CLAN forms partnership with Shetland Bereavement Support Service
CLAN is to introduce a new counselling service in partnership with the Shetland Bereavement Support Service for those who have been bereaved or are dealing with significant loss or change.
The free counselling service, which is open to anyone living with cancer including family, carers and friends, during and beyond treatment, will be provided from the charity’s support and wellbeing centre in Lerwick. In order to help gauge service development needs, this service will initially be part of a six month pilot scheme.
Staffed by trained counsellors from the Shetland Bereavement Support Service, the new service will be available in both an appointment and a community outreach capacity allowing it to be accessible to individuals throughout the island.
Shetland Bereavement Support Service works with local and national service providers, funders and with the local community to promote awareness and good practice in bereavement care in Shetland by providing information, training and education.
Through its specially trained volunteers, it seeks to offer accessible and sustainable support to any individual in Shetland who is experiencing bereavement with the aim that no one in Shetland finds themselves alone and struggling with their grief.
Lucy Whiteman, CLAN’s services manager, is delighted to announce the new partnership with the Shetland Bereavement Support Service.
She said: “CLAN Cancer Support is committed to introducing new, valuable services in Shetland and this new partnership with the Shetland Bereavement Support Service will now allow us to provide specialist bereavement counselling from both our centre in Lerwick and throughout the island.
“Successful partnership working is a key focus for CLAN in Shetland and this latest expansion of our services is another important development that will provide support and care for those affected by both cancer and bereavement.
“No one should have to deal with loss, change and grief on their own and I believe that this new, free service will go a long way in helping prevent that from happening. It is open to anyone living with cancer and we’d encourage anyone who thinks they may benefit from the service to come forward and find out more about how we can help.”
Donald Anderson, chairperson of The Shetland Bereavement Support Service, said: “We look forward to working in partnership with CLAN to provide an effective and necessary service of confidential one-to-one listening and counselling support.”
Ellen Hughson, administration support at The Shetland Bereavement Support Service, said: “We would also like to thank everyone who has supported the Shetland Bereavement Support Service which has helped us to be in a position to work in partnership with CLAN.”
The new service will start on Monday, April 6. Those interested in making an appointment are asked to contact CLAN in Lerwick on 01595 720320 or email Shetland@clanhouse.org
