New partnership between RWK Goodman and 2wish aims to foster community support for families and professionals affected by bereavement.
Providing spaces for families experiencing the impacts of bereavement to find a supportive network in Bristol is at the heart of a new partnership between law firm RWK Goodman and a leading charity.
The firm is partnering with 2wish, which provides immediate and ongoing bereavement support to all those affected by the sudden and unexpected death of someone aged 25 or under, to facilitate regular coffee mornings for families in the city.
2wish was founded in 2012 by Rhian Mannings MBE, following the tragic death of her baby son, George, and husband, Paul, within days of one another. Determined to ensure no other family would endure such loss without support, 2wish works to create immediate and accessible pathways for bereavement care.
The events, which look to foster a sense of community by bringing people together with shared experiences of bereavement of a child or young adult, have been run by the charity in other areas, with monthly Bristol events now being held at the RWK Goodman office at One Castlepark from May.
At each event, a member of 2wish is available on hand to signpost ways the charity can support, including through memory boxes, counselling, complimentary therapies or helping find advice for specific issues.
There will also be separate events for professionals who work with those who are bereaved, or who encounter distressing deaths through their work, such as paramedics, teachers, police officers, counsellors, and lawyers. The first professionals’ event will take place in July.
Ali Batchelor, a partner in RWK Goodman’s Clinical Negligence and Inquests team, said: “These events provide an invaluable space for bereaved families and professionals to find comfort, share their experiences, and build a supportive network.
“Our inquest, clinical negligence, and personal injury teams work with families who are involved in legal processes linked to the death of a loved one, and who are trying to understand what happened. It can be isolating as people around them often struggle to know what to say or how to act around them and we know how much they value the opportunity to speak to others going through something similar.
“We’re incredibly proud to be supporting 2wish to expand in the region and to help more people benefit from their incredible support.”
Milly Wheeler, Fundraising Manager from 2wish, said: “As 2wish expands to support more families across England, we’re delighted to partner with RWK Goodman to support our coffee mornings. Their knowledge and expertise can provide guidance and comfort to our families, and it’s enabling us to continue growing awareness of the work we do. For this we are so grateful; and can’t wait to see what this year brings!”
