More HOPE for Bereaved families

South Yorkshire charity, HOPE Trauma Support, is pleased to announce a new member of the team, to coincide with upcoming new activities for the families they support.

Carol joins the team as a Peer Support and Office Administrator, as the Charity sets up a new Doncaster based group and completes its multi purpose meeting room make-over, offering monthly craft sessions for adult family members who HOPE is currently working with and as well as providing a welcoming meeting space for families.

HOPE offers support for families who have had a loved one killed in a road traffic collision, fire or drowning or who have witnessed such an event. They work alongside people of all ages, meeting the specific needs of children and adults. HOPE will support people for however long they need, offering a bespoke package of assistance, depending on each individual’s requirements.

Carol is no stranger to the charity, having volunteered with them over the past couple of years, supporting the training for Oliver, the charity’s therapy dog. Oliver recently gained his gold award from the Kennel Club Good Citizen Dog Scheme. Carol was a huge help in the process and will be on hand to assist with further training.

Carol will also take the lead on setting up a new peer support group for families who live in Doncaster and are currently being supported by HOPE. The charity already holds monthly meetings in Barnsley and Sheffield which families can attend. The groups offer a safe space where bereaved families can meet others who have experienced similar loss and who will understand the feelings they face. It provides a place for people to express their feelings where they won’t be judged. At these meetings people can also take part in crafting activities as a way of relaxing, having a distraction or making something in memory of their loved one.

The new Doncaster group will start in the Autumn and local families who are being supported by HOPE will be invited to attend.

Also new this Autumn will be arts and craft sessions for adults at the Charity’s base in Sheffield. Following a recent refurbishment of the premises, HOPE has a new multi purpose space which will host these monthly sessions. Activities to be offered could include scrapbook journaling and making memory boxes to remember a loved one, as well as other mindfulness crafting.

Carol said, “I’m excited to be joining the HOPE team, as new projects are coming on stream, enabling us to offer additional support for the families who come to the charity. I’ve seen what a hard working and dedicated team HOPE has, and I’m honoured to become part of that. I’m particularly looking forward to working with Oliver, our therapy dog, who can offer comfort and support to bereaved family members, be that at our peer support groups, in one-to-one sessions or when attending meetings or hearings in relation to the death of a loved one.”

Maryann, Charity Operations Manager, welcoming Carol to the team said, “We are so lucky to have Carol with us, bringing a wealth of skills, energy and enthusiasm. Unfortunately, the number of families coming to HOPE for support continues to grow and to meet that need we must expand the resources we have. Carol will be a great asset in helping us to deliver support to bereaved families.”

To learn more about the HOPE Trauma Charity visit our website www.hope-sy.org.uk

If you, or someone you know, have had a loved one killed in a road traffic collision, fire or drowning or witnessed such an incident you can receive support from HOPE. Contact us on 0114 227 0105 or email [email protected] and someone will get back to you.

HOPE is a charity and all the services we provide to bereaved families are offered free of charge. We rely on grants and donations to fund our activities and on volunteers to give their time to help with essential tasks and assist us in delivering events. If your organisation could help, by providing a donation or offering staff time to volunteer for us, please do get in touch to discuss this further.