About our grief circles
NAVIGATING LIFE AFTER THE LOSS OF A BABY.
NO MATTER WHEN IN YOUR LIFE YOUR LOSS TOOK PLACE.
We offer grief circles for parents bereaved by pregnancy and baby loss to connect with each other in a non-judgemental, gently held space.
We use conversation, gentle movement and creative writing exercises to remember, express and share our experiences. The circles are led by Yewande 103 Creative Director, Alexandrina Yewande Hemsley. Material stems from her 15+ years of artistic practice and her lived experience of the loss of her son Oscar late in pregnancy, in 2021.
Your loss can have happened at any point in your lifetime and there is no time limit of when your loss happened. Our work is inclusive of all baby loss (IVF journeys, infertility, ectopic pregnancy, chemical pregnancy, miscarriage, TFMR, abortion, stillbirth, neonatal death).
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In May 2024, we ran a pilot series of workshops in South East London supported by Arts Council England and South East London Maternity and Neonatal System. You can find more details within our evaluation report.
What to expect
Each circle will start with a gentle ‘check-in’ and close with a guided check-out. We will also ensure time after each scheduled workshop for a break-out space for more informal connections between participants/opportunities and also space for optional sharing.
The circles will gently and collaboratively navigate themes of repair within loss, honouring self within the impact of loss, connecting to inner voice, exploring how voices have been received and held within current maternal care frameworks.
Each session will follow this loose structure:
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Welcome and group check-in
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Arrival warm-up
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Gentle movement practice
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Creative writing practice
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Group discussion and check-out​
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Next Circle: 26th September 7-8:30pm​
Our next circle will be held online as part of Black Maternity Mental Health Week UK.
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Register below:
https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZIudumurj8jHN0nvugX_d5QeOmLhNuq6bgX
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About Yewande 103:
Yewande 103 is an arts organisation, led by dance artist, choreographer and writer Alexandrina Hemsley. We foreground the overlaps between creativity and mental health, offering tender, compassionate encounters with creativity. These workshops stem from our teams lived experience. In 2021, Alexandrina lost her son late in pregnancy, and offers these workshops to expand conversation, care and connection.
About lilli Chambers:
These workshops are supported by lilli Chambers. Lilli is a full-spectrum doula and hypnobirthing practitioner tending to times of transition. They offer emotional, physical, and spiritual support throughout the full spectrum of pregnancy, abortion/pregnancy release, loss, birth, and postpartum. Lilli is in lifelong learning to provide trauma-informed, anti-oppressive and gender-expansive care for all birthing people, partner(s), solo parents and families.
