Bereavement hubs launched by Compton Care
Community hubs to support grieving residents battle through their loss have finally launched in the region.
The bereavement information hubs will offer families a safe haven where they will be offered support to come to terms with their loss.
It comes after the team at Compton Care discovered there was a lack of support available to families in need.
Compton Care partnership development manager Marianne Grant said: “At Compton Care we recognise the importance of working with our communities and developing new initiatives to help people access information and support in their community.
"The idea for creating bereavement information hubs were identified due to the limited resources available to people in Wolverhampton and South Staffordshire.
“Our new partnership and collaboration with Cruse Bereavement Care has enabled us to create an initiative that encourages people to come together and share experiences in a welcoming and friendly environment."
The initiative launched after Compton Care's compassionate communities team joined together with national charity Cruse Bereavement Care.
Monthly drop-in sessions will be held at Bilston People’s Centre, Perton Library and Wolverhampton's Gloucester Street Community Centre.
Volunteers will lead the support within the trio of hubs, offering an 'informal and friendly' place to talk with other bereaved residents.
Ms Grant said: "The aim is to encourage the creation of support networks, which are run and owned by the community members themselves.
“Funding from The Masonic Foundation Trust has allowed us to set up hubs across three different communities for people to meet others who have been affected and find out more information about other local services."
The hubs were made possible thanks to a grant of £16,665 gifted to Compton Care by Staffordshire Freemasons.
The Masonic Charitable Foundation is also providing £163,000 to national charity Hospice UK, in a pilot partnership aimed at developing bereavement support services in hospices across the country.
Additional funding for the project was also donated by The Roger and Douglas Turner Charitable Trust.
It is hoped further hubs will be set up by communities wanting to offer more support to their neighbours during crisis.
Cruse operations manager Nicola Dias added: “Cruse Bereavement Care are delighted to be working in partnership with Compton Care supporting bereaved people and their families in Wolverhampton and South Staffordshire.”
The bereavement information hubs will be in Bilston on the last Wednesday of each month, from 10am until noon, as well as at Gloucester Street Community Centre on the second Wednesday of every month at the same times.
Perton Library will also host a hub on the second Friday of every month, between 2pm and 4pm.
