A volunteer is being sought by Bath & North East Somerset Council to lead a new support group in Bath to help people who have lost someone to suicide, in partnership with charity Cruse Bereavement Care.
The Council is working in partnership with Cruse Bereavement Care to set up a group with the national charity Survivors of Bereavement by Suicide (SOBS).
Currently the closest SOBS group is in Swindon, meaning that people from Bath and North East Somerset who are experiencing grief and trauma following the suicide of a family member, friend or colleague must travel many miles for support.
Organisers are therefore hoping to set up a local group soon and are looking for someone who has been bereaved in this way to help run it.
Councillor Vic Pritchard (Conservative, Chew Valley South), Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care & Health, said: “Access to support is vital for those who are bereaved by suicide but often it is hard to come by.
“People can feel very isolated but Survivors of Bereavement by Suicide can help them to talk openly with others in similar situations about long and wide reaching impact of suicide such as financial worries and the reaction of others.
“It provides a place where they can build relationships with others and share their true feelings and fears.
“As a Council we are pleased to be working together with these excellent charities to help set up a group in our area and I urge anyone who is interested in helping to run the group to get in touch.”
Sandra Elmer, a Cruse Bereavement Care volunteer, said: “We have secured a location in central Bath and we are really keen to get this group up and running. All we need is a group leader.
“This needs to be someone who was bereaved by suicide themselves at least two years ago and is willing to give up a couple of hours a month to help others in the same situation.
“SOBS provide training and support for their volunteers and we are also there to help. We hope anyone who feels they could help will contact us for further information.”
Jacky Parry, co-ordinator of SOBS in Swindon, said: “I understand how it feels to lose someone as a result of suicide. My brother took his own life and the impact on my family and I was overwhelming.
“After two years I took on the lead for a Swindon SOBS group to help people like me. We meet once a month and often have members from Bath who have to drive all the way over to us to be a part of a group.
“It would be great for them and others in Bath & North East Somerset if there were a more local group.”
If you are interested in finding more about being a SOBS group leader, contact the Bath Cruse Bereavement Care office on 01761 417250.
Office hours are between 10am and 1pm but a voicemail service is available outside of these hours.
Once a leader has been appointed, details for the group will be finalised and shared to anyone who would like to attend the group.
For further information about SOBS, visit www.uk-sobs.org.uk.
