Cruse Bereavement Care Isle of Man’s vision to expand services to help children and adults, who are facing the loss of a loved one, has come true following the official opening of its new home. Reporter Jess Ward tells us more.

Over its 31 years of existence the charity has supported a growing number of people with their grief, providing confidential care in the form of one-to-one sessions, group outings and meetings.

With a growth in demand, the charity has moved from premises in Onchan to a larger space in Carr’s Lane in Tromode, Douglas.

It now has a comfortable room for adult clients to meet in plus a child-friendly room for the younger generation who are using the service.

In 2018, its volunteers gave more than 3,100 hours of their time to give one-to-one support to 210 adults and through its Cruz Kids programme it helped 170 children and young people.

Praising the charity’s new home was chairman Sam Skelton.

He said: ’This building and facilities it affords our valued volunteers and staff is light years ahead of the old premises we had in Onchan.

’Getting to this stage was not easy but we are now able to deliver true fit-for-purpose premises so all at Cruse have been lifted by the experience and can look forward with great confidence.’

He paid tribute to the charity’s supporters Elizabeth Clucas Trust, new landlords Clucas Plc, volunteers and others for donating funds which were used to cover the cost of moving from one site to another and to bring a homely feeling into the new building.

Chief executive officer Amanda Cafearo said that the charity’s vision to expand began a decade ago.

’After many challenges of making it happen, we have done it,’ she said.

’We are so very grateful for the commitment and dedication of everyone who has been involved in making this vision become a reality,’ she said.

She added that the charity needed this change for many reasons.

They included meeting the increasing demand for bereavement support, its growing volunteer and staff numbers and the development of our adult and children and young people’s work.

’The numbers alone speak volumes,’ she said.

’Last year (2018) our service supported 210 adults and 170 children, responded to 90 requests for information and advice, supported five organisations in a crisis and provided bereavement support awareness training to various organisations.’

Speaking about the impact of its CruzKids programme, which is led by Gill Skinner, she said: ’Our new base provides a very strong platform for our work with bereaved people.

’Whatever their age and circumstances we are here, whether that be helping someone who has lost a child, a parent, a sibling, a person whose partner has dementia.

’The amazing work of our volunteers and staff is about giving people hope, helping them find a way to get through the days, weeks and months ahead.

’The field of grief and bereavement has undergone a transformational change over the years and Cruse continues to maintain the pace as we continually review and develop the way we work.’

The building was officially opened by Geoff Karran, a patron of the charity.

Looking back on the 31 years of Cruse Bereavement Care, he spoke about the administration office which was once run out of the home of first secretary/administrator Barbara Larkin.

He added that majority of training was held at the former Hospice at Kensington Road, Douglas, and was arranged by the late Reverend George Quinn with the late Ken Hamm playing a major part in training volunteers.

’Management is busy trying to raise further amounts to cover the extra expenses that inevitably rise as you expand,’ he said.

’The expansion is necessary because of the great demand on the services of our charity.

’As the figures grow, the greater the pressure on our administration officers and our incredible volunteers. In particular, the development of our team helping children and young people facing the tragedy of losing a relative or a friend has grown substantially. We are very lucky to have such a wonderful band of counsellors.’

Its volunteers, who come from different backgrounds, undergo training in the process of grieving and working with people affected by this.

Some have had specialised training in bereavement of suicide, sudden death, the death of a child, stillbirth, neonatal and miscarriage.

Cruse Bereavement Care gives daytime and evening appointments and can be reached by calling 668191.

For more information about the charity, search: www.cruseisleofman.org/