Grief shows itself all the time, not just during the obvious milestones and events, but the small everyday moments too. And one of those moments is during mealtime, when you go to sit at the table with your plate and notice an empty space where someone sat. A place at the table that was once filled, now left untouched. That feeling, that absence, is the heart of The Empty Chair campaign created by Sue Ryder.
It’s a campaign that shines a light on how deeply grief can affect people, long after the funeral has ended. Although the campaign first launched in 2022, its message remains just as relevant today. Grief hasn’t changed, loneliness after loss hasn’t disappeared and the need for kindness and practical support is still very real.
This blog explores what The Empty Chair Campaign is about, why it matters and how it can help us all show up better for the people we love.
What is ‘The Empty Chair’ Campaign?
The Empty Chair Campaign was created to highlight one simple but often overlooked truth: that mealtimes can be one of the hardest parts of grief.
To bring this to life, Sue Ryder installed a dining table surrounded by empty chairs in public spaces including Victoria Leeds shopping centre and later the House of Commons. Each empty chair represented someone who had died to tell the real story of a real loss.
The visual was incredibly powerful because it reflected something many grieving people experience privately, the experience of sitting down to eat and being faced with who isn’t there anymore. Cooking for one when you used to cook for two or eating in silence when laughter once filled the room.
It wasn’t a campaign created to shock people, but just recognise the pain and loneliness that comes with grief. It was also about helping the wider public understand that grief doesn’t just leave after the funeral, but that it’s always there, even in the seemingly significant everyday moments.
Why Are Mealtimes So Difficult After Loss?
Research carried out by Sue Ryder revealed just how deeply grief can affect daily routines. Half of people who had experienced a close bereavement said mealtimes reinforced feelings of loneliness and loss. Nearly three quarters said they skipped meals because they didn’t like eating alone, with many missing meals weekly.
Beyond the emotional impact, grief also changed people’s practical habits. Many people felt cooking for one wasn’t worth the effort and others found themselves relying on less nutritious meals or losing interest in food altogether.
This is proof that grief doesn’t just affect your heart, but your entire being including your energy, motivation and the ability to care for yourself in ways you might have done before.
What Does the Empty Chair Campaign Teach Us About Grief Support?
One of the most important insights from the campaign is that the support you can give doesn’t have to be complicated or in-depth to be meaningful.
The research showed that many grieving people would welcome simple gestures like being invited to someone else’s table or having someone join them for dinner every now and then. This isn’t to say that these invites will fix grief, but it certainly will help ease the loneliness that so commonly sits beside it.
Being “Grief Kind” also doesn’t involve knowing the perfect words or having all the answers. Instead, it focuses on continuing to offer support, even when invitations are declined. It also means understanding that plans might change at the last minute and staying patient and open when they do.
How Can You Support Someone Who is Grieving?
If you’re supporting someone through grief, mealtimes can be a steady place to start. You might want to begin by offering them a seat at your table so they can enjoy a home cooked meal they’ve not had to create alone with company.
You can also suggest cooking for them at their own house. This can be especially meaningful if the person that is grieving is struggling to leave their safe space. You could also cook together or even just get a takeaway and enjoy a light-hearted film or TV programme together.
The most important thing is that you offer support and let them lead the way.
How Sue Ryder Supports Grievers Beyond the Campaign
While The Empty Chair Campaign raised incredible awareness for grief, Sue Ryder’s work goes far beyond this.
They provide palliative and neurological care across the UK, alongside bereavement support for those navigating loss. Their services include professional counselling, online grief resources and an online bereavement community where people can share openly with others who understand.
Support is available whether someone is newly bereaved or carrying grief from years ago. And that continuity is vital because as much as we might like it to, grief doesn’t expire.
Sue Ryder & Inscripture
At Inscripture, we chose to partner with Sue Ryder because their values closely mirror our own. We also believe that grief should be handled with patience and honesty, and never with forced quick fixes or loneliness.
As a memorial jewellery company, we’ve been told by many customers how Sue Ryder supported them or their loved ones through some of the toughest experiences in life including illness, loss and bereavement. So, supporting their work, after all they’ve done for our customers, felt like the natural thing to do.
Our collaboration is rooted in the belief that grief support should be visible and accessible, whether that comes through professional services, shared communities or personalised memorial keepsakes that help people feel less alone.
