During the week we will recognise the families that are supported through our bereavement service, Echoes, by hanging stars in our office with the names of their children on them. Anyone attending the Café Bridge event on Bridge Road in East Molesey on Wednesday 4 December is invited to add a named star of someone special who has died, and anyone else is welcome to be involved by hanging a star at our office. We will also be sharing the stories of some of the families that have been supported by us in the hope that this will provide some reassurance that no one should feel alone in their grief.

Vanessa Riding, Bereavement Family Support Manager at Momentum said: “Our Echoes service supports families through the unbearable heartbreak of experiencing the death of their child.  We are there for families as long as they need us, and recognise that every person experiences grief in their own way. Whoever you are remembering and holding close in your heart, it is important to take time to chat to others about them, to say their name, to understand that there is no set length of time to grieve and that sometimes sharing those memories can help others and give a sense of hope.”

As well as providing emotional support, our Echoes team can be there for you in other ways including introducing you to other families who are also navigating life after the loss of a child, helping to arrange counselling and creative therapies, or organising a break at one of our respite lodges or on our riverboat. If you felt you wanted to, you could set up a Precious Moments Tribute Fund as a lasting way to remember and celebrate someone special.

 Find out more about our Echoes service here or if you would rather speak to someone, please call 020 8974 5931