We invite you to come together in a ‘gentle space’ to connect and share around different aspects of grief and loss. We experience feelings of grief every day, at different scales for (for example) the loss of relationships and those we love, for the loss of heritage and cultural identity through displacement, migration, and colonisation, or for the loss of the environment and a secure future due to climate change and political instability. To process these losses we must sit with these feelings. The journey that the dirty nails (les ongles noirs) Artists have been on has touched on many dimensions of grief that this event will acknowledge and explore in a safe space, with others. Hosted by Integrative Counsellor Karen Dhlamini the Grief Circle will provide support and protection to those who may need it most, while allowing everyone to have opportunities to express themselves. The Circle will be followed by nourishments prepared by artist-researcher Carmen Wong - post-grieving morsels to help support the process of returning after a change. Taking Care We hope the Circle will be a supportive and enriching experience for all participants, but as part of the invitation to come and take part we encourage you to think about the importance of your safety and wellbeing when coming into spaces that can be emotionally triggering. We will provide a quiet room away from the main circle that you can access if needed and on the day Karen and our team will be there to support you. Please do reach out if you need help or if you have any questions in advance by dropping us an email on info[at]eastsideprojects.org We have a budget that can cover travel costs if getting to Eastside Projects is a barrier to taking part. Email us on info[at]eastsideprojects.org if you would like to find out more. About KarenKaren Dhlamini MBPsS MBACP BSc (Hons) Psychology, MSc Integrative Counselling has worked as an Integrative Counsellor in private practice for more than 10 years supporting clients in different spaces with different needs such as relationship breakdown, anxiety, depression, bereavement, domestic abuse, suicide ideation, self-harm, disordered eating as well as many other challenges that life may bring. She has worked across different industries providing wellbeing, training, coaching and consultancy support. Having grown up in Zimbabwe, then migrating and settling in the UK, she brings lived experience of some of the challenges faced with integrating into a different environment and culture. Karen has worked with organisations that engage in advocacy and general support for refugees and migrants; organisations providing leadership and development training and support in the social change and arts sector; Collectives in the UK, Luxemburg and Belgium exploring aspects of identity and liberation; and Collaborations exploring the shared space, environment, and people.In the work that Karen does the emphasis is on working towards creating spaces where care is an important ethos that people aspire to maintain in their work to support people, groups, collectives, and teams across different spheres. Karen has worked with organisations providing leadership development training in different ways, providing expert support in the design and delivery, team, and cohort; group and/or one to one support. This includes consultancy around provision of wellbeing support, creating, and adapting frameworks that are designed to meet specific needs for different organisations, groups, or collectives. We also want to share some information on different local and national organisations that provide various forms of support. BrumYODO based in Birmingham they hold various events that provide a space to talk about death. Beyond the Horizon support children, young people and their families who are struggling with loss and bereavement. Cruse Bereavement Support have a helpline and provide local support in different areas. Edwards Trust, Birmingham based providing holistic family bereavement services. Grief Encounter offer support for bereaved children and families. Its Ok that you're Not OK podcast by Megan DevineThe Wild Edge of Sorrow: The Sacred Work of Grief, Book by Francis WellerHealing Justice London offers online yoga and breathing circles as part of their ongoing work to support POC This event is part of dirty nails (les ongles noirs) which is co-commissioned with Supported by