New 'bereavement buddy' scheme in Bodmin to help those who've lost loved ones
The project will allow bereaved adults to pair up with volunteers
A scheme in Bodmin is due to launch this month offering a 'Bereavement Buddy' and compassionate conversations for local people who've lost a loved one.
The project, run by intoBodmin, is looking to pair volunteers in the area with bereaved adults to give them emotional and practical support.
It will begin to run during February and March after the pandemic has increased demand for support for bereaved individuals.
Joan Lee, a bereavement practitioner from Bodmin who is leading the project, said: “This is a really important project for those in our community who have recently lost someone special from their lives or dearly miss a loved one.
"We recognise that people might not know where to turn for support to cope with bereavement, which is why we are working to develop this community-based project. It aims to support bereaved through the days when they struggle with grief or feeling alone.
“Sometimes simply talking to someone can help, and often people feel more comfortable talking freely to those who aren’t friends and family. That’s why we’re looking for volunteers to be part of the project and become ‘Bereavement Buddies.’”
The scheme is launching to provide some additional support to adults in the Bodmin area who are experiencing bereavement and will involve induction training and opportunities to gain skills and abilities or develop their confidence and knowledge.
They plan to make volunteers the first point of contact for people who are bereaved, whether they're in their early stages or have been experiencing it for a while.
The project also hopes to continue its research the support needs of people who are bereaved and give better help to them in the future by developing a survey for people to complete.
Joan told us: "We want to find out really what sort of things people might find helpful, moving forward with a view to then trying to develop more appropriate responses so that there's a greater range of opportunities, for people who are bereaved.
"We're coming at this from an awareness that some of the services that used to exist and some of the support activities have disappeared during the pandemic so people are finding there aren't enough activities or groups.
"During the past two years where we've had so much change, so much difficulty around all sorts of things around our lives coupled with an increasing sense of loss. The whole area of bereavement has really come to the fore again for services and individuals.
"It felt as if it would be a really valuable thing for us to be doing now as we come out of the pandemic".
The 'Bereavement Buddy' project are asking people to come forward as a 'project support' volunteer during February and March and are holding an open evening on Thursday 3rd February.
To find out more about the project or sign up as a volunteer you can contact intoBodmin at 01208 622169 or visit www.intobodmin.co.uk/bereavement-buddies