New Weldmar Bereavement Cafe offers local support in Lyme Regis

Weldmar Hospicecare is launching a new Bereavement Cafe in Lyme Regis this September, providing a vital local support network for anyone experiencing grief. The cafe will be hosted at Waffle on Broad Street and welcomes all, regardless of whether their loved one was cared for by Weldmar.

“We run successful bereavement drop-in groups at the hospice in Dorchester, and they’re incredibly beneficial,” says Jenny Wood, Weldmar’s Patient and Family Support Lead. “People really appreciate the peer support. We’re very fortunate to have such a lovely venue, and Waffle Lyme has been so kind to allow us to be here on the first Wednesday of every month. It will be a very relaxed drop-in with coffee and a chance to chat with others who truly understand the journey of grief.”

Sophie Olszowski, a Weldmar Patient and Family Support volunteer, highlights the need for the service in the town: “Lyme is at the very far western end of the area that Weldmar supports. My husband was cared for by Weldmar, which was fantastic, but now, four years later, I live in a town where there isn’t any provision for people who have been bereaved. For those of us who could go into Dorchester for support sessions, it’s a very long way. Having something out in the west of the county specifically for bereaved people feels really important.”

Sophie also emphasizes the broader community benefit: “Death and dying are relevant to all of us. We will all experience bereavement at some point. Having something that enables grieving people to talk openly about it, and also helps the community feel there’s a supportive space if they need it, is crucial.”

An “exceptional offering” for continued care

Lu Worrall, a Weldmar Community Nurse Specialist based in the charity’s Specialist Hospice at Home West Hub, is particularly passionate about the new service. “Being able to provide a bereavement cafe here in Lyme Regis is an exceptional offering,” she states. “It means that our loved ones can continue to be part of Weldmar’s care, and people will have a place where they can talk about those they’ve lost and begin their grieving process. I’m deeply proud to work for Weldmar and to have us at Waffle, just across the road from our shop, is truly special.”

Ruth Wright, the Community Coordinator at Waffle Lyme, explains why this is a perfect project for them to be involved in: “As a group of three friends, we opened our first Community Waffle House in 2019 in Axminster. We shut the doors again only four hours later, having sold out of every waffle. We realised that the people wanted waffles. But it was more than that; people had a real need and desire to connect. We offer an informal space for those grieving to connect with others who understand. The bereavement café provides people a chance to share their experiences, find comfort in mutual support and feel less isolated in their grief. After successfully partnering with Hospiscare in Axminster, it seemed natural to offer a similar project when we opened Waffle in Lyme Regis. There was no other current support of this kind available to our local community without them having to travel a fair distance. We are delighted to be partnering with Weldmar and look forward to welcoming and supporting the community in this way. We are waffle powered – every waffle purchased supports our community work.”

The Bereavement Cafe will run from 10am to 12pm on the first Wednesday of every month at Waffle, 37 Broad Street, Lyme Regis, DT7 3QF. Anyone experiencing bereavement is welcome to drop in, and a small tea or coffee is just £2.