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National Grief Awareness Week

06 Nov 2026

Join us for an Anticipatory Grief Awareness Webinar or Bereavement Café for Colleagues

Grief Awareness

National Grief Awareness Week (2nd – 8th December) is a compassionate and important observance dedicated to raising awareness about grief, providing support to those who are grieving, and fostering a better understanding of the grieving process. It acknowledges that grief is a natural response to loss and aims to break the stigma surrounding this deeply personal experience. It aims to create a safe space for Colleagues to openly discuss their experiences with grief and loss. 

This year, the University is focused on the important topic of Anticipatory Grief and have invited Hospice UK to host a webinar for the University, offering the opportunity to explore this topic further.

Wednesday, 25 November

12:00 – 13:00

Anticipatory Grief Webinar, Hosted by Hospice UK

Webinar Overview 

When someone we care about is living with a life-limiting illness, experiencing significant health challenges, or approaching the end of life, we can begin grieving before a death occurs. This experience, known as anticipatory grief, can affect many aspects of a person's life, including their emotional wellbeing, relationships, and ability to focus at work.

Colleagues living with anticipatory grief are often navigating uncertainty, practical caring responsibilities, changing family dynamics, and the emotional impact of preparing for a significant loss. Despite its prevalence, anticipatory grief can be difficult to recognise and is not always well understood in workplace settings.

All colleagues are welcome, whether you are experiencing anticipatory grief or want to learn how to support a colleague who is. 

- Register for Webinar 

Bereavement Café for Colleagues

Tuesday, 1 December Christies Café, Whitworth Hall

11:00 – 12:00

Wednesday, 16 December, Manchester Museum Café

13:00 – 14:00 

Monthly Bereavement Café for Colleagues provide a safe, supportive space for colleagues who are experiencing grief, loss and bereavement surrounding the death of a person. This informal, peer-led gathering is designed to offer comfort, connection, and a chance to reflect and share experiences with others who may be navigating journeys of grief. We offer a variety of in-person and online café dates. We know the festive period can feel difficult for some experiencing grief and bereavement – to support this we are holding 2 in-person cafés in December. A free hot drink is provided when attending an in-person café.  

If you are thinking about joining a café, please sign up to the Bereavement Café mailing list to find out more about the cafes and to be informed of café dates, locations and updates please register your email address here. 

If you have any questions or would like to discuss whether the Bereavement Café is right for you, please email equalityanddiversity@manchester.ac.uk 

Support for Grief, Bereavement and Loss  

There is a range of services supporting people through different experiences and circumstances of grief, bereavement and loss:  

Greater Manchester Bereavement Service: find bereavement support local to you.