21/05/2025
Anam Cara began as a group of bereaved parents coming together to support each other and be supported in their grief. The death of a child is a grief like no other, and there is a deep power in being with other parents who truly understand.
Today, this mighty legacy of support and compassion is carried on by our cohort of 30 Volunteer Parents and 4 trainee Volunteer Parents from every corner of the island. These thirty four parents facilitate meetings, offer their insights, and keep the voice of lived experience at the centre of everything we do. In short, they are the living, beating heart of Anam Cara– we would not exist without the dedication and compassion of each and every one of our Volunteer Parents.
To all of our Volunteer Parents, past and present, thank you doesn’t seem like enough to express our sincerest gratitude for all you have given to support other bereaved parents. This National Volunteering Week, and every day, we send you our deepest appreciation.
“The [Volunteer Parent] was very helpful. The more we can learn from other parents experiences the better. Sometimes I feel so alone in this new world after you lose a child.”
“I loved listening to [the Volunteer Parent] she really resonated with me I found myself agreeing with a lot of what she said.”
“They give us so much hope.”
“I learned that my grief is ok, listening to [the Volunteer Parent] made my grief feel normal and that it’s ok to go between different stages of grief and back again. Thank you so much.”
“Please keep doing this wonderful work”
