• Meeting with a group of up to 12 suicide bereaved adults at each fortnightly meeting
• Ensuring that the meeting is held in a safe, confidential environment
• Ensuring that group members are aware of the aims, objectives, and ethics of the group meeting
• Ensuring that the pre-designed, common structure of the group is adhered to, allowing for variation on this, according to the dynamic and needs of the different groups.
• Giving each group member an equal opportunity to speak at the meeting.
• Creating an atmosphere of support and understanding
• Providing each person within the space an opportunity to tell their story, ask questions, be listened to and shown respect and empathy.
• Following up each meeting with phone calls to new members to check on their wellbeing.
• Signposting members to additional bereavement support, where indicated.
• Providing a grief educational slot at each meeting to assist persons in their progress towards eventual healing.
• Maintaining contact with the group members, within boundaries, providing members with information relevant to healing and growth from their loss.
• Debriefing with fellow Facilitator, to flag any issues which need to be addressed or specific members who may need additional support.
• Completing attendance and feedback forms after each HUGG group meeting.
All HUGG Facilitators receive extensive, evidence-based training and ongoing supervision.
All HUGG groups are overseen by HUGGs’ Groups Manager, who is accountable to the Board of Management of HUGG.
HUGG pays for expenses incurred by Volunteers (vouched and by prior agreement). 