20/07/2026
At our Walthamstow Grief Cafe this weekend, we spent time together sharing some of the many different ways grief has been showing up in our lives, and what we were particularly finding hard right now.
We talked about the impact of feeling let down by NHS services, both physical and mental health, and how having to navigate those experiences can add another layer to an already difficult time.
We reflected on how easy it can be to push grief away because it feels too painful, too overwhelming, or simply because life is busy and we have to keep going. We also spoke about the importance of finding moments, when we can stay with our sadness rather than trying to move away from it.
We explored the grief that comes not only from the death of someone we love, but from the loss of the future we had imagined with them—the plans, the hopes, the ordinary moments we thought we would have together.
One theme kept returning throughout our conversation: the importance of community and connection. Grief can feel incredibly lonely, and yet there is something so comforting about being with people who understand, who aren’t trying to fix it - who we can simply share our story with.
We also reminded each other to be gentle with ourselves. Grief can be exhausting, and sometimes the bravest thing we can do is take the smallest of steps.
Thank you to everyone who came and shared so openly.
Our next Walthamstow Grief Café is on Saturday 15th August, 3.00–5.15pm. Whether you've joined us before or are thinking about coming for the first time, you'll be very welcome.
Book your place here: https://creatingconversations.uk/events/
