Community Grief Champion

Who we are:

Cruse is the largest bereavement support organisation in the UK. Working in partnership with Co-op and Cruse Scotland, we are bringing communities together to support those who are grieving.  

We want to help build compassionate and kind communities for when grief impacts. We are seeking 12 volunteer Community Grief Champions to support in each of the local areas.  These Grief Champions will work with our Connecting Communities Project Manager, to identify and make connections with local organisations and groups. 

What are we looking for?

Essential Qualities include: 

• A passion for your community.
• A desire to learn more about grief and how it impacts people.  
• Open to communicating in diverse ways and to various people. 
• Empathy and compassion. 
• A desire to gain knowledge of the communities you are working with.  
• You must live in, or have knowledge of, the area of Manchester.

The time commitment involved includes attendance to the monthly Grief Champion group session, as well as 1 – 3 hours week working with communities and/or project manager.  

What would you be doing as a volunteer?

As a Grief Community Champion Volunteer you will work alongside the Project Manager, Amber for Connecting Communities. You will be connecting Communities is equipping different groups of people to be able to speak confidently and compassionately about grief and death.

We need your enthusiam, ideas and values to help us build this in 12 different areas, one of these areas is Manchester. The role can be flexible to the Volunteers’ needs and you will be given continuous support and supervision.

Supported by our Project Manager, you will be:  

• Upskilling community members in how to support people when they experience the death of someone close.
• Coordinating efforts to reach more people and organisations in your local area.
• Building relationships between organisations, to help more people when grief is experienced. 
• Establish groups of participants for the Community Group Support training.

You will receive comprehensive training, supervision and support.  You will also be part of a community with other Grief Champions.

What’s in it for you?  

• Helping to connect compassionate communities and create safe spaces for conversations about death and grief.
• Gain skills in communication and active listening.
• 1 to 1 support and group support in your volunteering, from a Project Manager. 
• Help increase wellbeing across the wider community.
• Join thousands of people across England, Wales and Northern Ireland changing the lives of bereaved people.

All expenses paid.