Grief Awareness Week – How we look after ourselves, and one another

Grief and loss are universal. We will all have experienced it in some form or been close to someone who has; often we don’t know what to do or say. It can hit especially hard at this time of year, when families and loved ones gather together.

To coincide with Grief Awareness Week, the SoA is hosting a lunchtime session normalising grief and encouraging open and frank conversation that encourages us to both look for and offer support.

In this session Louise Dillon will talk about grief and all its manifestations with honesty and openness. The session is not designed to be upsetting or traumatic, but aims is to remove much of the discomfort, stigma and misconceptions around grief and provide the insight and understanding we may be afraid to seek out. 

This session will include first-hand experiences of grief, what helped, what didn’t and how we can create a more supportive, empathetic culture that will benefit us all. There will be plenty of time to ask the questions you have been afraid to ask.

Programme

• Welcome, introductions and housekeeping from Anna Ganley – Chief Executive, SoA (3 mins)
• Session led by Louise Dillon (30 mins)
• Q&A with audience (10 mins)
• Summary and closing comments (2 mins)

Who is this session for?

• Anyone experiencing loss who wants to learn more about how to move forward
• Anyone wanting to gain a greater understanding of grief and how best to support those we love. 

What will this session cover?

The session aims to give you: 

• A greater understanding of grief and all that goes with it
• What is helpful, and less helpful, to those grieving
• Strategies to support ourselves through difficult times
• Practical strategies to help ourselves and those around us at Christmas
• An overview of our relevant firm policies and where to find support

Send us your questions

If you would like to send questions in advance, email AGanley@societyofauthors.org with ‘How we look after ourselves and others’ in the subject header. We will prioritise questions sent in advance and answer as many as we can from the audience on the day.

#SoAatHome Fundraising Bookshop

Browse our virtual Bookshop.org store featuring books by authors and speakers taking part in the #SoAatHome. When you make a purchase using our affiliate links, a percentage will go to the Society of Authors’ Access Fund, giving authors support for travel, subsistence, childcare or access needs for events, residencies, and retreats.

The Line-up

Louise Dillon, Armadillo Life

Louise is passionate about improving our understanding and comfort around grief so that we can support ourselves and the people around us.

She was not a stranger to grief, having suffered the loss of both of her parents, six years apart, whilst she was still in her twenties. However, in 2019, her 13-year-old son Fred was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia. He died ten months later.

Since that time, she used her training experience to promote awareness, and spoken and written extensively on grief, both online and for newspapers, television and podcasts.

Website: www.armadillolife.co.uk | Substack: blanketsandbiscuits.substack.com

Need to know

Accessibility

• Attendees will have the option to turn on the live captions with this event.
• If you require BSL interpretation for this event, please email events@societyofauthors.org

Before the event

• Once registered, you will be sent a confirmation email with the Zoom link
• If the confirmation email doesn’t arrive in your inbox, please check your junk/spam email folder
• Please add events@societyofauthors.org to your Safe Senders list so you receive our confirmation and reminder emails

During the event

• This online event will take place on Zoom Meetings; you will be visible on screen if you have your camera on.
• Attendees will be able to ask questions either via the chat box or by unmuting themselves.
• This event is 45 minutes

After the event

• Hashtag for this event: #SoAatHome
• SoA Members and paid attendees of this event will be able to catch the recording on our Vimeo channel (password protected) or members can access via the SoA website.
•  

Booking

SoA Members: Please use the ‘Register – SoA Members’ form below and provide your details, including your membership number. If you’re unsure of your SoA ID, please email info@societyofauthors.org.

Non-members: Choose one of the two ticket options below, complete the registration form, then fill out the billing info to finalise your payment.

For event or registration questions, email events@societyofauthors.org.

SoA Members – Free

Non-Members – £5