Working locally . . .
Whilst Cruse East Kent with Swale is part of a national charity, we work independently very much at a local community level.
It's about people who live their lives in East Kent and Swale who at some point may need our help. We all suffer loss of someone we love at some time or other and we needn't feel alone and isolated. Compassion and understanding, is available by people who also know how it may feel.
The help and support we provide is delivered to the standards set by the national charity whilst all our Bereavement Volunteers are local people trained by us, and also we do have to do all our fundraising locally within the community.
It's about people who live their lives in East Kent and Swale who at some point may need our help. We all suffer loss of someone we love at some time or other and we needn't feel alone and isolated. Compassion and understanding, is available by people who also know how it may feel.
The help and support we provide is delivered to the standards set by the national charity whilst all our Bereavement Volunteers are local people trained by us, and also we do have to do all our fundraising locally within the community.
The East Kent with Swale Cruse Area (EKWS) was formed in 2009 by amalgamation of the Canterbury and Thanet Branch and the Swale Branch. Both these branches of Cruse were well established, and had been providing Cruse services for 19 and 18 years respectively.
The EKWS Area now covers 785 square Kms stretching from Swale to the Thanet coast in the East of Kent. The main towns are Sittingbourne, Sheerness, Faversham, Canterbury City, Whitstable, Herne Bay, Margate, Ramsgate and Broadstairs.
An Area Management Committee who are all volunteers administers EKWS Cruse, and we have an office in Whitstable, which is open 3 mornings a week. (24 hour answer phone). We have around 30 trained bereavement support volunteers but we are always looking for more.
All of our services are free and it is largely reliant on charitable donations and through fund-raising events to stay operational.
The EKWS Area now covers 785 square Kms stretching from Swale to the Thanet coast in the East of Kent. The main towns are Sittingbourne, Sheerness, Faversham, Canterbury City, Whitstable, Herne Bay, Margate, Ramsgate and Broadstairs.
An Area Management Committee who are all volunteers administers EKWS Cruse, and we have an office in Whitstable, which is open 3 mornings a week. (24 hour answer phone). We have around 30 trained bereavement support volunteers but we are always looking for more.
All of our services are free and it is largely reliant on charitable donations and through fund-raising events to stay operational.
Responding To A Major Incident
East Kent with Swale Cruse Bereavement Care is a member of the Kent Voluntary Sector Emergency Group.
We are prepared at all times to receive a call to support the Kent County Council Welfare Team offering psychological and emotional support to people evacuated to rest centres during an emergency.
A small group of Cruse members regularly attend Forums and Training exercises, working alongside the K.C.C. and the many Voluntary Groups who offer a broad spectrum of services to those in need.
We are prepared at all times to receive a call to support the Kent County Council Welfare Team offering psychological and emotional support to people evacuated to rest centres during an emergency.
A small group of Cruse members regularly attend Forums and Training exercises, working alongside the K.C.C. and the many Voluntary Groups who offer a broad spectrum of services to those in need.