Supporting the Bereaved
We believe that the company has an important responsibility to care for the bereaved, not just by offering support during the funeral, but afterwards as well, especially through the difficult days, weeks or months that may follow.
Our unique support programme is there to help and support you.
‘Our Family Supporting Your Family’
Friends Together
Since October 2007 we have been sponsoring and running Friends Together groups.
Friends Together is not a counseling service. It is a series of support groups which meet over a simple lunch. An informal fellowship where you can be with others who understand how you are feeling and who have also experienced a significant loss.
Anyone is free to join any of the groups, you don’t need to commit to coming every month, just as and when you would like to. You will always be made welcome.
Friends Together Groups meet at:
The Church Hall, St Mary’s Hadlow
On the 2nd Monday of each month
St Andrew’s Church Hall, Paddock Wood
On the 2nd Thursday of each month
Tonbridge Methodist Church. Higham lane, Tonbridge
On the third Friday of each month
Curran Hall, East Peckham.
On the last Friday of each month
Please phone our office for further details or if you would like somebody to meet you there
Annual Service of Remembrance
Each year we hold a memorial service at Tonbridge Methodist Church in Higham Lane, Tonbridge.
This service is open to all of our former client families. Many families look forward to coming together once a year to remember that special person who has died.
The service is an inter denominational service and we are delighted that local clergy from all churches in the area give up their time to attend and help us with the service.
The service is followed by refreshments in the church hall.
This annual event is usually in May or June of each year and always on a Saturday afternoon, thus allowing those who work during the week an opportunity to attend. We usually send out invitations for the first 2 or 3 years following your bereavement and also advertise the event in the Courier newspaper. However, former client families are welcome to attend for as long as they like.
Education
Because ours is, in many ways, a death denying culture, many people are unable or unwilling to offer support to the bereaved.
Once a year we organise and host an education day to which we invite interested professionals and volunteers from all sections of our local community. This usually includes volunteer visitors from churches, Medical and Nursing Staff and Social Care workers.
From time to time the education day may be specific to a group rather than generic and has included ‘Supporting Bereaved Children and Young People’ to which we invited youth leaders, School Teachers and Nursery School staff
We endeavor to obtain the services of well-known speakers, authors and academics.
Supporting the Community
The Directors and staff of Abbey Funeral Services Ltd have always endeavored to serve and support the local Community.
We have sponsored and supported Hurricane Netball Club for some years. The club is open to players from 9 years of age. Jo and Chris Parker both take an active part in helping to run the club.
For the last two years we have sponsored the Angel Indoor Bowls Club an all ages club in the heart of the town. For the last 2 years we have organised and sponsored charity bowls competitions raising money for local charities.
Since it began we have been happy to sponsor the FAB Club which meets at Tonbridge Methodist church and is open to young people from the age of 8years.
Chris Parker is the current membership Secretary of the Tonbridge Cottage Hospital League of Friends. She is also a member of the hospital’s Ginger Group which is committed to keeping the Tonbridge Cottage Hospital open and fit for purpose for the people of Tonbridge and surrounding areas.