For many people, Christmas is a wonderful time with family get-togethers and seeing loved-ones.

But for some people, the build-up to the holiday festivities can be a difficult period.

Especially those who may have lost someone close to them.

Last week (December 1-8) was grief awareness week, with charities up and down the United Kingdom putting on events to raise awareness.

On Friday, Jo Lloyd, community connector for Pembrokeshire Association of Voluntary Services and Luke Conlon from Community Choice put on one of these events in Tenby, where people could talk about the difficult circumstances that they may be going through.

The group walked from the Tourist Information Centre to the Fuchsia Caffe and Caterers via Tenby’s North Beach where a hot drink was enjoyed by all.

Luke Conlon, compassionate community champion for Community Choice, said: “It’s a new thing in the UK (grief awareness week).

“The reason why we need the grief awareness week is that grief is something that we all encounter in life, there’s no escape from it.

“Sometimes the circumstances of the grief can be quite painful.

“Grief is lifelong, we live with the grief and we live with treasured memories of the people that we miss in our lives.

“Rather than ignoring them, we need to acknowledge their loss.”

The Good Grief Trust is the UK based charity that spearheaded grief awareness week.

It aims to help all those suffering grief in the UK and is run by the bereaved for the bereaved.

“They are encouraging groups, individuals and organisations around the UK to do something to put on an event to bring people together, so we can talk about grief,” explained Mr. Conlon.

“That’s the reason why we organised this event, to do something different, to invite people to come out for a short walk and we can talk and listen.”

As mentioned previously Christmas can be a difficult time for people up and down the UK.

Luke Conlon added: “When we experience somebody significant in our life who is suddenly gone, that brings on all sorts of emotional pain for us that we can’t sort out.

“That’s why they located the awareness week for this particular week.

“This is the time of year, where we feel more lonely, more isolated and that’s why they call November/December the thin veil month.”

Asked on what people could do to help get through grief, Mr. Conlon said: “The best way we can deal with this is to talk about it, because we know talking and listening is the best antidote for mental health.”