Upcoming Events
EVENTS 2025

GRIEF - FIT
3rd March 2025
A nine week remote fitness programme open to any bereaved parent or sibling.
Other start dates : 2nd June 2025 and 13th October 2025
ACTIVE GRIEF WEEKEND retreat
9th - 11th MAY 2025
BLACKADON FARM, NEAR IVYBRIDGE, DARTMOOR
ACTIVE GRIEF WEEKEND
9th- 11th May 2025
BLACKADON FARM, Nr Ivybridge, Devon
Located in a remote rural location on Dartmoor, this exclusive weekend retreat is run by the bereaved for the bereaved. You will experience a genuinely supportive environment in which we will help you discover new ways of expressing your grief, of sharing the story of your loss and reconnecting with your much-loved son or daughter.
Blackadon Farm offers truly gorgeous accommodation with boutique-styled bedrooms (mostly ensuite) which have been individually styled with stunning wallpapers, plump cushions and luxurious bedding.
Check out Blackdon Farm’s accomodation here
All meals are included (delicious home-cooked food lovingly prepared by our own favourite chefs Rosa and Sharon) with vegetarian and vegan options available.
The timetable includes three 2-hour sessions (Saturday morning and afternoon, and Sunday morning) for photography, creative writing and physical activity.
No previous experience is necessary and while we encourage you to attend all three there is absolutely no requirement to join in. There is plenty of time just to be, get to know other parents or to find your own space
DOWNLOAD YOUR REGISTRATION FORM HERE


GRIEF - FIT
2nd JUNE 2025
A nine week remote fitness programme open to any bereaved parent or sibling.
Other start dates : 13th October 2025
yorkshire 3 peaks funraising challenge
18th - 20th july 2025
YORKSHIRE DALES
YORKS 3 PEAKS FUNDRAISING CHALLENGE
18th- 20th JULY 2025
People have often asked us to arrange a longer walk and talk event than we are able to provide on our ACTIVE GRIEF WEEKEND retreats. Here’s your chance to join us for a 25 mile adventure in the Yorkshire Dales. Exclusive to bereaved parents and siblings, our challenge is to scale Yorkshire’s three well known peaks – Pen-y-Ghent(694m), Whernside (736m) and Ingelborough (723m) in under 12 hours – and to raise funds to support our Active Grief Programme, including Grief-Fit.
We like to think that walking and talking connects us with our grief in an active, expressive and healthy way. Achieving this challenge not only makes us fitter, it offers an opportunity to walk in memory of our loved ones and in solidarity with others.
The final details are yet to be worked out, but bunkhouse accomodation will be free and you will be expected to raise around £1000 in aid of our work. Importantly you will be helping us provide places in the programme for those on low income. As we know grief can be especially burdensome for the economically and socially disadvantaged, and we want to make sure that they don’t become even more isolated as a result.
To sign up to the Good Grief Yorkshire 3 Peaks Challenge please email Joe at :


ACTIVE GRIEF WEEKEND retreat
19th - 21st SEPTEMBER 2025
BLACKADON FARM, NEAR IVYBRIDGE, DARTMOOR
ACTIVE GRIEF WEEKEND
19th- 21st September 2025
BLACKADON FARM, Nr Ivybridge, Devon
Located in a remote rural location on Dartmoor, this exclusive weekend retreat is run by the bereaved for the bereaved. You will experience a genuinely supportive environment in which we will help you discover new ways of expressing your grief, of sharing the story of your loss and reconnecting with your much-loved son or daughter.
Blackadon Farm offers truly gorgeous accommodation with boutique-styled bedrooms (mostly ensuite) which have been individually styled with stunning wallpapers, plump cushions and luxurious bedding.
Check out Blackdon Farm’s accomodation here
All meals are included (delicious home-cooked food lovingly prepared by our own favourite chefs Rosa and Sharon) with vegetarian and vegan options available.
The timetable includes three 2-hour sessions (Saturday morning and afternoon, and Sunday morning) for photography, creative writing and physical activity.
No previous experience is necessary and while we encourage you to attend all three there is absolutely no requirement to join in. There is plenty of time just to be, get to know other parents or to find your own space
DOWNLOAD YOUR REGISTRATION FORM HERE
PAST EVENTS
ACTIVE GRIEF WEEKEND retreat
13th - 15th September 2024
BLACKADON FARM, NEAR IVYBRIDGE, DARTMOOR


