People suffering from grief and loss will be able to drop into bereavement cafés for advice and support.

Hosted by Dorset Open Door, Mosaic, Dorset Youth and Dorset Mental Health Forum, the drop-in sessions will offer residents the opportunity to find out about the local bereavement support available to them, as well as getting the chance to talk about how their feeling and look at ways to remember and celebrate the lives of loved ones.

The events coincide with National Grief Awareness Week which takes place between Monday, December 4 and Sunday, December 10. They will also be running during the following week.

The drop-ins taking place are:

The #Willdoes Bus at the Front Skate Park on Preston Beach Road in Weymouth between 4.30pm and 6.30pm on Tuesday, December 5 and Tuesday, December 12.

The Gallery at Dorset Mental Health Forum on Durngate Street in Dorchester between 4.30pm and 6.30pm on Thursday, December 7 and Thursday, December 14.

Sam Adkins, project lead for Dorset Open Door said: “It can be difficult to know how to start looking for support when you have lost someone. Dorset Open Door is a partnership of local and national organisations, and we are here to help guide you through the process of getting the support you need.

“We would encourage anyone affected by the loss of someone to come along and find out more about what’s on offer in Dorset.”

Mike Bennett, CEO at Dorset Youth said: “Grief can affect all of us in different ways and for young people, losing someone can be especially hard to process.

“We want everyone to know that you don’t have to go through it alone and there is support available in Dorset - come and see the team at our #Willdoes Bus in Weymouth or at The Gallery in Dorchester.”

Clare Hayton, Senior Therapist at Mosiac said: “Bereavement is something that happens to us all. Thankfully a lot of children do not have to navigate the loss of a loved one until later in their life. So when a young person does experience a death, they can often feel isolated and confused about what they are experiencing.

“The bereavement cafés are an opportunity to meet others who are bereaved and also to understand the complex feeling around grief,” she added.

There is no need to book a place, anyone can come along for a chat and a coffee. For more information about the sessions visit bit.ly/BereavementCafeDorset.