Bereavement Volunteer Visitors to work with the Sue Ryder Duchess of Kent House Family Support and Bereavement Team. This important service is funded entirely by Duchess of Kent House Charity. Sue Ryder provides specialist palliative care across West Berkshire.   

Do you : Like a challenge ? Have spare time ? Have a telephone ? Drive ?

Are you : A good listener ? Warm and empathic ? Able to work in a team ?

Able to cope with the expression and exploration of feelings and grief ?

If so please read on ..........

We are looking for volunteers to join our team offering bereavement support to relatives and carers of people who have been cared for by Sue Ryder Specialist Palliative Care. The service covers people in West Berkshire.  Initial and ongoing training, support and supervision are given to all volunteers to support their work in the following areas.

 

TELEPHONE / VISITING SERVICE
Initial contact is made by phone by a bereavement volunteer.
About a third of the people we contact accept the offer of support. This varies from one phone call to many visits over a period of time helping people rebuild their lives.

FAMILY AND FRIENDS AFTERNOONS
We also invite relatives to Family and Friends Afternoons about 3 to 4 months following their bereavement where they come to meet with the bereavement team for an informal cup of tea and a chat

MEMORIAL SERVICES
We hold two Memorial Services a year

 

An  Initial Training of 30 hours will take place at Duchess of Kent House during Feb/March 2012 commencing on Wednesday 22nd February 2012
  (5 Wednesdays evenings and 3 Saturdays) Wednesdays 22 and 29 February 2012, 7, 14 and 21 March 2012 - All from 7pm -to 9.30pm at Duchess of Kent House
Saturdays 3, 10 and 17 March 2012 - All from 9am to 3pm at Duchess of Kent House

If this is the sort of volunteering you would enjoy please contact:
 Jackie Dearden or Liz Bannell Family Support Service Managers, Sue Ryder Duchess of Kent House Liebenrood Road Reading RG30 2DX  on 0118 9550485
Leaving your name and telephone number and they will return your call ASAP. 
We suggest that if you have been bereaved recently yourself we recommend that you wait a couple of years before applying.