Cruse Bereavement Care

VOLUNTEERING WITH CRUSE

Thousands of wonderful volunteers - and Cruse always welcomes more!
All our bereavement volunteers having contact with clients must first complete Cruse training - Awareness in Bereavement Care, a course requiring 60 hours of study - before they are able to work with and for bereaved people.

The first step to becoming a volunteer:
Filling in a Volunteer application form and sending it to our Central Office (address on the form) will give us the information to get you started on volunteering with Cruse. This will be sent to your local area or branch of Cruse, where you would be working. Alternatively, contact your local branch direct; we have a list of contacts here.

National Helpline
There are also opportunities to work with our National Helpline Volunteers if you live in striking distance of our central office in Richmond upon Thames. You can contact the national helpline by email.

Cruse is a charity which:
Offers free information and advice to anyone who has been affected by a death
Provides advice and support to bereaved people, one to one and in groups
Offers education, support, information and publications to those supporting bereaved people
Increases public awareness of the needs of bereaved people through campaigning and information.

Who comes to Cruse for help?
Everybody: children, young people and adults of all ages. In 2006/7 there were over 87,000 enquiries and almost 23,000 clients received support.
They approach Cruse because someone they love has died and they need someone who will listen and help them cope with their pain and grief.

Why does Cruse need volunteers?
Cruse needs volunteers in the Branches/Areas across the country to help bereaved people. It can be immensely rewarding work. All volunteers working with clients are carefully trained. Cruse also needs administrators, trainers and supervisors. Whatever you do to help Cruse, you will be helping bereaved people.

What can I do for Cruse?
You can help run a branch or area; this could involve fundraising activities, organising publicity, administration, or being part of a management committee.
You can directly support bereaved people - as individuals, running bereavement groups, organising social groups, or through telephone or email support.
You can become part of a team offering training and bereavement awareness programmes to anyone who wants to learn more about bereavement.

Who can volunteer for Cruse?
Anyone can apply to be a volunteer for Cruse. You do not need to have qualifications or previous experience, but you do need to care about bereaved people and have time to offer. You will be given all the preparation, training and support you need. We welcome men and women of all ages, races, cultures and backgrounds.

What is the reward for volunteers?
Your expenses will be paid and you are likely to find there is enormous satisfaction from knowing you make a positive difference to someone's life. You can also benefit from Cruse training (which can include nationally recognised certification) and ongoing personal development. Every hour of time given by a volunteer helps a child or adult face the future knowing that they are not alone.

What should I do next?
All volunteers working with Cruse must complete some training, and those wishing to work with clients must first complete the Awareness in Bereavement Care course which requires 60 hours of study. You can check our calendar of courses and see the local Area/Branch nearest to where you live. Download the application form if you are interested in becoming a Cruse volunteer.


For Bereaved People	Local Branches	Publications and Training Services	News and Events	Volunteering	Donations and Fundraising	About us
VOLUNTEERING WITH CRUSE Thousands of wonderful volunteers - and Cruse always welcomes more! All our bereavement volunteers having contact with clients must first complete Cruse training - Awareness in Bereavement Care, a course requiring 60 hours of study - before they are able to work with and for bereaved people. The first step to becoming a volunteer: Filling in a Volunteer application form and sending it to our Central Office (address on the form) will give us the information to get you started on volunteering with Cruse. This will be sent to your local area or branch of Cruse, where you would be working. Alternatively, contact your local branch direct; we have a list of contacts here. National Helpline There are also opportunities to work with our National Helpline Volunteers if you live in striking distance of our central office in Richmond upon Thames. You can contact the national helpline by email. Cruse is a charity which: Offers free information and advice to anyone who has been affected by a death Provides advice and support to bereaved people, one to one and in groups Offers education, support, information and publications to those supporting bereaved people Increases public awareness of the needs of bereaved people through campaigning and information. Who comes to Cruse for help? Everybody: children, young people and adults of all ages. In 2006/7 there were over 87,000 enquiries and almost 23,000 clients received support. They approach Cruse because someone they love has died and they need someone who will listen and help them cope with their pain and grief. Why does Cruse need volunteers? Cruse needs volunteers in the Branches/Areas across the country to help bereaved people. It can be immensely rewarding work. All volunteers working with clients are carefully trained. Cruse also needs administrators, trainers and supervisors. Whatever you do to help Cruse, you will be helping bereaved people. What can I do for Cruse? You can help run a branch or area; this could involve fundraising activities, organising publicity, administration, or being part of a management committee. You can directly support bereaved people - as individuals, running bereavement groups, organising social groups, or through telephone or email support. You can become part of a team offering training and bereavement awareness programmes to anyone who wants to learn more about bereavement. Who can volunteer for Cruse? Anyone can apply to be a volunteer for Cruse. You do not need to have qualifications or previous experience, but you do need to care about bereaved people and have time to offer. You will be given all the preparation, training and support you need. We welcome men and women of all ages, races, cultures and backgrounds. What is the reward for volunteers? Your expenses will be paid and you are likely to find there is enormous satisfaction from knowing you make a positive difference to someone's life. You can also benefit from Cruse training (which can include nationally recognised certification) and ongoing personal development. Every hour of time given by a volunteer helps a child or adult face the future knowing that they are not alone. What should I do next? All volunteers working with Cruse must complete some training, and those wishing to work with clients must first complete the Awareness in Bereavement Care course which requires 60 hours of study. You can check our calendar of courses and see the local Area/Branch nearest to where you live. Download the application form if you are interested in becoming a Cruse volunteer.
Registered Charity No. 208078 \| A Company Limited by Guarantee No. 638709 (London) Unit 01, One Victoria Villas, Richmond, TW9 2GW