It is a difficult time for many of us, with the cost of living crisis. It seems every week prices on things like food and fuel are getting more expensive.
For those of us who have lost a loved one, who perhaps was a wage earner in the household, trying to make ends meet may add to the stress of grief. There is no easy solution, but there is help out there to make the financial situation a little easier to bear.
This month's Bereavement Café at The Yorkshire Barn Café at Murton explores some of the assistance City of York Council offers through the Here To Help scheme (www.livewellyork.co.uk/TalkMoney). The Council’s Welfare Benefits Manager will be giving a short presentation followed by a Q&A on Monday 15th April from 10.30am until 11.30am. This will include information on maximising your income, financial support that’s available, budgeting and lowering your outgoings and, where possible, saving a little regularly. You can also join in a question and answer session afterwards.
The event will begin at 10am with a complimentary cuppa and cookie from The Yorkshire Barn Café., then the presentation on financial wellbeing. The Yorkshire Barn Café remains open for those who would like to purchase lunch afterwards.
As York celebrant Fiona Brown, who runs the monthly term time meet ups explains “The Bereavement Café group, which began last year has grown into a welcoming supportive community with a number of people gathering to share experiences and a number of friendships have been made.”
“We are delighted that the Council’s expert is joining us for this session as we know that managing finances is a concern to many.”
“When a loved one dies your world changes and for some this may mean that making ends meet becomes increasingly stressful. Day to day living may become problematic when the household income is affected, especially if, for instance, you are unable to work through emotional distress, where your loved one was a wage earner, where social security benefits may have dropped to a single person.”
“There are so many reasons why financially it may be a struggle but you aren't alone and through groups like The Bereavement Café at The Yorkshire Barn, we hope to give each other support, be a shoulder to lean on, a listening ear when times are tough.”
“Having a guest speaker from the Council, may help to signpost people to where help may be available and we hope that the advice she gives will be reassuring to those in need and helpful to those who just want to learn more. You never know when that information may be of use to you, your family, a friend or neighbour.”
“Although The Bereavement Café is directed at those who have lost a loved one, recently or some time ago, for this meeting we extend a welcome to anyone who would benefit from the Council's presentation. There is no need to book but it would be helpful if people could indicate their interest on the Yorkshire Barn Café’s Facebook event’s page, just so that we have an idea of how many cookies to bake!”
Councillor Katie Lomas: Executive Member for Finance, Performance, Major Projects, Human Rights, Equality and Inclusion at City of York Council, said: “We want all residents to benefit from support with their finances at every life stage. When people are struggling with bereavement, we understand that they may find the expense of a funeral and a sudden loss of income difficult to bear. Our teams support people who are struggling financially, in a holistic and sensitive way. They support them to maximise their income, budget and, where possible, to save a little regularly – please get in touch so we can help.”
The Yorkshire Barn Café is located within the main building of Murton Park (formerly The Yorkshire Farming Museum). The Café specialises in local produce, for breakfasts, lunches and tea-time treats, with delicious cakes and bakes cooked on site. Entry to the café is free but if you wish to explore the grounds and other attractions of Murton Park, then a ticket will need to be bought. A yearly pass to Murton Park is £14 for an adult £12 for a child (over 2 years of age).
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