Tag: support

Ryde funeralcare offers residents free bereavement support

Posted on by ashleymarsh

Residents in Ryde, who have experienced grief, are being encouraged to drop in to a local monthly bereavement support wellbeing group.

The free group is led by an experienced bereavement co-ordinator from Bereavement Care – a support service offered by the Island’s The Co-operative Funeralcare branches, including Ryde.

Anyone who has experienced loss is invited to join, regardless of whether they have used services offered by the branches which are part of the regional independent co-operative, Southern Co-op.

Alex Morley​, who looks after the Isle of Wight branches of The Co-operative Funeralcare, said: “Loss and grief affects us all at one time or another. We know how important support is to help us through this – whether that is soon after a loved one passes or years down the line.

“It was more than 20 years ago the Southern Co-op first introduced free bereavement support so it is really special that we can still offer it to people today.”

The next free bereavement wellbeing support group in Ryde takes place on Friday 13 October at Elim Church, 48 Albert Street, Ryde, PO33 2SB, from 10am to 12pm. They usually take place on the 2nd Friday of every month.

Lesley Hadley, Bereavement Coordinator at Bereavement Care, said: “The drop-in well-being support group offers a relaxed and non-judgmental environment where participants can openly express their feelings, share their stories, and find comfort through mutual support.

“It is a place where individuals can meet others who truly understand what they are going through, fostering a sense of community during a difficult time.”

To find out more or to explore other bereavement support available, visit https://bereavementcare.uk/.

Drop-in sessions to support those affected by suicide

Posted on by ashleymarsh

Our local bereavement support team is hosting free virtual drop-in sessions to provide a safe space for individuals impacted by suicide.

With World Suicide Prevention Day being marked on Sunday, Bereavement Care is hosting two sessions on Monday 11 September at 12pm and 6pm, each lasting one hour.

Bereavement Care team can provide free ongoing support for anyone who has experienced loss, regardless of whether they have used services offered by Southern Co-op and its Co-operative Funeralcare branches.

To read more, visit https://bereavementcare.uk/virtual-drop-in-sessions-to-support-those-affected-by-suicide/

National bereaved parents day honoured with memorial services and a charitable donation

Posted on by ashleymarsh

To mark the significance of a national day to support grieving parents, Southern Co-op is holding four separate memorial services as well as donating 100 support boxes for newly bereaved parents.

In conjunction with National Bereaved Parents Day, Southern Co-op will be hosting memorial services on Monday 3 July at 6.30pm to provide support for anyone who has suffered the loss of a child.

These services will be held at The Oaks Havant Crematorium, East Devon Crematorium, Hinton Park Woodland Burial Ground and Funeral Directors, and Mayfields Woodland Burial Ground. The services will be followed by light refreshments.

For those unable to attend in person, the memorial services will also be live-streamed to ensure that individuals across the region can participate and find comfort in the shared experience of remembrance and support.

Holly Bramble​, Southern Co-op’s Community Lead, said: “National Bereaved Parents Day was set up in 2020 by a small charity called A Child of Mine as the founders wanted to bring together anyone affected by the loss of a child to show them that they are not alone.

“It is the charity’s 10th anniversary this year so we wanted to mark this special occasion by supporting their work with an £8,000 donation which will pay for 100 Butterfly Boxes.

“The Butterfly Boxes are a small gesture, but we are certain they will have a positive impact on bereaved parents.”

The Butterfly Boxes offer practical support and solace to newly bereaved parents, and include items such as a teddy bear, calming candle, tissues, healing crystals, mindfulness book, journal and pen, bereavement book tailored to the family’s loss, a pink/blue heart, and a bereaved parent’s pin badge.

National Bereaved Parents Day will take place on Monday 3rd July to raise awareness for all parents who have lost a child of any age, and from any circumstance. This year’s theme is ‘you are not alone’.

Gayle Routledge, Founder and Chief Executive of A Child of Mine, said: “What can I say. We are absolutely delighted that Southern Co-op is supporting our Butterfly boxes. This donation will make a huge difference to our families in their time of need and will give them some practical resources to help them through their grief. We are so grateful to Southern Co-op for supporting A Child of Mine; as a tiny charity we rely totally on the generosity of the community and this donation really will make a huge impact. Thank you so much!”

As part of Bereaved Parents Day, the charity is encouraging people to light a candle at 7pm which Southern Co-op’s branches of The Co-operative Funeralcare will be joining in with by having candles (battery operated) shining in their windows throughout July.

