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First consolation bench in Salzgitter: A place of encounter and consolation
The first comfort bench for grief support was set up in Salzgitter. Volunteers offer talks every Wednesday.
First consolation bench in Salzgitter: A place of encounter and consolation
Today is a special day for Salzgitter: The first consolation bench was ceremoniously inaugurated in the cemetery in Lebenstedt. This innovative offer comes from the Hospiz-Initiative Salzgitter e.V. and is aimed at everyone who needs support and a place to meet in times of grief. As Salzgitter.de reports, mourners do not have to register in advance, but can simply come by and take a seat. The trained volunteer grief counselors are available every Wednesday afternoon from 2 p.m. to offer comfort and a hearing.
In recent years, the idea of consolation and mourning benches has become established nationwide and now also finds its place in Salzgitter. “The consolation bench offers a space to pause and talk to others,” explains Monika Metze, one of the volunteers who played a key role in the project. There is also an information box with flyers about the club's various offers. For those who would like to find out more online, a QR code leads to a digital offering with comforting stories and poems by Doris Engels and Manuela Herzog.
A place for grief and memories
The consolation bench is located at the urn grave collection field VIII and is not only a place to linger, but also a symbolic place of encounter. “Here people can find comfort or give others a listening ear,” notes the hospice initiative, and that hits the nail on the head. Many mourners experience a significant loss of contact due to the loss of a loved one and often feel alone after the funeral service. The consolation bench is intended to alleviate this loneliness to some extent and provide a space for community.
The bench was manufactured in the carpentry workshop of the Christian Youth Village (CJD) in Salzgitter, and the local construction work was approved by the municipal management company. The financing of the project was secured through generous donations from private sponsors and the support of the Salzgitter Community Foundation. In addition, plans are already in the works for a second consolation bench in the forest cemetery in Salzgitter-Bad, which shows that the need for such offers is growing.
Together through grief
As the Hospizhilfe Grafschaft Bentheim also emphasizes, grief is a very individual process that is strongly influenced by personal relationships. The loss of a loved one can change your life and can often make you lonely. Therefore, communicating with other mourners is invaluable. Events like the Trostbank not only provide a physical space, but also the opportunity to talk and exchange with others—something that many find extremely beneficial.
The Trostbank is not only an impressive sign of solidarity in Salzgitter, but also a shining example of how we can face the challenges of life together in difficult times. With this offer, the hospice initiative would like to help ensure that people are not left alone in their grief and can find comfort - true to the motto: Together you are less alone.