A GRIEF cafe will be held in Guiseley this week to help people to talk about death.

The event, set up by Heather Cooper with support from the community, aims to help raise awareness of grief and will give people the chance to talk about their own loss.

Heather, 59, lost her son Ed when he was 18, and she describes grief as a “very isolating” experience - despite the “fantastic” support she received.

She is creating Good Grief Guiseley to raise awareness about how people can support someone who is bereaved, and the cafe will take place as part of National Grief Awareness Week.

She said: “There will be other cafes and groups around Leeds supporting people who have lost someone they have loved, this cafe is trying to build on that support by raising awareness with a community led cafe to coincide with the first National Grief Awareness week from December 2 to 8.

“This week had been spearheaded by @thegoodgrieftrust which is trying to bring all the support available for bereaved under one umbrella so it is easier to find. It would be great if other groups could pass on their information to The Good Grief Trust and Leeds bereavement forum so that when we need to find others we can.”

She said Christmas particularly could be a very lonely time for people who had lost someone.

She added: “I have been thinking of trying to do something because I think we are not very good at talking about death and grief. It is not a comfortable conversation for many people.”

She added: “The cafe is trying to open up these conversations basically. It will be a chance for the bereaved - and for anyone - to talk about grief and about loved ones who have died.”

The cafe will take place at Guiseley Theatre from 2pm to 4pm on Friday, December 6.

Heather said although she has pulled the event together it is very much a community led group.

People attending the cafe will be able to write a message to a loved one. The messages will be placed in a box which will be planted in Parkinson’s Park along with spring bulbs to create a place for people to visit.