Conference in Wales in June 2008, on the impacts of bereavement on the family
Book Now for the Cruse National Conference, September 2008

BUSY BEAVERS!
Havering Beavers presented a cheque for £300 to Charlotte Barney, Cruse's Director of Fundraising and Partnerships, at the end of April.  The boys (and one girl!) collected the money through the time-honoured method of filling empty Smartie tubes with 20p and £1 coins and, with the help of their leaders Dawn Clarke and Debbie Livermore, they chose Cruse as their favoured charity. 

Cruse has promised to use the money for our children’s services, and the Beavers listened attentively while Charlotte explained a little about what we do.  All Brownies, Guides, Beavers, Cubs or Scouts, may be interested to see the special website for children and young people run by Cruse, RD4U.

SUPPORT FOR BEREAVED MILITARY FAMILIES
Cruse Bereavement Care is awarded a £200,000 grant by the Department of Health to develop services to support military and ex-military personnel and their families who have been bereaved.

A press release about this three year project is here.

A NEW CHIEF EXECUTIVE AT CRUSE

From April 2008, Debbie Kerslake becomes Chief Executive and Director of Services of Cruse, the only national charity for all bereaved people, on the retirement of Anne Viney after a tenure of six years.

“Cruse Bereavement Care will celebrate its Golden Jubilee in 2009 so this appointment comes at an important time for us, and I could not be more delighted,” says Debbie, who has guided training and development for the past eight years.

"I feel very proud and privileged to be taking on this role in this wonderful organization."

Anne, commenting on her experience as Chief Executive, added: “In six years with Cruse Bereavement Care I have marvelled at the ability of volunteers to meet bereavement in all its forms, and to be alongside people at the worst time of their lives."

A full press release is available here.

Cruse South East Region holds its annual conference on 17 May 2008 in Southampton, with a programme of workshops. The programme can be seen here and there is a booking form here.

ABSEIL SUCCESS IN NORTHERN IRELAND

Despite winds and weather, Cruse Bereavement Care in Northern Ireland successfully hosted a sponsored abseil on Saturday 15 March 2008 at Scrabo Tower, Newtownards.

It became a joint event with Marie Curie Cancer Care, who were invited to join the Cruse Team after their abseil was cancelled the previous week due to the appalling weather conditions.

Undeterred, David Dowling, 74, from County Antrim, abseiled down the 135ft down the historic tower, alongside four members of his family.

He commented afterwards: “Cruse is a very worthy charity and as well as raising money for them we have all have the chance to take part in this unique event. It was an excellent day all round.” In total there were over 100 people who participated in the abseil and over £5000 was raised as a result.

Bereavement Pathways Project
Cruse Bereavement Care and the Bereavement Services Association are developing
a three year pathways project with funding from the Department of Health.
Stakeholder events are planned for February and March 2008.

See the article from the annual general meeting, and the Annual Report and Accounts