Oldham hospital to be lit up as part of Grief Awareness Week

The Royal Oldham Hospital will be lit up to mark national Grief Awareness Week, which runs from Wednesday 2 to Tuesday 8 December. 

The Northern Care Alliance NHS Group say the Rochdale Road hospital - as well as its hospitals in Salford, Bury and Rochdale - will be lit up in yellow from 6pm to 12 midnight on 8 December as part of a Lighting Up Greater Manchester event.

The event will give hospital staff, patients and visitors an opportunity to remember those who have died and will show their care and support for those who are grieving.

Oldham Civic Centre, Oldham Coliseum Theatre and Oldham Community Leisure will also be lighting up yellow at the same time. 

Fiona Murphy MBE, Director of Nursing for End of Life, Bereavement and Donation at the NCA, said: "Lighting up our hospitals yellow will clearly signal to our patients, our staff, visitors and those in the vicinity that the Northern Care Alliance NHS Group is here to support those who have lost a loved one, that we care, and that they are not alone.

"During the pandemic many of us are separated from our loved ones by distance, however that does not mean we cannot share our grief, just because somebody is smiling does not mean they are not grieving." 

Councillor Zahid Chauhan OBE, Cabinet Member for Health Social Care, said: “Grief is a tough and sorrowful experience, one we must all sadly experience at some point during our lives.

“And whilst some of us are fortunate enough to have close circles of family and friends around us in our time of need, others unfortunately do not.

“That is why it is vital for those who are struggling with grief, especially those going through this traumatic time on their own, to know that support is available to anyone who needs it.

“You don’t need to be the one grieving to receive this support either. You could be someone who is consoling a close friend or work colleague, with this support helping you to help them when they need it most.

“The ongoing pandemic has made this process even harder on us all, especially with limitations and restrictions placed on funerals and the mixing of households, which sadly prevent some of us from physically being there to support those who feel as if their world is falling apart.

“So please do not go through this on your own and for anyone currently in this position, please know we are thinking of you at this time.”

During the time while the hospitals are lit up yellow, the NCA will be inviting staff and members of the public to light a candle or shine a light and share images and messages on Twitter at @NCAAlliance_NHS using the hashtags #shareyourstory and #NGAW20.

Many other organisations such as Greater Manchester Police will also be sharing information on their websites and social media channels.

Grief Awareness Week is spearheaded by The Good Grief Trust, the UK's leading umbrella charity, bringing over 800 support services together under one database. The charity offers a choice of tailored local, regional, and national support, for both the bereaved and those working with them.

The focus of the annual campaign is to raise awareness of the impact of grief on a national platform and ensure those needing help are aware of the breadth of support services available across the UK.

Sharing stories helps others to understand the impact of grief and loss, enabling conversations to take place, opening emotions and feelings that are often difficult to express.

During the campaign, each day of the week will focus on support for a specific sector of the bereaved community including Interfaith Support Day, Men’s Grief, Bereaved Parents, LGBTQ, Children and Young People and Covid-19 families.

Events in Greater Manchester for Grief Awareness Week 

2nd - 8th December

Today begins the opportunity for the community of Greater Manchester to reflect and remember those who have experienced loss, at any time.

Oldham Community Leisure Trust (OCL) will commence a virtual walking challenge, to raise awareness of grief and support services available, by encouraging people to go for a walk and post the number of steps or distance (in miles or km) that they cover.

Red Cross will be giving out pedometers to over 55’s as part of their Community Connect Programme, encouraging them to take part in the virtual walking challenge. They will distribute their active packs and contact people, by phone to see how they are doing.

Greater Manchester Health and Social Care Partnership will share Speak their Name, a Memorial Quilt Project commissioned to commemorate those lost to suicide & recognise those bereaved and those affected by suicide in the Greater Manchester area.

Case studies will be shared from different sectors of the community.