local author convention
saturday 18th may 2024
PAIGNTON LIBRARY, GREAT WESTERN ROAD, PAIGNTON, TQ4 5AG
Jane and Jimmy will be presenting and reading extracts from WHEN WORDS ARE NOT ENOUGH
This is a FREE event.
ACTIVE GRIEF WEEKEND retreat
10th - 12th May 2024
BLACKADON FARM, NEAR IVYBRIDGE, DARTMOOR
ACTIVE GRIEF WEEKEND
10th- 12th May 2024
BLACKADON FARM, Nr Ivybridge, Devon
Located in a remote rural location on Dartmoor, this exclusive weekend retreat is run by the bereaved for the bereaved. You will experience a genuinely supportive environment in which we will help you discover new ways of expressing your grief, of sharing the story of your loss and reconnecting with your much-loved son or daughter.
Blackadon Farm offers truly gorgeous accommodation with boutique-styled bedrooms (mostly ensuite) which have been individually styled with stunning wallpapers, plump cushions and luxurious bedding.
Check out Blackdon Farm’s accomodation here
All meals are included (delicious home-cooked food lovingly prepared by our own favourite chefs Rosa and Sharon) with vegetarian and vegan options available.
The timetable includes three 2-hour sessions (Saturday morning and afternoon, and Sunday morning) for photography, creative writing and physical activity.
No previous experience is necessary and while we encourage you to attend all three there is absolutely no requirement to join in. There is plenty of time just to be, get to know other parents or to find your own space


THE ARCHBISHOP IN CONVERSATION WITH THE GOOD GRIEF PROJECT
Saturday 11th NOvember 2024
THE ALUMNI AUITORIUM, THE FORUM, EXETER
THE ARCHBISHOP IN CONVERSATION
WHEN WORDS ARE NOT ENOUGH - A DISCUSSION WITH JANE AND JIMMY
TUESDAY 24TH/25th OCTOBER 2024
COPE FOUNDATION AND PINELAWN MEMORIAL AND ARBORETUM – ON LINE PRESENTATION
WHEN WORDS ARE NOT ENOUGH - an online presentation with Jane and Jimmy
WHERE: ONLINE
WHEN: TUESDAY 24th OCTOBER / 7.00 pm EST (ie New York time)
which is: WEDNESDAY 25TH OCTOBER BST (ie UK time)
As part of their monthly workshops the New York based Cope Foundation together with The Pinelawn Memorial and Arboretum have invited us to give an online presentation in which we discuss our own grief journey following the death of our son Joshua in 2011. How have we come to understand grief as almost by definition a ‘creative endeavour’? What do we understand by an active and intentional grief? Using clips from our films and testimonies from our Active Grief Weekend retreats, as well as examples from WHEN WORDS ARE NOT ENOUGH – creative responses to grief, we will attempt to answer these and many other questions.
THIS IS FREE EVENT – PLEASE REGISTER HERE


THE GOOD GRIEF KILIMANJARO CHALLENGE
10TH - 22ND OCTOBER 2023
Jimmy , Joe and eight others will attempt to summit Mount Kilimanjaro and fundraise for our Active Grief Weekends
The Good Grief Kilimanjaro Challenge
An intrepid team of Good Grief supporters will attempt to climb Mt.Kilimanjaro – 10th October 2023. All funds go directly to helping bereaved parents or siblings discover new and creative ways of expressing their grief.
You can DONATE HERE
ACTIVE GRIEF WEEKEND retreat
22nd - 24th September 2023
BLACKADON FARM, NEAR IVYBRIDGE, DARTMOOR
ACTIVE GRIEF WEEKEND
22nd – 24th September 2023
BLACKADON FARM, Nr Ivybridge, Devon
Located in a remote rural location on Dartmoor, this exclusive weekend retreat is run by the bereaved for the bereaved. You will experience a genuinely supportive environment in which we will help you discover new ways of expressing your grief, of sharing the story of your loss and reconnecting with your much-loved son or daughter.
Blackadon Farm offers truly gorgeous accommodation with boutique-styled bedrooms (mostly ensuite) which have been individually styled with stunning wallpapers, plump cushions and luxurious bedding.
Check out Blackdon Farm’s accomodation here
All meals are included (delicious home-cooked food lovingly prepared by our own favourite chefs Rosa and Sharon) with vegetarian and vegan options available.
The timetable includes three 2-hour sessions (Saturday morning and afternoon, and Sunday morning) for photography, creative writing and physical activity.
No previous experience is necessary and while we encourage you to attend all three there is absolutely no requirement to join in. There is plenty of time just to be, get to know other parents or to find your own space
DOWNLOAD YOUR REGISTRATION FORM HERE


