Funding to provide a lifeline to people living with loss

Cardiff charity City Hospice has secured funding from The National Lottery to extend its provision of bereavement care in the community over the next four years.

With the support of The National Lottery, the charity’s free service, delivered by its experienced counselling team, will become available to more people across the city of Cardiff including families of City Hospice patients, community organisations, businesses and schools.

City Hospice’s bereavement care service includes face to face counselling for adults and children, group bereavement sessions, art psychotherapy and bereavement cafes in city locations.

Bereavement support and counselling will be available at City Hospice’s outreach clinics in the east, south and west of Cardiff, as well as Ty Hosbis in Whitchurch, with new weekend and evening sessions being introduced to increase the accessibility of the service.

To support the demand, City Hospice will be expanding its team of professional, accredited counsellors and arts psychotherapists. Additional training will also be offered to the charity’s volunteers to improve bereavement awareness skills.

Liz Booyse, chief executive of City Hospice, said: “Together with The National Lottery, we can make a positive difference to our community. This funding will extend the provision of our specialist bereavement care service and will provide a lifeline to people in Cardiff following the death of a loved one.

“By making our support easier to access, we are removing barriers and creating a more level playing field for people who require help. We hope our specialist team’s increased presence in the community will break down some of the stigma attached to asking for help with grief and lessen the loneliness and isolation people who are bereaved often feel.”