Recognising the people supporting life after loss
Volunteers’ Week shines a light on the power of volunteers across Northern Ireland

Cruse Bereavement Support is one of the many organisations that will celebrate the hard work and commitment of its volunteers across Northern Ireland throughout the next month.

In the run up to the 40th Volunteers’ Week (3^rd – 9^th June), led by Volunteer Now, people who give their time in communities across Northern Ireland are being brought into the spotlight so their dedication and selflessness can be recognised.  Dozens of celebratory events and activities will take place across Northern Ireland to give well deserved appreciation to volunteers.

Cruse provides bereavement support across seven different branches in Northern Ireland and relies heavily on volunteers to help it deliver its specialist services to individuals, groups and communities dealing with grief.

Cruse volunteers undertake a thorough training programme in the areas of grief support, safeguarding, self-care and skills for working in-person and online or over the phone.  As they become more experienced, volunteers are offered the opportunity to further develop their skills and knowledge in to support those with traumatic or complex losses.  Like Volunteers’ Week, Cruse is also marking its 40^th anniversary this year.

“We have an incredible group of around 200 volunteers in Northern Ireland who give their time to help people during potentially the worst time of their lives,” said Pauline Matthews of Cruse.

“Often when people think of bereavement counselling, they think everything is centred around death and dying and perhaps volunteering in that area may not be for them.  In fact, our services are about life.  We help people work out how to keep living after loss.  We get continual feedback about how rewarding the volunteering experience is.”

Whilst volunteer numbers have grown for Cruse in recent years, the organisation needs more volunteers to help it reach more people in need.  There is a specific need for volunteers and host organisations for counselling space in the Mid Ulster area.

“We want to see Cruse expanding as we look to the next 40 years and beyond.  The more volunteers we have, the faster we can help people who need our services.  We are keen to hear from volunteers with a diverse range of life experience.  We have projects working with children & young people, trauma and communities, prisons and community groupwork alongside our individual support services.  We would also love to work with local businesses or organisations who could help us with space to deliver our services in communities.

“We’ll be giving a huge thank you to our volunteers during Volunteers’ Week – without them, we simply couldn’t reach the people who need our help,” Pauline Matthews said.

Volunteer Now has worked with Cruse for several years, providing training and support on how to manage and motivate its volunteer workforce.

Raquel Rodrigues Keenan, Volunteering Development Officer with Volunteer Now comments: “Cruse provides a lifeline for people living with bereavement.  It is a service that people in every community here will need at some point in their lives.

“As we approach Volunteers’ Week, we hope to showcase the many ways that volunteers change lives in Northern Ireland, like the many people who have received support from Cruse.  In doing so, our aim is to inspire others to give their time, in any way they can.”

To find out more about Volunteers’ Week and how to get involved, visit www.volunteersweek.org and for information on Cruse Bereavement Support, visit www.cruse.org.uk.