New bereavement support partnership coming to Sussex
The Co-op has teamed up with Cruse Bereavement Support to help people talk openly about grief
The Co-op has launched a new partnership with a bereavement charity, aiming to get more people talking openly about grief and death.
The partnership with Cruse Bereavement Support follows research showing a third of adults that have experienced loss have admitted to not mentioning it to friends and family.
And one in eight people surveyed said they've actually avoided people experiencing loss because they don't know what to say.
Tracey Harriman is a Funeral Service Arrange from Littlehampton and Cruse volunteer.
She said: "When people say to us 'how are you feeling?' we automatically say 'oh I'm fine thanks, how are you?' when actually we could be going through something devastating inside.
"It's almost as if though we feel that we need permission to talk about our grief, and it shouldn't be like that, it should be natural.
"If you're having a bad day it's ok to say so. It's ok to say 'it's been six months since my dad passed away and I'm really struggling at the minute'. There's all sorts of things that can spark grief.
"As much as I would like to say there is a great way to prepare for grief, I don't think there is. If you knew the exact time and date that someone is going to pass away, it would still be a shock."
Later this year, the partnership will roll out on-the-ground bereavement support projects across the country.
Cruse will work with local communities to offer face-to-face workshops on how people can help support those around them that are struggling with grief and know when to signpost to more formal support.