Barnsley Council is inviting people bereaved by suicide to attend a Gathering of Remembrance in September. The event will take place on Thursday 17 September from 6pm to 8pm at Broad Close Farm, Silkstone Common.
The gathering has been organised by Barnsley Council's Public Health team and local partners to provide a safe space for reflection, remembrance and connection. Attendees will be able to take time for quiet reflection, share memories if they wish, and receive information about local support services.
Why a local event?
A regional remembrance event has been held in Rotherham for several years, but attendance from Barnsley residents has traditionally been low. This new local event has been created to give people the opportunity to come together closer to home, in familiar surroundings and alongside others within their own community who have experienced a similar loss.
Support available
Representatives from Survivors of Bereavement by Suicide (SOBS), Samaritans, Papyrus and Amparo will be present at the event, with other local partners also supporting it. Food will be available from 6pm to 6.45pm.
Councillor Stan Bryan, Cabinet Spokesperson for Adult Social Care and Integrated Health, said: "The loss of a loved one through suicide is something that can stay with people for a lifetime. Grief can be incredibly lonely, and many people find comfort in knowing they are not facing it on their own. Whether your bereavement was recent or many years ago, everyone is welcome."
How to attend
Anyone wishing to attend, or who requires support with travel, accessibility or dietary requirements, should contact BSPublicHealth@barnsley.gov.uk by 3 September 2026.