For more information on the memorial services or book your place, contact the individual venue which can be found at https://southern.coop/store-locator. Or for more information contact Southern Co-op’s free Bereavement Care team on 08081 691922 or via https://bereavementcare.uk/.

Regulations and funeral plans: What is the point?

Posted on by ashleymarsh

My name is Olivia Clinton, and I am here at Southern Co-op’s head office alongside my peers, Emma and Lexie for work experience as part of my T Level course with HSDC.

On Wednesday the 30th of November I found out more about funeral planning and the reason behind its new regulations.

I spoke to Linda Uwawuike about her role and responsibilities within the business. Linda is the Funeral Planning and Administration Manager and has been with the business since the beginning of May. Although she is quite new to the role, her background is in banking and finance for over 30 years, giving her lots of experience dealing with the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) which started regulating pre-paid funeral plans on 29 July.

The FCA is there to protect the consumer to make sure that every aspect of the business benefits the consumer and raises standards. Linda mentioned that there can be some strict rules within this, for example, managing vulnerability and certain types of payments. From Linda and Southern Co-op’s point of view, it is about making sure that they do the right thing by the customer, customer duty and how they put their clients at the heart and soul of everything they do, everything is done to protect them, whilst still running the business efficiently. Linda said: “It is important to be transparent and honest.”

There may also be people looking for a funeral plan who are vulnerable. Linda explained: “You need to be calm and factual, offer sympathy and be empathetic.” For clients that are considered vulnerable, there is then a model the team follows to make sure they are protected and to ensure everything is dealt with appropriately. This includes ‘thanking’ them for telling us what the health issue or other vulnerability is, ‘explaining’ that this will be written in their notes, asking for ‘explicit’ consent to do this, ‘asking’ any questions surrounding the vulnerability, and ‘signposting’ the client to where they could get support.

When people say the word ‘funeral’, this is often linked to sadness and grief but, within her role, Linda can help people prepare for their funeral. By discussing what they want for their funeral, it can help your loved ones in the future at a time which is much more emotional.

Linda highly recommends that, if you haven’t thought about it, look at planning a funeral. She said: “You can enjoy the rest of your life knowing you’ve created a funeral best fit for you or the person you’re doing it for.”

Window displays mark importance of Remembrance Day

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Co-operative colleagues across the south of England are marking Remembrance Day with special displays in their windows.

Southern Co-op’s funeralcare branches, crematoria and burial sites, have created colourful displays with an important message of remembrance.

Remembrance Day 2022 sees the Royal British Legion remembering and commemorating military and civilian service, and the 40th anniversary of the Falklands conflict.

Southern Co-op, the regional, independent co-operative, will be making a donation of £500 to the Royal British Legion to mark the important date.

Cathy Houghton, Funeral and Memorial Consultant at The Co-operative Funeralcare in Rowner, said: “I get a sense of pride when it comes to Remembrance Sunday. My dad, Patrick Divers, served with the Royal Marines Commandos during the Second World War and fought in the Dieppe Raid where 275 commandos lost their lives.

“Luckily my dad survived but sadly died when I was a child. I suppose my dad inspired me to join the forces at age 18 and I was proudly part of the Remembrance parade at Whitehall in 1989 representing the Women’s Royal Naval Service.

“Remembrance Sunday is important to me to remember those who gave up their lives for us… and to especially remember my dear dad.”

Southern Co-op’s colleagues will be marking the important day with a minute’s silence including at its local retail stores.

To find your nearest Southern Co-op funeral branch, visit www.funeralcare.co.uk/our-funeral-directors/location-map/.

Free online support for National Bereaved Parents Month

Posted on by ashleymarsh

Two online support groups are being held in July – National Bereaved Parents Month – to give extra help to those affected by the loss of a child.

Being held by Bereavement Care, in association with Southern Co-op and its local funeralcare branches, the support groups are for anyone who has experienced the loss of a child, regardless of age or circumstance.

National Bereaved Parents Day was set up in 2020 by the charity A Child of Mine as it wanted to bring together anyone affected by the loss of a child to show them that they are not alone.

As well as the support groups, Southern Co-op will be donating £1,000 to the charity to make sure bereaved parents and families get access to invaluable emotional and practical support.

Ali Davison, Bereavement Coordinator at Bereavement Care, said: “Our team works with people everyday to help them through some of the darkest days of their lives. So we know how incredibly important it is to have a safe, confidential environment, with others that may understand what they are going through, coupled with the support from our Bereavement Coordinators.

