Suicide bereavement charity awarded funds to support Wigan residents

Caring Connections, with a base in the borough, supports people affected by any form of complex bereavement including: suicide, Covid-19, child loss, accidents, and any form of complex grief. The funding granted through the lottery is specifically targeted at Wigan residents.

The key to the service is that it is free of charge and provided by a professional counsellor delivered via the telephone at times that suit the individual. Individuals can self-refer or be referred through a professional and some of these referrals are coming from local hospitals, GP practices, charities and social prescribing team.

Paul Growney, CEO of Caring Connections, said: “This is fantastic news and can’t thank the National Lottery and their players enough for their kind grant.

"This will help sustainability to meet the growing need for our support services across Wigan. We have seen massive increases in complex bereavement need since the pandemic and this will really help us meet some of that demand.”

The counselling and support service started The Barbara Bettle Foundation in 2017 in remembrance of local Huyton resident Barbara Bettle who lost her life to suicide.

The project initially aimed to provide professional free of charge counselling to residents who had been bereaved through suicide. It was found at the time there was very little support available for those individuals who had lost someone to suicide especially specialty counsellors.

If you need some support call 01942 597077 or email [email protected]