Surrey and Hampshire bereavement charities receive funding to support victims of terrorism.

It will be used to help those affected by attacks both nationally or abroad.

Author: Carol MusgravePublished 13th Oct 2020

New funding is being provided to bereavement charities with branches in Surrey and Hampshire, to support victims of terrorism.

The Home Office says both Victim Support and Cruse Bereavement Care will get ÂŁ125,000 each so it can offer specialist advice to those affected by terrorist attacks - either in the UK or abroad.

The charities were two of four which successfully bid for the funding. The others are South London and Maudsley NHS Trust and the Peace Foundation.

Cruse Bereavement Care has branches in South West Surrey, Surrey North, South East Surrey and Epsom, Ewell and Mole Valley. Find contact numbers here https://www.cruse.org.uk/get-help/local-services

Cruse Bereavement also offers a Freephone national helpline on 0808 8081677.

A local team from Victim Support is available for Hampshire residents on 0808 1781641.

It also free live chat online for people in all areas, here: https://www.victimsupport.org.uk/help-and-support/get-help/support-near-you/live-chat

Victim Support will run a 24-hour assessment service which will ensure each person receives tailored help after being impacted by terrorism.

The funding has been described by the Home Office as "part of the Home Secretary’s efforts to improve support for victims of terrorism and follows a commitment to carry out a comprehensive internal review of the support available."

Home Secretary Priti Patel said she was "determined to make sure that victims of terrorism receive the support they deserve, as soon as they need it.

"This new funding is so important to provide more care and specialist advice to those up and down the country who have suffered trauma as a result of terrorism."

Chief Executive of Victim Support, Diana Fawcett, said she welcomed the funding, saying it "will enable us to further strengthen the range of specialist support services that we provide to survivors."

CEO of Cruse Bereavement Care, Steven Wibberley, described it as "a crucial step forward to recognise the complex needs of those affected by such traumatic events."

The Peace Foundation - a charity described as working "nationally and internationally for peace and non-violent conflict resolution" will also receive ÂŁ125,000 to help provide a long-term peer support network for victims - connecting them to others who have had similar experiences.