Charity opening branches in Channel Islands

Howard Jones is from the charity RoadPeace UK

A national charity for the families of people who have died in road collisions is set to open branches in Jersey and Guernsey.

RoadPeace UK has been active in the UK for over 30 years and has worked with the police and the government to make roads safer.

"We will find better ways of doing things by working together," said Howard Jones, the chief executive of the charity.

The branches will be in Jersey and Guernsey and volunteers are needed to help run the hubs.

"It [the support] is absolutely tailored to the individual," Mr Jones said.

"Jersey has an appalling road traffic collision rate and serious injury and fatality rate, which is way in excess of any region in the UK.

"People, and the way we behave, are the challenge.

"On both islands we are looking to form a volunteer group as we have throughout the UK, who can provide face to face peer support for victims past, present and sadly future."

'Sense of direction'

Full bereavement and counselling training would be given to volunteers.

"There is always somewhere to go and if you would like a real sense of direction and a very simple means of support and information from people who have had the same or a similar experience then RoadPeace is the answer," Mr Jones added.