Bereavement charity may shut due to funding crisis

Butterflies Bereavement Support charity provides essential support for those grieving

A charity in desperate need of money said “it only has six-weeks left of funding” before it will be forced to close.

Butterflies Bereavement Support provides essential support for those grieving in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight.

The charity's services include counselling with qualified counsellors, bereavement groups and weekly friendship phone calls through their “buddie” line.

Butterflies chair, Julie Lamont said: ‘'I can't stress enough the urgency of the situation and the impact it will have if we close.”

Without the charity's support there will be a significant impact on other services

The charity established in 2019 is run by 60 volunteers who offer their services to support hundreds of adults struggling with bereavement and loss.

Referrals for its support come from many different organisations such as GP surgeries, NHS, mental health services and the bereaved themselves.

It provided a service that it says was vital through the pandemic and which the NHS and mental health organisations have now come to rely on.

Without the charity there would be a significant impact on the services and those grieving.

Julie Lamont, chair of the charity, said: "It's been a very stressful time for the charity and its clients"

Ms Lamont said: ‘'I can't stress enough the urgency of the situation and the impact it will have if we close.”

She said: “Since COVID we've seen more and more cases of people in desperate need.

“Many still feel great guilt and shame from not being able to see their loved one at the time of their death and we will see this for years to come.”

One of the charity's clients recently wrote to them, thanking the charity and volunteers for the support he had received. He wrote: “I can now live my life again.”

Another client said: "I've been telling everyone about my counselling and how much it is helping me.

"I thought I'd never laugh again."

Butterflies Bereavement Support is launching a crowdfunding campaign this weekend to raise £25,000 which will allow them to keep their doors open and address its long waiting list for grieving support.