AN EVENT for mothers, fathers, siblings and extended family, DBV CIC (Damali Beautiful Vision) is set to host ‘a space of learning, sharing, compassion and empathy, this weekend.

Speaking with the Voice, founder and CEO Aisha Peters, explained why she will be sharing her offerings in relation to her navigation of sudden bereavement, following the sudden loss of her youngest daughter Damali Peters.

Her community interest company serves African, Caribbean, Afro-Caribbean, Asian and Mixed Heritage Global Majority families and individuals within London, the UK and the diaspora who are navigating their bereavement process.

She explained: “The idea to manifest DBV CIC came about as an expression from a family friend initially, who encouraged me to create a charity to support others who were and or are going through loss of a young child. 

“At first I didn’t believe that I was qualified to create a charity. What I mean is, I didn’t feel worthy of being put in a position to create something like a charity although I was living the actual experience of loss.”

She added: “As time went on during my navigation of healing my bereavement of my youngest daughter, I realised that I was actually looking for a particular type of support which allowed for me to be held in a safe space culturally and that allowed me to express the pain and hurt that I felt not only for loss but my sudden loss; however, nothing of this calibre seemed to exist in East London. 

“This is when I decided that I would create Damali Beautiful Vision CIC in honour of my daughter. And to name my community interest company would be some form of landmark to say that Damali Beautiful Vision CIC is not only a platform to look at bereavement as a whole, we are also looking at sudden bereavement from a cultural, compassionate and empathetic perspective too.”

Peters says the company holds ‘safe spaces for others who need support with compassion, empathy and unconditional positive regard.’

Providing insight into the types of services they provide she said: “The type of counselling services that Damali Beautiful Vision CIC offer are Person Centred Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Psychodynamic Therapy, Walk & Talk Therapy, Integrated Therapy, Cultural Therapy and Goal Focused Therapy. 

“The Counsellors that we have as part of our team have extensive experience in this field.

We also have Counsellors who are a part of our team who are lecturers in the field.

“I am a Counsellor in training at Level 2 and 3, and so it is with great intention that I have sought out some of the best within this field to support community members navigating sudden loss of a child with great care, due diligence and sensitivity.

Ensuring she can provide services to the highest standard, peters said: “It is very important that Damali Beautiful Vision CIC hires counsellors who are trained under the British Association of Counselling and Psychotherapy Framework. 

“And who are certified in their training levels. I am also training as a Counsellor. I make it my duty to welcome Counsellors who are certified and who are also experienced in this field of community work. Damali Beautiful Vision CIC has Counsellors as part of our team who are qualified.”

Looking ahead to this weekend’s event, Peters said she wanted to disrupt the process of bereavement.

“The workshops also came about as an additional resource to help to put a dent in relation to the impact that bereavement and sudden bereavement can have on community members where feelings of loneliness are concerned. 

“And I for one have experienced and felt loneliness in my navigation of sudden bereavement too.”

DBV CIC Talks Official Open Day! 
Funded by @tnlcommunityfund 
Day: Saturday March 9.
Time: 11am-5pm.
Venue: @redmondcommunitycentre
Entry is FREE!

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