A Cumbrian suicide prevention charity is appealing for volunteers to help with new peer support groups in the county.
Every Life Matters said the monthly groups, initially to be held in Carlisle, Penrith, Kendal and Barrow aim to support those bereaved by suicide and offer a space for shared experiences and openness.
Every Life Matters is looking for volunteers who have been bereaved by suicide and are comfortable to share their own experience and listen to the experiences of others.
Each support group is run by three facilitators. Between them, they facilitate the session, get the conversation started, make sure everyone has the opportunity to talk if they want to, organise refreshments, and generally look out for people.
Paul Ward, the charity’s bereavement support manager, said: “At Every Life Matters, we want to build a community of people who can support one another through this unique form of loss. To support them to connect, share, listen and learn from one another. All done, in a safe and welcoming environment.”
Sarah and Phil Porter, of Ulverston, lost their daughter Heather to suicide in April 2022.
They said: “Every Life Matters members know exactly where you’re coming from and that helps to reassure you that you’re not going mad. They enable us to be comfortable enough to talk things through, to say exactly what’s on our mind; our thoughts, feelings of guilt, hopelessness, sadness.
“All that and to not feel judged, is like the weight of grief shifting, becoming more manageable to carry around. I know that I don’t have to deal with this burden alone.”
Becoming a peer support group volunteer facilitator
The charity asks that volunteers are bereaved by suicide themselves, usually for more 18 to 24 months prior to volunteering.
It said: “This shared experience with the people who come to our groups is a really important part of what makes them so effective. Volunteers will be comfortable listening to the experiences of others.
“We also ask though prior to applying that you consider where you are in your own grief journey, and how it might impact you listening to the experiences of others.”
Volunteers will be offered initial training programme of around 10 hours to give them the confidence and skills to safely facilitate a peer-led support group. Volunteers will be closely supported by when first starting the role and get mentoring support from more experienced volunteers. Ongoing training and support from one our staff team will also be available.
It will require a minimum commitment of around four to five hours a month.
To find out more and to apply, visit every-life-matters.org.uk