“We are mindful that the awareness month is likely to evoke a lot of emotions and we want to make sure we have resource in place to support these parents.”

The free Bereavement Care service is offered by Southern Co-op to everyone in its local communities – regardless of whether they have used its services. To find your nearest Southern Co-op funeral branch, visit www.funeralcare.co.uk/our-funeral-directors/location-map/.

The free service is designed to help and support people struggling to deal with bereavement.

The two online support groups will take place on Wednesday 13 July from 3pm to 4pm and Wednesday 20 July from 10am to 11am.

Links can be found via Bereavement Care’s Facebook page or by emailing info@bereavementcare.uk.

For more information on Bereavement Care and the help available, visit https://bereavementcare.uk/ or call 08081 691922.

Co-operative community and care services expand to High Wycombe

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A free bereavement care service is now available in High Wycombe after one of the town’s funeral branches became part of an independent, regional co-operative.

The Bereavement Care service is offered by Southern Co-op to everyone in its local communities – regardless of whether they have used its services.

The free service is designed to help and support people struggling to deal with bereavement.

Since The Co-operative Funeralcare in Dashwood Avenue became part of Southern Co-op, the branch has also been fully refurbished.

Cared for by Funeral Co-ordinator Joanne Hoskins, the branch is now complete with a welcoming entrance area, a peaceful arrangement room and a calming reflection room.

Steve Pearce, Southern Co-op’s Chief Operating Officer for End of Life Services, said: “Since we welcomed the High Wycombe branch and colleagues into our family, we have been privileged to experience the high level of care which they offer local families and loved ones.

“It’s therefore a pleasure to be able to expand this personalised support and care through our Bereavement Care service as well as our community programme which is a mix of colleague volunteering, goods donations and funding possibilities.”

Via its Love Your Neighbourhood programme, Southern Co-op is committed to building a culture of neighbourliness, inspiring colleagues, members and customers to be community minded every day.

As well as colleague volunteering and goods donations, local causes can currently apply for funding of up to £500. The local funding is available for local causes which are working to create greener, healthier, safer and more inclusive neighbourhoods.

Funeral Co-ordinator Joanne, who lives locally in a small village just outside High Wycombe, said: “Having previously worked at the Beaconsfield branch before moving to High Wycombe in 2020, I recognise how important it is ensure someone’s final journey is personal and one to remember. It is all about the families we serve.

“As a 54-year-old mum of four and a loving nanny to my two wonderful grandchildren, I take great pride in my work and looking after my families is such a privilege.

“I treat their family member how I would expect my loved ones to be treated with respect, love and compassion.”

To find out more about Bereavement Care, visit www.bereavementcare.uk.

Young people get a step up on the co-operative career ladder

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As the number of young people in employment remains below pre-pandemic levels*, a regional co-operative is working to kickstart youth employment in its stores, head office and funeral branches.

Southern Co-op is preparing to welcome its third cohort of Kickstarters at the beginning of September – a Government scheme for 16 to 24 year olds on Universal Credit who are at risk of long-term unemployment.

The latest joiners will take the number of people on Kickstart placements to nearly 40.

The placements are spread across Southern Co-op’s head office in Portsmouth and The Co-operative Food and Funeralcare locations in Addlestone, Banstead, Bristol, Camberley, Havant, Lake on the Isle of Wight, Newbury, Overton, Portsmouth, Romsey, Basingstoke, Southampton, Staines, Tadley and Wimbledon.

Sarah Kavanagh, Business Transformation & HR Director at Southern Co-op, said: “Unemployment has been higher in younger age groups for some time and unfortunately this has been exacerbated by the pandemic. It is clear to us that they need additional help now to get back into work or to take the first step toward full time employment.

“The Kickstart Scheme means we look for people aged 16 to 24, with the right attitude, and give them the opportunity to learn new skills whilst being paid.

“We expected it to take a bit of time for some to find their feet and get into the routine of work but, after about three weeks, we have been getting some great feedback. One manager described their new starter as ‘100% amazing’, ‘flexible, keen and willing to try anything’.”

The Kickstart Scheme placements are funded by the Government for 25 hours per week for six months and referrals are made on to the scheme via local Jobcentres.

The job placements provide opportunities to young people who may have been overlooked before due to lack of experience.

In order to help them gain as many skills as possible, Southern Co-op’s programme is also giving young adults a chance to gain a Level One Certificate in Employability Skills which is being run by Havant & South Downs College.

