed, informal space for people to share their thoughts and experiences around death, dying and grieving.

‘Next Steps’ is a not-for-profit project founded by Suzi Garrod, a local soul midwife (a holistic end-of-life practitioner), counsellor, life coach and mindfulness teacher.

Currently meeting one Thursday a month at the Age Concern Building on Ilbert Road, the Next Steps team of volunteers will welcome you with tea, coffee, cakes or biscuits and a friendly listening ear.

‘Next Steps’ is led by the needs of those who attend, and facilitates discussion around the topics that wish to be talked about. These may include subjects such as living with a potentially terminal diagnosis; coming to terms with dying; preparing yourself and your family for death; writing a living will; creating advanced directives; planning funerals; or grief and bereavement support.

The team also plans to invite regular speakers to the meetings over the coming months, for example professionals who work within palliative care, funeral directors, living will and advanced directive specialists, GPs and solicitors.

Far from being awkward or morbid, these discussions are open, friendly and supportive. Often there is even humour, especially as people begin to make connections and find relief in talking openly with others who share similar thoughts, fears or experiences.

“Talking about death won’t make it happen,” said founder Suzi Garrod.

“What it can do, however, is take away some of the fear around dying, and empower you to take back some control over what happens at end of life. ‘Next Steps’ provides a much-needed forum for members of the community to ask questions, share experiences and reach out for support. We can also signpost you to organisations such as palliative care teams, support groups, funeral directors, counsellors, soul midwives, holistic therapists and more”.

The most common feedback received from similar groups Suzi has been involved with in the past, is that people feel a huge sense of relief at being able to share both their experiences and their fears. They welcome the opportunity to ask the questions they have not been able to ask before and find comfort in knowing that they have much more power over how they approach end of life and much more support than they realised.

“Death is something we cannot avoid; however, we can have a say in how we deal with it, both as individuals and as a community,” said Suzi.

The Next Steps meetings will take place between 2pm and 4pm on the fourth Thursday of every month at the Age Concern Building, Ilbert Road, Kingsbridge.

The first meeting will be held on Thursday, April 27 between 2pm and 4pm.

There will also be an all-day Next Steps drop-in event on Saturday, May 13 as part of Dying Matters week.

For more information, please contact Suzi Garrod, by telephone on 07896 665560 or by email [email protected].

You can also follow the Next Steps Facebook page www.facebook.com/nextsteps.org, Twitter account @NextSteps_org or visit Suzi’s website www.suzigarrod.com.

Next Steps relies on voluntary donations to cover the cost of venue hire, refreshments and purchasing of relevant literature/leaflets. While there is no charge to attend, there is a donation box available at the group meetings and an invitation to contribute towards running costs or volunteer to provide delicious home-made cakes.