Local charity St Giles Hospice is extending its bereavement support services and is appealing for volunteers to help carry out its vital work.

This year the Bereavement Service at St Giles has been developed and is now known as the Family and Bereavement Support Team.

Having previously provided support to people following the death of a friend or relative, the focus of the service is now also on caring for patients and their families prior to their bereavement.

Nikki Archer, Head of the Family Support and Bereavement Service at St Giles, explains: “We are combining the currently separate adult and children bereavement services, becoming ‘family’ focussed, with all team members developing skills to work with family groups and individuals irrespective of the individual’s age.

“We need enthusiastic and committed people with good communication skills to carry out a number of roles within the service, including assessing families’ needs in bereavement by working with them throughout the time a loved-one is ill.

“Although we don’t expect our volunteers to have previous qualifications in this area, we will give comprehensive training, and at St Giles we abide by the British Association of Counselling and Psychotherapy Code of Ethics and the National Bereavement Care Standards.”

Potential volunteers will be given the opportunity to have an informal interview with Volunteers Manager, Lesley Stinton, followed by the opportunity to attend one of two initial training sessions:

• Friday 14th September, 9.30am-4.30pm, St Giles Hospice, Sutton site, Lindridge Road, Sutton Coldfield B75 6JB

• Saturday 22nd September, 9.30am-4.30pm, St Giles Hospice, Whittington, Lichfield WS14 9LH

Anyone interested in volunteering for the service, should contact Volunteers Manager Lesley Stinton on 01543 432031, e-mail lesley.stinton@st-giles-hospice.org.uk or calling any member of the Family Support and Bereavement team on 01543 434546.

St Giles Hospice is one of the best-known and most respected charities in the region, offering high-quality nursing and medical care for people with cancer and other serious illness, as well as providing support for their families and carers.

Patients come from across the hospice’s catchment area, which ranges from Ashby de la Zouch in the east, to Cannock and Walsall in the west – and from Burton and Uttoxeter in the north, to Sutton Coldfield and Coleshill in the south.

Care is offered at the hospice's facilities in Sutton Coldfield and Whittington between Lichfield and Tamworth, or in patients' own homes across the region.

St Giles spends over £5million every year providing its specialist services. With just a third of this funded by the Government, the registered charity relies heavily on donations and fundraising.