Busy weekend ahead for Market Weighton charity as it previews its Community Hub

The founder of a Market Weighton support group is looking forward to previewing her grief charity’s Community Hub and Wellness Barn after previous plans were put on hold due to Coronavirus.
On Sunday, 16th August Talking about Loss’s founder, Jacqui Gunn will welcome people for a socially distanced preview of the charity’s Community Hub and Wellness Barn in Cross Keys Court, Market Weighton. She is inviting people to book a slot to talk to some of the therapists and fitness instructors, including Counsellor, Kathy Collinson and Andrea Seaman from Wolds Wellbeing, who will be using the space for counselling and exercise classes when the hub officially opens later this month. 
The busy weekend begins on Saturday 15th August when representatives and counsellors from Talking about Loss will join Sharon Malone from Emerson Memorials (a member of the Mindful Memorials family that is part of J.Rotherham Ltd) for a ‘Let’s Talk’ afternoon in the Pritchett Chapel at York Cemetery. During the three hour session, visitors will be able to try crafts, meditation, a guided scented walk and advice from bereavement therapists, Selby based mental health  charity, Communi-tea and a nutritionist. 
The event is one of a series of collaborative events between Talking about Loss and Melbourne based Mindful Memorials. Subject to demand, it will become a regular event. Mrs. Malone, who is the Branch Manager for Emerson Memorials, was compelled to organise the event with Talking about Loss after Coronavirus restrictions on funerals brought about unimaginable levels of loss and loneliness for her clients. Figures released by Communi-tea reveal that calls to their helpline from people contemplating suicide or being unable to cope, especially after suffering a loss during lockdown, have increased from 400 to 1000 a day.  
Mrs. Malone also writes a blog, The Monumental Muse, in a bid to encourage people to talk about loss: “I believe that as a nation we don’t talk about death and loss enough. We shy away from speaking to people who have suffered a loss, often because we don’t know what to say and my belief is that is unhealthy.”
Mrs. Gunn concludes: “When I launched Talking about Loss in June last year, never in my wildest dreams did I imagine that, just 14 months on, me and my team of volunteers would have our own premises and be collaborating with the region’s largest memorials business. “Thank you to everyone who has enabled us to help people in our community to access our grief and wellbeing support services.”
Places on both events are free, but booking is essential. For more information and to book a place for either event, contact Mrs. Gunn by calling 07885 206473 or e-mailing jacquigunn1060@gmail.com.
Newly registered charity Talking about Loss was established after Mrs. Gunn was inspired to use the legacy left to her by her father, Christopher Munby, on his passing to set up a support group for people to talk freely about loss.
In the last 14 months, the group has branched out with regular wellbeing social events in Driffield and Selby where people who are experiencing loss get together with trained counsellors for emotional support and company.