Sefton Libraries has introduced a creative programme called Loved and Lost to help residents explore and navigate grief through shared activities. The initiative, which is available across the borough, offers free workshops, reading groups, and social gatherings designed to provide support for those experiencing loss.
The programme is led by artist and theatre maker Jenny Gaskell, who works with the community to host spaces for reflection and conversation. Other contributors to the project include Afreena Islam, Brendan Curtis, and senior producer Debbie Chan. It is part of the broader At The Library initiative, which is curated and produced by Rule of Threes Arts in partnership with Sefton Libraries, with funding from Arts Council England and the National Lottery Community Fund.
Residents can participate in a variety of sessions, including a grief choir that held its first meeting earlier this year at Crosby Library. Among the upcoming activities, a shared reading group is scheduled to meet at Formby Library on 3 June 2026, from 2pm to 3:30pm, where participants will read from the book All the beauty in the world by Patrick Bringley.
Lesley Davies, Senior Development Manager for Community Cohesion at Sefton Libraries, highlighted the importance of these services in addressing issues like loneliness and mental health within the community. While the new programme offers these creative outlets, the library service continues to run its separate Chopping Club, which focuses on community cooking and building connections through shared meals.
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