About Cruse

Cruse Bereavement Care was founded in 1959 in Richmond upon Thames and is the leading national charity for bereaved people in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. We offer support, advice and information to children, young people and adults when someone dies and work to enhance society’s care of bereaved people.

Cruse offers face-to-face, telephone, email and website support. We have a Freephone national helpline and local services, and a website (hopeagain.org.uk) specifically for children and young people. Our services are provided by our network of 5,000 trained volunteers and are confidential and free. Cruse also provides training and consultancy for external organisations and for those who may encounter bereaved people in the course of their work. Read our latest Annual Review to find out more about the impact of our work.

Where does our name come from?

The name 'Cruse' is derived from a passage in the Old Testament about a widow's cruse, or jar of oil, which never ran out, thus signifying that support would be given as long as it was needed and there would always be a drop of comfort available. Despite the origins of the name, Cruse is a non-religious organisation and welcomes people of all beliefs and none.