ACTIVE GRIEF WEEKEND retreat
19th - 21st may 2023
BLACKADON FARM, NEAR IVYBRIDGE, DARTMOOR
ACTIVE GRIEF WEEKEND
19th – 21st May 2023
BLACKADON FARM, Nr Ivybridge, Devon
Located in a remote rural location on Dartmoor, this exclusive weekend retreat is run by the bereaved for the bereaved. You will experience a genuinely supportive environment in which we will help you discover new ways of expressing your grief, of sharing the story of your loss and reconnecting with your much-loved son or daughter.
Blackadon Farm offers truly gorgeous accommodation with boutique-styled bedrooms (mostly ensuite) which have been individually styled with stunning wallpapers, plump cushions and luxurious bedding.
Check out Blackdon Farm’s accomodation here
All meals are included (delicious home-cooked food lovingly prepared by our own favourite chefs Rosa and Sharon) with vegetarian and vegan options available.
The timetable includes three 2-hour sessions (Saturday morning and afternoon, and Sunday morning) for photography, creative writing and physical activity.
No previous experience is necessary and while we encourage you to attend all three there is absolutely no requirement to join in. There is plenty of time just to be, get to know other parents or to find your own space
DOWNLOAD YOUR REGISTRATION FORM HERE
WHEN WORDS ARE NOT ENOUGH AT THE FREUD MUSEUM
WEDNESDAY 15TH MARCH 2023 6.00 - 7.30 PM
ON LINE EVENT – Panel discussion with Dr Kathryn Mannix
ACTIVE GRIEF WEEKEND
Wednesday 15th March 2023 – 6.00 – 7.30 pm
The Freud Museum is pleased to welcome authors Jane Harris and Jimmy Edmonds as they discuss their publication When Words are Not Enough: Creative Responses to Grief, with Dr Kathryn Mannix.
Venue: ONLINE
Tickets are offered on a pay-what-you-can basis, with a suggested donation of £10. All ticket holders will receive access to the recording 24 hours after the event and can playback for a month.
BOOK NOW HERE

WHEN WORDS ARE NOT ENOUGH at dartington bookshop (TOTNES)
THURSDAY 1st DECEmber 6 - 7 PM
LIVE (IN PERSON)PANEL DISCUSSION with Sophie Pierce in our local bookshop
WHEN WORDS ARE NOT ENOUGH
1st DECEMBER 6 – 7 pm
FREE LIVE in person event
A panel discussion on creative responses to grief to coincide with the publication of our new book WHEN WORDS ARE NOT ENOUGH – creative responses to grief.
Authors Jimmy Edmonds and Jane Harris will be joined for the evening by Sophie Pierce, bereaved mother, wild swimmer and one of the 13 contributors to the book. Together they discuss how creativity can shape a future where the deceased still play a part.
Venue: Dartington Trust Shop, 42 High St, Totnes, TQ9 5RY
This is a FREE event but please register your interest by booking here now
Further details from DARTINGTON BOOKSHOP WEBSITE


