Local Community
Next Abingdon Compassionate Café
Saturday 3rd October 26
at
St Ethelwold's House, Abingdon
from 2 pm to 4 pm
No agenda or advice
A supportive gathering to talk openly, or one-to-one, about grief, difficult diagnoses or caring for a loved one nearing end of life.
Just a safe space for you to chat with others in similar circumstances or to simply spend some time in a welcoming, inclusive and peaceful space.
Do you, or do you know someone who could do with some companionship, and lives in the Abingdon area? Join us, at the Abingdon Compassionate Café in the beautiful gardens of St Ethelwold’s House in Abingdon, OX14 5EB for Cake, Kindness and Compassion – a safe haven, to just be!
For a supportive gathering to talk about grief, difficult diagnoses, or caring for a loved one with a dementia diagnosis, or nearing the end of life. Providing a comforting space for conversation, along with cake, tea, coffee, or soft drinks in the beautiful gardens.
After the first gathering of the Café on 20th Sept 2024, the Café has gone from strength to strength blessed with some sunny days and the beautiful gardens, we now welcomed members of the community with home made cake and friendly chat, monthly.
A huge thank you to all the volunteers who make this possible. We meet the first Saturday in the month 2pm to 4pm. (No Café in July or August)
Inspiration for the Café
After a book launch in 2023 from Sarah Dennis at local Abingdon Independent Book Shop Mostly Books, Abingdon, organised. I spent some time with the author Clare Mackintosh who was launching her book "I promise it won't always hurt like this" a lived experience book offering its reader 18 Assurances on Grief. It is a powerful read for anyone who has lost a loved one, at any age.
We chatted about how often there is no where to go, that feels safe, when you are grieving, or caring for someone who is dying, or have a difficult diagnosis yourself. So, a long story short, the seed for the Abingdon Compassionate Café was sown. Fast forward 6 months, and we had the first session in September 2024. In June 2026 the Abingdon Compassionate Café became a fully constituted Community Group.
Link to Mostly Books to get a copy of Clare's amazing book:
Home - Mostly Books (mostly-books.co.uk)
Oxfordshire Trefoil Guild
Tricia
Fiona Mac Celebrant
Jennifer & David Doran
The Kennedy Filers
Martin Leaver
Thank you to our recent Donors
Latest editorial in Abingdon's Round and About Magazine June 2025 on
"Good Grief" pg 8
Good Grief Article in Round and About June 2025 Abingdon
"Surviving Christmas when you have lost a loved one: Surviving Christmas when you've lost someone Round and About • Round & About Magazine
Did you know?
The inaugural meeting of the Abingdon Compassionate Café was held on 4th June 26 to agree a Group Constitution and elect officers for the committee.
Fiona thanked all the volunteer members and looks forward to the next chapter of the Café as a fully constituted community group
Latest News!
Check out our new Facebook Page for all the latest news on The Abingdon Compassionate Café
For more information contact Fiona at email fiona@fionamaccelebrant.co.uk
Latest News!
In the first 19 months, the café has been held 13 times, welcome over 90 visitors, enjoyed the help from 10 volunteers and managed to eat 16 home made cakes and numerous biscuits.
Did you know?