Walk Together, Remember Together
On Saturday 29 August, people affected by suicide came together at our Amparo Coventry & Warwickshire Memorial Event to walk, create mosaic stones, share poems, stories and thoughts, and remember those they have lost.
As Amparo Coventry & Warwickshire’s Projects & Partnership Lead, creating safe, accessible spaces for people bereaved by suicide is incredibly important to me. Suicide can still feel difficult to talk about—within families, communities and even in our own self-reflection. Grief can lead to whispers, silence, or a glance backwards to make sure no one has heard. Events like this help to challenge this. Despite the typical English weather, people gathered from across the region. Our attendees ranged in age from five to 85, showing just how many lives, families and communities can be affected by suicide loss.
One of the central activities of the day was creating mosaic stones. People could paint, hold and personalise a stone, before choosing whether to lay it down or carry it with them. For some, that represented releasing and letting go; for others, it was a way of holding on to memory, identity and connection. The stones gave people something tangible to hold while sharing thoughts and feelings that can often be hard to put into words. Suicide loss can leave people with so much outside their control. Creating something personal, without judgement, offered a small space for expression and choice.
It was incredibly moving to hear people share their voices through poems, stories and designs. Some people asked me to read their words on their behalf—a trust that I found deeply emotional and a real honour. We also read the names of those we remember.
The event was shaped by what people bereaved by suicide have told us they need. In my work as both a suicide bereavement liaison and Projects & Partnership Lead, I am lucky to hear directly from people in the region about their experiences, their grief and the kinds of support that matter. Their feedback, ideas and honesty helped bring this event together.
At Amparo, we work to create safe spaces where people can be heard, where grief does not have to be hidden, and where people can connect with others who understand. Postvention support is prevention. If we do not create space for people to talk, we risk adding to the isolation and stigma that suicide bereavement can bring.
What’s coming up
On Saturday 12 September, I will be attending on behalf of Amparo at a live music and suicide-awareness event at the Hod Carrier pub from 7pm. Everyone is welcome. There will be live music, an open mic and an opportunity to connect with others in the community.
We also run free national briefing sessions every Monday at 10am and Wednesday at 2pm, alongside local Cups of Calm and other Coventry & Warwickshire events.
We are also planning our Coventry Memorial Event for October 2026, and will share further details soon.
If you have been bereaved by suicide, or know someone who has, please self-refer or make a referral to Amparo. You do not have to face this alone.
Briefing sessions: https://amparo.org.uk/free-briefing-session/
Coventry & Warwickshire support: https://amparo.org.uk/our-locations/coventry-warwickshire/
Make a referral: https://amparo.org.uk/refer/