See report and pictures from the Golden Jubilee Royal Reception

Cheltenham Cruse wins Volunteer Team of the Year Award 2009
The group was presented with a certificate and  a cheque for £250 on October 21 through the Alderman Charles Foster Memorial Awards and the Cheltenham Voluntary and Community Action Centre.

Some of the team is also being entertained in the Mayor's parlour in a couple of weeks' time.

They are delighted, and the award comes in a busy week with a 50th Birthday Concert in Gloucester Cathedral on 23 October, performed by the St Cecilia Singers.

Vanessa Hannam on her own experiences of bereavement
Lady Hannam, Cruse Trustee, talks about her own experiences of bereavement and the work Cruse does in the Mail on Sunday YOU magazine, 25 October 2009

A NEW SERVICE FOR BEREAVED CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE
"We launched our Children and Young People's Service on Tuesday 6th October here at Greenwich Cruse," says branch manager Philip Clarkstone.

"Nearly fifty guests attended including Clive Efford MP, the writer Blake Morrison (our Branch Patron and author of various books including And When Did You Last See Your Father?), Andrew O'Sullivan, Head of Childrens Services for the London Borough of Greenwich, representatives from the Demelza Hospice Bereavement Support team, The Westcombe Society who have provided substantial funding, and the Greenwich PCT Children's Services team." Read more about it here.

Pictured in the photo from the launch, from left to right, are Clive Efford MP, Professor Blake Morrison, Dr Tina Challacombe (Chair) and Phil Clarkstone (manager).

EVERY BEREAVED CHILD MATTERS
The Every Bereaved Child Matters Project is a new and exciting development within Cruse that will create many new volunteers to work with many more young people in more locations across the country, as well as training others to understand problems that may be encountered by bereaved children. You can read more about this project by clicking here.

A VERY SPECIAL MEDAL IN RECOGNITION OF JOYCE AND HER WORK WITH CRUSE
The League of Mercy Foundation awards one of its rare and precious honours to Joyce Rimmer, a Cruse Volunteer with Birmingham for the past 35 years.

Joyce Rimmer MBE, Chair of West Midlands Cruse, has been awarded the League of Mercy Award for Volunteers, 2009.  Only one honour is given each year, and Joyce was decorated with the prestigious medal at Mansion House in July recognition of her dedication and hard work for Cruse Bereavement Care.

The League of Mercy Foundation, re-established as a registered charity in 1999, created its Honouring Volunteers project to encourage and recognise voluntary work across various areas of care.  The League of Mercy Award recognises outstanding voluntary service assisting in the relief of sickness and suffering for the sick, injured and disabled, homeless, elderly, and young people who are at risk. The award, first given a century ago, is awarded to volunteers who have shown outstanding dedication to a good cause for over seven years.

Volunteers like Joyce have worked to raise awareness and support for the Cruse, helping it to continue with its important work. Joyce has volunteered at Cruse for 35 years and has performed many roles, both as a bereavement supporter and in the management of the charity's West Midlands Region.

Sir Robert Balchin, President of the League of Mercy, said:  “It is people like Joyce Rimmer who continue to make a difference in the lives of those in need of care. We believe that it is vital to recognise and honour the work of volunteers. By doing so we may develop public awareness of their work and encourage others to join them in giving up their time to the voluntary care of those in need.”

Joyce commented, of her achievement:  “I am delighted to be receiving such a prestigious award for work that I enjoy doing so much. Cruse does a fantastic job to raise awareness and support for the bereaved and relies on its volunteers to carry out its work in supporting people who have suffered the death of a loved one.

"My job is made a lot easier by the unwavering commitment and team ethos that Cruse has been able to build amongst all its volunteers and I look forward to continuing the good work of the charity for many years to come.”

PRINCESS ANNE SALUTES THE VOLUNTEERS
Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal attended Cruse Bereavement Care's Golden Jubilee Anniversary Reception in Northern Ireland on Wednesday 3 June at Malone House, Barnett Demesne, Belfast.

She met about 100 guests, including Cruse volunteers from the areas and branches in Northern Ireland, and presented certificates to long-serving members of Cruse Northern Ireland in recognition of their contribution to Cruse.

Commented Anne Townsend, Cruse Director in Northern Ireland: "It was a privilege to have HRH The Princess Royal attend this special event, and especially in volunteer week. Volunteers are vital to supporting the bereavement needs in our community and it was a very special way to acknowledge their contribution."

You can read more in the full press release here. Details from Lyndsey McKee on 02890 792419.

A new series in the New Statesman starts with a column on the role of faith in bereavement, where out Chief Executive, Debbie Kerslake, offers an insight into working with bereaved people. Read the column here on: Faith and Bereavement

We are looking for clients whom we supported in the early days of Cruse, as our local newspaper in Richmond explains in this article. Please contact Nick Clarke if you can help.

There's lots more going on for Cruse across the country during this, our Jubilee Year of 2009. You can see it all here.

CRUSE WELCOMES THE QUEEN’S SPEECH and commitment to increased support for bereaved families.

Bereavement Pathways Project
Cruse Bereavement Care and the Bereavement Services Association are together developing
a three year project with funding from the Department of Health.

See : the News Archive