Charity receives boost from Government to support those bereaved from covid-19

Local Wiltshire and Bath charity playing vital role in Covid-19 response support

The UK’s largest bereavement charity, Cruse Bereavement Care, has received a much needed financial boost from the Department of Health and Social Care to help it respond to an increase in demand for its services due to the pandemic.

The charity, which has a local branch in Midsomer Norton, was awarded funding by the Government in June to provide additional support through its existing National Helpline to bereaved people affected by the pandemic. The funding has also allowed the charity to develop its existing infrastructure, including increasing the existing Helpline team through new recruitment, reallocation of staff and enrolment of existing, locally based Cruse Bereavement Volunteers; extending the opening hours of its Helpline; and creating a new webchat service. 

Since the pandemic began the local Cruse branch which covers Wiltshire and Bath has seen an increase in need for its services become more pressing with 302 calls and emails being handled by the branch from May to July and the average call time to the National Helpline increasing to 18 minutes in the last three months. In Bath and North Somerset there have been 92 Covid-19 related deaths since the pandemic first began back in March and in Wiltshire there have been 364.[2]

Sandra Elmer, Area Chair for Wiltshire and Bath at Cruse Bereavement Care said: “These are unique times for everyone and we are yet to see the full impact that the pandemic is having on the thousands of people across the UK who have been bereaved and the lasting impact this will have on their mental health. We know from experience how devastating any death can be but in the current circumstances people are facing some of the most challenging situations imaginable.

“The social distancing restrictions and limitations on funerals since March has meant that many of those left behind have been grieving in isolation, alone, unable to seek much needed comfort from friends and family, and on top of that – many will have been unable to say goodbye or attend the funeral. What we are seeing now with an increase in support given by our regional branches month on month, is that these people have just put their grief on hold but now is when this grief is starting to be realised.

“Our team here in Wiltshire and Bath is proud to be part of the national support network and pleased to be able to extend our National Helpline services to support those affected by this awful virus. In addition, our team of Bereavement Volunteers has also been supporting non Covid-19 related deaths so it really has been all hands-on deck to ensure that those who need it can access the necessary guidance and advice on dealing with grief and death. If you or anyone you know has suffered a bereavement, we urge you to get in touch with our Helpline for support as having someone to talk to can make all the difference.”

The training of the new volunteers has also allowed the charity to prepare if there is a second wave of the virus and the subsequent uptake in demand for its services in the coming winter months. If you would like to find out more about becoming a Cruse Bereavement Volunteer for the Wiltshire and Bath branch, please contact [email protected]

Nadine Dorries, Minister for Bereavement (Non-Financial) said: “The COVID-19 pandemic is shining a light on the invaluable assistance that bereavement support charities and organisations provide.

“Cruse has done an amazing job over the last 60 years in ensuring that people who have lost loved ones are supported in their time of need, and they continue to do so during this incredibly difficult time.

“I am delighted that this funding will help to ensure that Cruse can meet the increased demand.”

The current UK death toll sits at just over 41,777, meaning over 250,000 extra people are now grieving as a result of the coronavirus pandemic and since the start of June the charity has received more than 15,000 calls to its helpline supporting bereaved people.

Cruse Bereavement Care has been providing life-changing support to bereaved people across the UK for over 60 years. The services are provided by a network of 5,000 trained volunteers up and down the UK.