Charity which helps bereaved families in Bedfordshire calls for help from central government as people miss out on vital grief support

A charity which helps bereaved families at inquests is calling on central government to provide more support for those grieving.

The Coroners’ Courts Support Service (CCSS) - which helps families at Ampthill Coroners' Court - says people need a friendly voice when they are affected by the death of someone.

In November, researchers from Cardiff University and the University of Bristol published interim findings from a study that found two-thirds of bereaved adults experienced social isolation following the death of a loved one since March last year. While more than half were not provided with information about accessing grief support services.

The charity says many bereaved families at inquests are unsure about what information they are entitled to or what role they have within inquest hearings, leading to them feeling sidelined from the process.

CCSS supports more than 6,000 people a month at inquests across England - including Ampthill - and has helped survivors of the London Westminster Bridge terrorist attacks and the Manchester Arena bombing. But, due to insufficient funds, people attending half of the UK’s 85 coroners’ courts are unable to access help.

Founder Roey Burden OBE said: “From the very moment the CCSS was set up in January 2003, our aim has always been for the service to be available in every coroners’ court in

England and Wales so that all those attending inquests receive the help and support they deserve.

"The Coroner & Justice Act 2009 put families at the heart of the inquest process but the legislation has not led to change because of a lack of funding.”

Karen Bartram tells her story following the death of her 16-day-old baby son William in March 2017.

She said: “I first came into contact with the Coroners’ Courts Support Service a few years ago following the tragic death of my son due to sepsis.

“An inquest was ordered, something we had no experience of but, from the moment we arrived at the court we were looked after by the CCSS volunteers.

“They gave us amazing support throughout the three days and we really could not have got through it without them.

“Without doubt, the service should be available to everyone attending inquests.”

An appeal will be aired on BBC Radio 4 Appeal on Thursday (February 4).