WHEN WORDS ARE NOT ENOUGH in STROUD Gloucestershire
SATURDAY 5TH NOVEMBER - 15.30 - 16.30 PM
LIVE (IN PERSON) PANEL DISCUSSION AS PART OF STROUD BOOK FESTIVAL 2022
WHEN WORDS ARE NOT ENOUGH
5th NOVEMBER – 15.30 – 16.30 pm
LIVE in person event as part of the Stroud Book Festival 2022
A panel discussion on creative responses to grief to coincide with the publication of our new book WHEN WORDS ARE NOT ENOUGH – creative responses to grief.
Authors Jimmy Edmonds and Jane Harris are joined by Dr Kathryn Mannix author of another seminal book on grief, “With the End in Mind: How to Live and Die Well”. Together they will discuss how creativity can shape a future where the deceased still play a part.
Venue: Lansdown Hall, Lansdown, Stroud, Glos GL5 1BB
See listing on Stroud Book Festival
Tickets on sale now
THE ART OF PILGRIMAGE - GOING BACK TO MOVE FORWARD
Saturday 29th OCTOBER - 9.00 am - 6.00 pm
ON demand event as part of GOOD GRIEF FESTIVAL 2022
THE ART OF PILGRIMAGE - GOING BACK TO MOVE FORWARD
ON demand event as part of GOOD GRIEF FESTIVAL 2022
Revisiting the places where we feel connected to those we’ve lost can offer profound healing. Going back can be a powerful way of ultimately moving forwards, as this exploration of pilgrimage in relation to grief shows.
This event is a pre-recorded session from a previous Good Grief event. This event will be available to watch on-demand on Saturday, October 29th, 2022. There is no live Q+A for this event.


my endless love: continuing bonds
Saturday 29th OCTOBER - 11.00 - 11.45 am
ONLINE DISCUSSION HOSTED BY JULIA SAMUEL AS PART OF GOOD GRIEF FESTIVAL 2022
MY ENDLESS LOVE : CONTINUING BONDS
On line discussion hosted by Julia Samuel as part of the Good Grief Festival 2022
“What we understand now is that although the person we love has died, the relationship with them very much continues, and so the love with that person never dies…and we love them in absence rather than presence.” Julia Samuel
In this panel session we will hear from people who have integrated their lost loved ones into the lives of the living, and how these continuing bonds have provided comfort and continuity during times of pain and upheaval.
Hosted by Julia Samuel MBE (psychotherapist and author ) with Jane Harris and Nadja Ensink-Teich (grief and trauma coach)
WHEN WORDS ARE NOT ENOUGH
FRIDAY 28TH OCTOBER - 6.30 - 7.30 PM
ONLINE EVENT AS PART OF GOOD GRIEF FESTIVAL 2022
WHEN WORDS ARE NOT ENOUGH
28th October – 6.30 – 7.30 pm
On line event as part of the Good Grief Festival 2022
A panel discussion on creative responses to grief to coincide with the publication of our new book WHEN WORDS ARE NOT ENOUGH – creative responses to grief.
Hosted by Dr. Lesel Dawson (Associate Professor in Literature and Culture at Bristol University) with the authors Jimmy Edmonds and Jane Harris along with special guests.


ACTIVE GRIEF WEEKEND retreat
14th - 16th OCTOBER 2022
BLACKADON FARM, NEAR IVYBRIDGE, DARTMOOR
ACTIVE GRIEF WEEKEND
14th – 16th October 2022
BLACKADON FARM, Nr Ivybridge, Devon
Located in a remote rural location on Dartmoor, this exclusive weekend retreat is run by the bereaved for the bereaved. You will experience a genuinely supportive environment in which we will help you discover new ways of expressing your grief, of sharing the story of your loss and reconnecting with your much-loved son or daughter.
Blackadon Farm offers truly gorgeous accommodation with boutique-styled bedrooms (mostly ensuite) which have been individually styled with stunning wallpapers, plump cushions and luxurious bedding.
Check out Blackdon Farm’s accomodation here
All meals are included (delicious home-cooked food lovingly prepared by our own favourite chefs Rosa and Sharon) with vegetarian and vegan options available.
The timetable includes three 2-hour sessions (Saturday morning and afternoon, and Sunday morning) for photography, creative writing and physical activity.
No previous experience is necessary and while we encourage you to attend all three there is absolutely no requirement to join in. There is plenty of time just to be, get to know other parents or to find your own space
THIS RETREAT IS NOW FULLY BOOKED
for news of future events sign up to our newsletter at the bottom of this page

