Double celebration for Bournemouth and Christchurch -
30 years for the Branch and 50 years for Cruse as an organisation

More than 30 past and present Cruse volunteers met at the Moordown Community Centre on Saturday 21 March to mark 30 years of work in the community for a national charity which supports all those who have lost someone by death.

The volunteers from the Bournemouth, Poole and Christchurch branch heard how Joan Byrt, the former branch co-ordinator for over 25 years, began, with very limited facilities, to listen to and advise recently bereaved people.

Sue Oliver, the current chairperson, then illustrated how the range of services provided by the local branch and Cruse nationally has grown considerably. In 2008, the branch had 29 specially trained volunteers who had provided over 4770 hours of support and had helped 148 new clients with their bereavements. There is always a specially trained volunteer available to answer calls received on the dedicated phone line 01202 302000.

During 2008, almost 350 bereaved people made telephone contact and a further 120 calls were received from other agencies on behalf of the bereaved.

Following the initial telephone call, the trained volunteers are able to provide one-to-one support at the Boscombe Help Centre which is open one day a week. Some of the bereaved take advantage of the home visiting support service and many benefit from the social friendship group which meets monthly on Sunday afternoons.

Bereaved children and young people can be visited at home or at their school whichever is best for the child. In addition, the branch provides training, education and information to support volunteers.

In the photograph are:
Joan Byrt (left), former branch co-ordinator for over 25 years cutting the celebration cake with Sue Oliver, the current chairperson.