People are asked to download the campaign posters/logo and display in offices, cars, windows, buildings. These are available via http://nationalgriefawarenessweek.org/events/resources/

People are invited to share their memories and pictures of their loved ones on social media using the hashtags #shareyourstory and #NGAW20

3rd December

Greater Manchester Health and Social Care Partnership will be raising awareness, on social media, about their service. Greater Manchester Combined Authority and Manchester Cathedral will invite people to #GMremembers, an online book of remembrance for all those who have died due to the COVID-19 pandemic in the UK. The name of someone who has died, can be submitted or entries viewed at https://greater-manchester-bereavement-service.org.uk/ or https://gmremembers.org.uk/

From 7:45pm – 8:30pm, OCL will deliver a yoga session. Yoga is a mind and body practice. The postures are practiced to align, strengthen and promote flexibility in the body. Breathing techniques and meditation are also integrated. This will be delivered through Facebook live and can be accessed via http://nationalgriefawarenessweek.org/events/

4th December

Greater Manchester Health and Social Care Partnership will raise awareness of services supporting bereaved Children and Young People on social media.

5th December

OCL will deliver a High Intensity Interval Training session from 10:00am-10:45am. This involves short, intense workouts. A series of exercises are given your full effort for short bursts of 30 to 60 seconds and followed by a short period of rest. This will be delivered through Facebook live and accessed via http://nationalgriefawarenessweek.org/events/

Greater Manchester Health and Social Care Partnership will raise awareness of the men’s suicide bereavement group SOBS, Strong Men charity, Follo FC, Sands FC, through social media.

Springhill Hospice's annual Light a Life Service will take place at 6pm. Follow it here: https://springhill.org.uk/lightupalife

6th December

Greater Manchester Health and Social Care Partnership will raise awareness of BAME groups offering bereavement support, Good Grief Trust LGBTQ+ Bereavement Café, GM LGBTQ+ support on social media.

Bishop John Arnold Roman Catholic Bishop of Salford will make an address about grief, which can be accessed here: http://nationalgriefawarenessweek.org/events/

St Ann’s Hospice annual Light a Life Service will be at 1pm - https://www.sah.org.uk/events/light-up-a-life-online-service/

Bury Hospice annual Light A Life at 3pm - https://buryhospice.org.uk/support-us/events/

Dr Kershaw’s Hospice annual Light a Life at 7pm – https://drkershawshospice.org.uk/support-us/light-life/

7th December

Greater Manchester Health and Social Care Partnership will raise awareness of groups in Greater Manchester supporting parents after a child’s death; promotion of GM Suicide Bereavement Information Service, on-line GM Suicide Bereavement Peer Support Group and SOBS.

OCL will deliver a Pilates session from 6:30pm-7:15pm. Pilates is a form of exercise which concentrates on strengthening the body through posture, balance, and flexibility with an emphasis on core strength. This helps to improve general fitness and overall well-being. This will be accessible via http://nationalgriefawarenessweek.org/events/

8th December

Greater Manchester Bereavement Service Awareness Event 10:30am – 12pm. Follow the link to register - https://greater-manchester-bereavement-service.eventbrite.co.uk

Virtual GM interfaith service at 5pm, to coincide with Evensong at St Pauls Cathedral, London from Manchester Cathedral (Details TBC)

Lighting up Greater Manchester

Several venues across Greater Manchester will be lit up in yellow, from 6pm-12pm, in remembrance of those who have died and to show our care and support for those who are grieving. These buildings include:

• NCA Hospitals
• Media City
• Lowry Theatre
• Bury Town Hall
• Bolton Town Hall
• Rochdale Bridge
• Stockport Town Hall
• Trafford Town Hall
• Wigan and Leigh Town Halls
• Oldham Civic Centre
• Albert Halls Bolton
• Oldham Coliseum
• Manchester Art Gallery
• Stockport Plaza
• Salford Arts Theatre
• Oldham Leisure Centre
• Royal Exchange Theatre
• Greater Manchester Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust