*Thanks to the government, we received funding from the Coronavirus Community Support Fund distributed by the National Lottery Community Fund.
Could you give the gift of hope this Christmas?
Make a donationMost of us will sadly experience the death of a loved one and the impact of that can have a devastating effect on us at home and at work. Grief can leave us feeling exhausted, isolated, and afraid for the future.
This Christmas, your gift could give people locked in grief, hope for the future
Around 500,000 people die in England each year. Most of us will sadly experience the death of a loved one and the impact of that can have a devastating effect on us at home and at work. Grief can leave us feeling exhausted, isolated, and afraid for the future.
Could you help us raise £29,000 this Christmas to make sure more people across our community can access caring and compassionate support, at what may be the most difficult time of their lives?
We are only a small team at St Oswald’s, but the need for bereavement support across the North East is great, and after a very challenging year we expect demand on our services to increase further. We would dearly love to be there for everyone, but it’s simply not possible with the resources we have. This is why we are asking for your help.
Our specialist team can give employers the confidence and knowledge they need to support their colleagues through a bereavement. With your help, we could extend our 6 month pilot project* for a further 12 months to reach more people in desperate need of someone to turn to.
Please help us to empower our community to support and care for each other through tough times
Over the years we have supported bereaved people who worry about having time off work. They know bereavement is not an illness but they find they cannot function in a work environment. When their employers understand how grief affects someone and give compassionate and timely support people find it easier to return to work knowing someone will listen and try to understand.
By donating to our appeal, you’ll allow us to reach out to those struggling and give them hope that things can get better.
Make a donationTotal raised:
£17,060
Target: £29,000
Thank you so much for your ongoing support
Meet Brenda
Make a donationBrenda Clayton is a Bereavement Support Co-ordinator at St Oswald’s Hospice.
"When someone we know suffers a loss, it’s hard to know what to say. We don’t feel confident to find the right words and worry we will say the wrong thing. But it doesn’t have to be this way. My team already support many people through their grief but know we can and need to do more for our community."
Meet Laura
Make a donationLaura Barrett recently joined the Bereavement Support Team at St Oswald’s Hospice.
"People tell us that after a loss, they are terrified to return to work in case they lose control of their emotions or simply are unable to do their job while grieving. I can help employers to understand what people experience when a loved one dies, how it impacts their life, and give them practical ways to offer support. By giving these tools to just one person, they can use them to reach far more across the community"
Meet Jennifer
Make a donationJennifer Turnbull, 38 from North Walbottle, Newcastle, lost her dad, Bob in March 2015. As a solicitor working on Wills and probate, Jennifer was used to talking about death with her clients, but after her own bereavement, found herself overcome with anxiety and struggling to cope in the workplace.
"I took a very long route to get to where I am now and hid my feeling for fear of judgment and lack of understanding. I believe that giving employers the knowledge to recognise staff who are struggling and having confidence to offer support and advice will hopefully prevent them suffering in silence like I did"