In the wake of a survey published this month, the Co-op and Cruse Bereavement Support, the UK's leading bereavement charity have announced the launch of a new partnership to help people talk to each other about death and grief more openly.

As Dorchester and the rest of the country continues to cope with the legacy of the coronavirus pandemic, many people who have suffered bereavement are finding themselves alone, with no one to turn to.

To help fill that painful void, the partnership between Co-op and Cruse will provide people with the resources to reach out to bereaved friends, relatives and members of our communities.

YouGov research published on Thursday, January 20 reveals around half of Brits who have not experienced bereavement admit to being unprepared in knowing how to help a bereaved friend or relative and one in eight (12 per cent) have gone out of their way to avoid someone who is grieving because they don't know what to say to them. Many of those who took part in the survey said they were worried about saying the wrong thing.

Of British adults who experienced the death of a loved one in the last five years, three in ten found people did not refer to their loss at all and felt they did not have the right support. Three in five said their local community had not helped them deal with their grief.

Dorchester Nub News and local branches of Co-op Funeralcare are keen to make people in the town aware of the bereavement support available.

A spokesperson for Co-op Funeralcare's local services said: "I see people every day who tell me how isolated their grief makes them feel. This joint partnership with Cruse and Co-op is a tremendous undertaking as it will help people in communities to have conversations, helping them to provide better practical and emotional support to those that need it in their darkest hour."

Together, Co-op and Cruse are providing free resources to help people give everyday support to grieving members of the community. For example, a simple, easy-to-read guide to supporting yourself and others with grief can be found via this link.

The campaign is funded through the Co-op's Community Partnership Fund, starting with the launch of the online bereavement resources, which will be followed with on-the-ground local bereavement support projects.

Cruse will offer face-to-face community workshops on how to help people struggling with grief, while also showing them how and when to signpost to more formal support.

Andy Langford, clinical director at Cruse Bereavement Support, said: "This partnership with Co-op will offer practical ways to help people through some of the most painful times in their life."

Rebecca Birkbeck, director of community and shared value at Co-op Group, said: "Co-op is delighted to be partnering with Cruse to mobilise communities to support the bereaved.

"Our research shows the vital role that communities have in supporting the mental wellbeing of those who have been bereaved, from supportive conversations about grief and signposting to more formal support, to providing hubs, networks and activities that can help with social connection, routine and meaning that may be missing following the death of someone close."

Sam Tyrer, managing director of Co-op Funeralcare, added: "Navigating the death of a loved one is a devastating experience and we are committed to providing support, not only at the time of organising a funeral but in the days, weeks and months that follow.

"Cruse does such incredible work to help the bereaved and together we want to ensure that nobody has to deal with grief alone."

Information on bereavement support is available here.

And the Co-op and Cruse Bereavement Care have worked together to produce a short video offering help and advice. You can view it via this link.

Helping communities

Each year Co-op supports thousands of local community causes through the Local Community Fund, connects people in communities through one thousand Member Pioneers who make good things happen locally and through Co-operate, its online community hub.

Co-op Funeralcare is the UK's largest funeral provider with more than 830 homes across the UK including branches in Dorchester.