People interested in a Kickstart placement should speak to their local Jobcentre. For other vacancies at Southern Co-op, visit https://www.southernco-opjobs.co.uk/jobs/.

*Youth Unemployment Statistics, 15 July 2021: https://researchbriefings.files.parliament.uk/documents/SN05871/SN05871.pdf

Gratitude for Adur hub is demonstrated through donations

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Hundreds of everyday essentials have been donated to a Shoreham hub – including nearly 500 rolls of toilet paper – to say thank you for making a difference to Adur residents’ lives.

The weekend delivery to The Gateway Hub in Shoreham included £1,100 worth of food, household products, baby essentials and personal care goods donated from a Southern Co-op funeral care branch.

Shoreham Funeral Co-ordinator Gill Flowers, who arranged the donation, also got to help with an urgent delivery to a family needing baby powder and nappies on her way home.

The donation from The Co-operative Funeralcare with Caring Lady Funeral Directors in Shoreham, will go to help local residents in the Adur community affected by the pandemic.

Debs Stainforth, Co-Chairman at The Gateway Hub, said: “At the start of the pandemic our community pulled together to co-ordinate mutual aid – neighbours helping neighbours. We were then given a space by Shoreham Academy – The Gateway Hub and we are here for everyone in the Adur community who needs support.

“As a community group we rely on people’s donations – and the massive donation of food from Southern Co-op this weekend will make so much difference to people whose income has been affected, jobs lost, pay cut, or having a child and not working due to Covid.

“We have a lot of families and older people who are down to their last tin of beans and are very anxious about food and warmth this cold winter.”

The Gateway Hub helps with food, holiday lunches, kids’ clothes and uniform, befriending isolated people, baby needs, referrals to the Citizens Advice Bureaux, housing help, shopping and prescriptions.

The hub is appealing for help with funding donations which will enable them to buy grocery vouchers and put money on people’s gas and electricity meters.

Gill Flowers said: “We helped to unload hundreds of items at the weekend as well as several bags filled with goods from our sister retail store – The Co-operative Food in Western Road, Hove.

“The pandemic has had such an awful impact on us all in one way or another. It was a really awesome opportunity to see first hand how we have helped our local community and it’s so lovely to be able to help in such a practical way. With this being such a small individual cause it will make such a big difference to our local community.”

The donation was made as part of the regional co-operative’s ‘Love Your Neighbourhood’ programme which aims to create greener, safer, healthier or more inclusive neighbourhoods.

To find out more about Southern Co-op and Love Your Neighbourhood, visit www.thesouthernco-operative.co.uk/love-your-neighbourhood/.

Help for the homeless this winter

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Goods that many people take for granted have started the New Year with a smile as they were bundled up ready for Christmas and gifted to residents at a Brighton homeless hostel.

Currently housing 48 men, Glenwood Lodge was given £500 worth of donations from local funeralcare colleagues to give to its residents to open on the special day.

With 2020 proving a difficult year for many charities and local causes, colleagues at Glenwood Lodge appealed for help from The Co-operative Funeralcare with Caring Lady Funeral Directors.

Last year the six funeral branches which are part of Southern Co-op donated a range of gifts including gloves, socks and shower gel to the homeless hostel in the Grand Parade.

Laura Cullen, Sector Operations Manager for Southern Co-op, said: “Last year I remember there was a particularly cold day before Christmas which prompted us to get in touch with several charities in the area to offer support.

“This year has been even more challenging so we didn’t hesitate in gifting what we could to help.

“Thanks to my colleagues in Brighton, Goring, Hove, Peacehaven, Shoreham and Worthing, who are all glad these gifts brought a few smiles on Christmas Day.”

The gifts to the hostel included duvet sets, dinner sets, toasters, kettles, pillows and cutlery.

Darren Rusbridge, Deputy Manager for the Hospital and Homeless Team at Brighton & Hove City Council, said: “The generosity of Southern Co-op really helped us achieve a good Christmas for our vulnerable residents this year. The items donated have certainly helped our residents make their stay at Glenwood more comfortable and welcoming during what has been a difficult year for everyone.

“Our residents were extremely grateful for the gifts of bedding and kitchen equipment as the items are not easy to purchase on a low income. Thanks again from all at Glenwood Lodge.”

To find out more about Southern Co-op’s commitment to its communities, visit www.thesouthernco-operative.co.uk/love-your-neighbourhood.