The Bereaveme nt Support Group

Anne Alford is the coordinator of the Bereavement Support Group. The group’s purpose is to support people who have suffered a loss. Anne has now been involved with this voluntary activity for eight years.

The volunteers who form this group perform a task that is challenging. Fortunately Anne spent over twenty years working for the Samaritans in Manchester. She has received rigorous training in counseling and bereavement support. The Samaritans now use Anne to train new volunteers.

Anne’s skills are obviously valuable to the parish and highly suited to the Bereavement Support Group. The service the group offer is not standardized. They respond to the specific needs  of each bereaved person.

The St Vincent’s office inform the group of all deaths in the parish. The group then call the next of kin to see if a visit is required. Many people rely on family and friends, so they do not need the extra support. The group do not offer counseling but are tranied to recognise those who may need more help.

Anne’s training and background with the Samaritans prevents her from being affected by the work. She is able to visit and help people who very sad without becoming upset herself.

Anne has been in the parish since 1950. She also has a strong association with Bowdon Vale Convent, where she sings in the choir. She always appreciated the quality of her own life and became involved with counseling to “give something back to the parish.”

The group also hold a annual bereavement mass at St Vincent’s, to celebrate the lives of parishioners who have passed away. Father Rafferty has recently attended a number of the group meetings. They are pleased to have his support. He recently suggested the development of a remembrance service, to encourage the non-catholic family and friends of the deceased to meet together.