P-116 Empowering communities through bereavement champion workshops: building confidence and compassion

<h3>Background</h3> In January 2025, we launched the Bereavement Champion Workshop Program to equip individuals with the confidence and knowledge to support those experiencing bereavement in their communities. The initiative aligns with the national report ‘Bereavement is everyone’s business’ (UK Commission on Bereavement; 2022), recognising the need for accessible, community-based education to improve societal understanding of grief and loss. <h3>Aims</h3> The program aimed to reach 100 participants by the end of 2025 and foster a compassionate, grief-literate community through interactive, accessible workshops. <h3>Methods</h3> Participants were invited to attend free workshops held across various time slots, including evenings. Attendees rated their understanding of grief and loss on a scale of 1–10 before and after the session. Narrative feedback was also collected. <h3>Results</h3> By March 2025, 62 individuals had participated. Pre-session scores ranged from 1 to 9, indicating varied baseline understanding. Post-session results showed all participants experienced an increase in confidence and knowledge, with 41 rating their understanding between 9 and 10. Participants were primarily aged 29–48. Feedback highlighted the program’s accessibility, engaging content, and emotional impact. Comments included: ‘<i>Really enjoyed being involved in breaking the taboos around loss and grief</i>’ and ‘<i>Gained a better understanding and more confidence in having those conversations</i>.’ <h3>Conclusions</h3> The Bereavement Champion Program demonstrates the real-world application of the ‘Bereavement is Everyone’s Business’ principles, effectively empowering individuals to better support those who are grieving. Strong community engagement, measurable improvements in knowledge, and positive feedback highlight the program’s success. To extend its reach, a Train the Trainer model will be launched during National Grief Awareness Week 2025, enabling wider community delivery and sustaining momentum for grief awareness and education.