Treasures Bereavement Cafe
Treasures Bereavement Cafe meets every other Saturday from 10- 11:45 am at the W.I. Hall and is run by Mary Hopper, a retired nurse and experienced counsellor and trauma therapist with a specialty in bereavement. A typical cafe involves an opportunity to chat or listen, to make friends, to enjoy refreshments, a craft activity, possibly a quiz or some teaching. Sometimes there are guest speakers.
According to Mary: "We are regularly made aware of the stigma around grief and bereavement, and of people's misconceptions in this area. After visiting the cafe and becoming a part of it, many constantly remind us of the need to normalize grief, ask why it's not talked about, remark how relieved they are that they are not 'going mad' or 'alone' - and so many feel heard and understood."
She adds that the cafe can be a meeting place "for adults experiencing loss of any kind, e.g. a friend, relative, pet, health, or job."
Over the summer, funded by donations, Treasures opened a Quiet Garden next to Carterton Library. It's a much-needed space where people can visit, sit, and reflect on their loss. Various plants, including roses in memory of a loved one or pet, have all been donated, along with chairs, a storage box, and a plaque.
The W.I. Hall is located at 3 Brize Norton Road, Carterton, OX18 3HN. The next Treasures meeting will be on October 10th at 10 am. The following meetings after that will be on November 7th and November 21st, 2026.
For more information, email Mary at mhopper564@gmail.com