european grief conference - copenhagen
21st - 22nd september 2022
“Creative Responses to Grief’ – a presentation by Jane Harris
WHEN WORDS ARE NOT ENOUGH
21st – 23rd September 2022
European Grief Conference – Emerging perspectives and Collaborations
Jane Harris presents a workshop on ‘creative responses to grief’ to coincide with the publication of our new book WHEN WORDS ARE NOT ENOUGH – creative responses to grief.
This is the inaugural European Grief Conference bringing together researchers, practitioners, and educators to learn and collaborate around the development of effective and culturally sensitive bereavement care responses across Europe.
Jane and Jimmy are both delegates to this important initiative where Jane has been invited to share some of our experience and learning around a proactive approach to grief which we’ve tried to sum up in the new book WHEN WORDS ARE NOT ENOUGH – creative responses to grief
For more about the ECG – see this link
ACTIVE GRIEF WEEKEND retreatS
6th - 8th MAY 2022
MANIFOLD FARM, NEAR BELPER IN DERBYSHIRE
ACTIVE GRIEF WEEKEND
6TH – 8TH MAY 2022
MANIFOLD FARM, NR BELPER IN DERBYSHIRE
Located in a remote rural location this exclusive weekend retreat is run by the bereaved for the bereaved.You will experience a genuinely supportive environment in which we will help you discover new ways of expressing your grief, of sharing the story of your loss and reconnecting with your much-loved son or daughter.
Manifold Farm offers truly gorgeous accommodation with boutique-styled bedrooms (mostly ensuite) which have been individually styled with stunning wallpapers, plump cushions and luxurious bedding.
All meals are included (delicious home-cooked food lovingly prepared by our own favourite chefs Rosa and Sharon) with vegetarian and vegan options available.
The timetable includes three 2-hour sessions (Saturday morning and afternoon, and Sunday morning) for photography, creative writing and physical activity.
No previous experience is necessary and while we encourage you to attend all three there is absolutely no requirement to join in. There is plenty of time just to be, get to know other parents or to find your own space


SCREENING - BEYOND THE MASK
20th November 2021
PART OF LIFTING THE LID – AN INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL ON DEATH AND DYING
20.00 – 21.30 GMT
FILM SCREENING - BEYOND THE MASK
LIFTING THE LID presents an ON LINE SCREENING OF BEYOND THE MASK
20th November 2021
20.00 – 21.30 GMT
We are honoured and excited to participate in this exciting new initiative. LIFTING THE LID is an international festival on death and dying. It’s totally FREE and features an incredible line up of end of life and palliative carers, funeral directors, grief supporters, artists, film makers, live music and much more.
BEYOND THE MASK (60 mins) is a thought-provoking documentary that examines the lived experience of grief during the COVID pandemic.
This on-line screening will be followed by a Q&A with directors Jane and Jimmy along with panelists and authors Dr Kathryn Mannix and Mark Lemon, both of whom appear in the film.
TO SIGN UP TO THIS EVENT CLICK HERE
This will register you for the whole festival. Sign Up is totally FREE. Once registered you can use the sidebar to navigate to any or all of the events.
SCREENING - A LOVE THAT NEVER DIES
21ST November 2021
PART OF LIFTING THE LID – AN INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL ON DEATH AND DYING
11.30 – 13.00 GMT
FILM SCREENING - A LOVE THAT NEVER DIES
LIFTING THE LID presents an ON LINE SCREENING OF
‘A LOVE THAT NEVER DIES’
21st November 2021
11.30 – 13.00 GMT
Another chance to see A LOVE THAT NEVER DIES as part of LIFTING THE LID an international festival on death and dying.
A LOVE THAT NEVER DIES (75 mins) follows our road trip across the USA meeting and talking with other bereaved parents in a quest to discover, why we grief, how we grieve and why we are afraid of those who do grieve.
TO SIGN UP TO THIS EVENT CLICK HERE
This will register you for the whole festival. Sign Up is totally FREE. Once registered you can use the sidebar to navigate to any or all of the events.
