PCC launches family support service for bereaved families

A pioneering project to help bereaved families cope with inquests has proved a major success in Durham.

The Coroner’s Support Service for County Durham and Darlington is one of the first in the country to provide critical support for bereaved families during hearings into the last hours of their loved one’s lives.

The pilot scheme, which has helped more than 100 people in the first month of its inception, was instigated after a gap in support was identified by Durham police and crime commissioner Ron Hogg following the lack of support provided to a family of a prisoner who had died in custody.

Mr Hogg has since funded Victim Support to launch the pilot from the coroner’s court in Crook.

Experienced and highly-trained volunteers from the charity Victim Support help bereaved and distressed family members and witnesses cope with the formality of proceedings and HM Senior Coroner for County Durham and Darlington, Andrew Tweddle, has praised the support of the volunteers.

Jayne Forman from Victim Support said the service was proving invaluable for families, but also providing much needed support for coroner’s officers.

“An inquest into the death of a loved one is incredibly traumatic and family members are vulnerable and distressed and so our service of greeting family members and witnesses, explaining the process to expect and after the inquest ensuring we can direct them onto any agencies for further help or support makes a real difference to those family members and witnesses,” she said.

“Our volunteer and staff team have received specialist training and therefore can conduct pre-inquest visits to the coroner’s court if requested and they can effectively engage with witnesses and ensure the families receive as much emotional and practical support as they need.”

On average, the Durham coroner will hold some 400 inquests per year, which can vary in length and the number of witnesses called to give evidence.

Mr Hogg said: “Attending an inquest is very distressing for families and it’s vital they get every bit of help they need to get through the experience. This is an excellent scheme, which has been very well received and I am delighted that so many people are now getting the support they need. Volunteers provide an important service to families and witnesses in an unfamiliar and formal setting, which can be very daunting at such a difficult time in people’s lives.

“The workload of the coroner and the coroner’s officers is vast and varied and I know the service is helping take some of the pressures off them.”

Cath Davison, service delivery manager from Victim Support, added: “The volunteers are given extensive training and are giving witnesses fabulous support when they need it the most; it is an invaluable service.”