HUGE FUNDING BOOST FOR BEREAVEMENT SUPPORT GROUPS

A High Peak charity has been awarded £377,155 from the National Lottery Community Fund to run its “amazing” Bereavement Support Groups for another four years.

High Peak CVS Bereavement Service is managed by Senior Development Worker Liz Fletcher who told The Review of her delight: “We’re feeling quite special that we have the funding to continue this fabulous service for a further four years.”

The service was set up five years ago in response to a service need locally with the first group taking place in Glossop: “At that time”, Liz continued, “we talked to the NHS, Police, Social Services, and funeral companies, but most importantly with bereaved people who told us they wanted to talk to others in a similar position and in a shared, safe space.”

“So, learning from and responding to that need, we created safe and supportive therapeutic bereavement support groups for adults with significant loss. Our groups in Glossop, the Hope Valley, Buxton, and two in Chapel-en-le-Frith – (run in partnership with Blythe House Hospice) - are accessible, inclusive, professionally facilitated and grief-focussed.

“Bereaved people meet together where their grief can ‘feel more normal’ and they can express their feelings in a safe and confidential space. People support each other during the enormous life change - often the biggest life change - brought about by significant loss,” Liz added.

Apart from one group in Chapel which meets in the evening, all the groups meet during the day. Most attendees have lost a spouse/partner, although the service is for any adult aged 18 or over who has experienced significant loss, whether it’s an expected or unexpected loss of a loved one.

Thanks for the lottery funding, High Peak CVS will recruit another full-time Bereavement support worker, and to set up two more support groups in the High Peak - locations to be confirmed.

An independent evaluation of the Bereavement Support Service in 2022 was glowing in its praise. Report author Kerrie Fletcher said: “The innovative service is highly successful, effective, and offers valuable learning. It makes a tangible positive difference to the wellbeing, social connection, and self-care of users, supporting them in grief work and transition to the next phase of their lives. It offers a safe space where those suffering from bereavement can express their loss, gain insight into their grieving and find fellowship and support from their peers.”

There were very high levels of satisfaction (between 90%-100%) from service users. Comments included: ‘The support I was given was amazing and without it I don’t know how I would have got to where I am now,” and ‘they understood me, so I was not abandoned along in my grief. It was so hard to access any sort of support during lockdown. You helped and listened which is so important yet so rare.’

Article by John Pasiecznik: High Peak Review Reporter

Liz is helped in the meetings by trained volunteers. To refer someone to the Bereavement Service or to self-refer, phone 01663 735350 option 3 or email bereavement@highpeakcvs. org.uk There’s more information on the website www.highpeakcvs.org.uk or follow them on Facebook www.facebook.com/highpeak.cvs or Twitter: @HPCVS