After spending over a decade helping families have difficult conversations around death and breast cancer with their young children, Elke’s focus is now firmly on sharing her joy of living, as she continues to inspire others with her stories and creativity.
Let her take you into her playful world of Tiny Star Stories: little glass bottles filled not just with tiny hand-folded origami stars, but also with meaning: each one represents, with clever simplicity, a different thought, saying or story. Her book “Remember to look for the Glimmers” will gently guide you towards focusing on all that is good in your life, while “Be Like Seaweed” can teach you the power of anchoring yourself in the present during challenging times.
But there are, of course, silly things to look out for as well: her “Animal A-Z” book, alphabet postcards and Tiny Paper Star Folding Instruction booklets, to name but a few.
Upcoming Talk:
- 15th February 2026, 11:15am – 11:45am: “Elke Thompson’s Tiny Star Stories” at the Artists’ Bookmarket, Fruitmarket Gallery, Edinburgh, UK. Find out more and get your FREE tickets here: Fruitmarket Gallery, Edinburgh
“What an extraordinary woman on an important mission.”
– Cruse Scotland Volunteer
I was blown away with how bravely and elegantly she told her family’s story.
Elke’s talk exceeded all our hopes and expectations in so many ways.
EGG Podcast “Episode 29 – with Elke Thompson” on Spreaker.
Talks:
2026
- 15th February 2026, 11:15am – 11:45am: “Elke Thompson’s Tiny Star Stories” at the Artists’ Bookmarket, Fruitmarket Gallery, Edinburgh, UK. Find out more and get your FREE tickets here: Fruitmarket Gallery, Edinburgh
2024
- 5th October 2024 – UYM Speaker Event, Karlsruhe, Germany
- 4th May 2024 – UYM Speaker Event, Leipzig, Germany
2023
- 7th October 2023 – UYM Speaker Event, Karlruhe, Germany
- 20th May 2023 – UYM Speaker Event, Leipzig, Germany
2022
- 8th October 2022 – UYM Speaker Event, Amplifier Berlin, Germany
- 10th September 2022 – WAY Widowed & Young AGM, Glasgow, UK
- 2nd April 2022 – UYM ONLINE Speaker Event, Cologne, Germany
View it here (in German)2021
- 11th December 2021 – UYM Speaker Event, Schloss Eulenbroich near Cologne, Germany – virtual talk due to Coronavirus restrictions
2020
- 22nd February 2020 – BACP – British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy, Children, Young People and Families Conference, London, UK
2019
- 22nd November 2019 – Simon Says Bereavement Conference, Southampton, UK
- 30th October 2019 – Remote presentation on behalf of the Highland Hospice via Zoom
- 28th January 2019 – Aschendorff Verlag, Funeral Director’s Meeting, Münster, Germany
2018
- 19th June 2018 – William Purves Funeral Directors’ Annual Staff Training Event, Edinburgh, UK
2017
- 4th November 2017 – Cruse Scotland Volunteer Conference, Perth, Scotland, UK
- 11th May 2017 – Crocus Group, Inverness, Scotland, UK
- 16th March 2017 – MBM Commercial LLP’s Fundraising Evening for Richmond’s Hope, Edinburgh, Scotland, UK
2016
- 18th November 2016 – Irish Childhood Bereavement Network Conference, Dublin, Ireland
- 16th November 2016 – Mosaic Conference ‘Grief – A Child’s Journey’, Dorset, UK
- 21st October 2016 – Staffordshire Children and Families Bereavement Alliance conference “Supporting Grieving Children”, Stafford, UK
- 4th October 2016 – Grampian Child Bereavement Network Conference, Aberdeen, UK
2015
- 18th November 2015 – CHUMS Child Bereavement & Trauma Service – Workshop for Professionals Working with the Under Fives, Bedfordshire, UK
- 4th March 2015 – CBUK (Child Bereavement UK) Conference, Edinburgh, UK
2014
- 23rd May 2014 – TEDxMünster, Münster, Germany
Watch it here- 8th March 2014 – WAY (Widowed and Young) AGM, Peterborough, UK
Elke’s presentation touched me deeply – beautifully delivered with a huge emotional impact.
Published on Sep 2, 2019