Dress Bright for Cruse 2023
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We're holding our fourth annual Dress Bright for Cruse dress-down day on Friday 1 December.
If you'd like to know more about the event or would like to join in, you can visit our Dress Bright for Cruse page, or contact us.
We're recruiting new bereavement volunteers
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Could you be the person to make that difference to someone who is grieving?
We are passionate about helping people through one of the most painful times in their lives with bereavement support and information.
We are now recruiting bereavement volunteers with a three-month training course beginning in January 2024. The deadline for application is Monday 30 October 2023. For further details about this training course please see our information sheet.
Cruse Bereavement Support Isle of Man prides itself on its high standard of training and support to all bereavement volunteers. The training is a big commitment from January through to March 2024. To make sure the candidates understand what is involved, an informal interview will be held for each applicant during the week beginning 13 November 2023.
Next steps
If you would like to apply for a place on the the course, please complete the online application form and submit it by Monday 30 October 2023.
If you have any queries please email our training team at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
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Our black tie dinner raised £9,000
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We'd like to thank everyone who attended our recent black-tie dinner to mark 35 years of bereavement support for those who are grieving on the Isle of Man.
The event raised approximately £9,000 which will be put towards our client support. It costs about £600 per client to provide one-to-one support. During 2022, we supported approximately 350 people.
The event was held at Woodbourne House with His Excellency Sir John Lorimer KCB DSO MBE and Lady Lorimer MBE and other dignitaries attending. A wonderful evening was had by all with dancing to music by Jamie Blackburn and Michael Corlett from MC Entertainment.
During the evening we expressed our gratitude to all our regular funders and supporters and were delighted that some of them could attend on the night.
In addition, we'd like to thank Bill Mummery from Celton Manx, Shoprite and Tower Insurance for their support with the wine, all the team at Woodbourne House, Lesley Turnbull from Optimal Events, Staarvey Farms, The Fynoderee Distillery, Elaine's Flowers in Peel, Isle of Man Steam Packet, Isle of Man Event Services, Island Escapes, Liz Courtie, Sugarcoat, Debbie Does Nails, Robinson’s, The Abbey Restaurant and Wine Down.
We were also delighted that two very important people who use our Children and Young People’s service donated two original works of art that were auctioned for the evening. Compere for the evening, Peter Sutton, read out their stories leaving the audience in no doubt of the support that we offer.
Local ultra competitor Orran Smith is raising funds for Cruse
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Local man and ultra competitor Orran Smith has signed up to run 330km in Italy next month, but it's all in a good cause – raising funds for Cruse.
Described as probably the island’s grittiest athlete, Orran has undertaken numerous challenges over the last few years. Earlier this year he undertook The Spine challenge raising funds for the MS Society. This 268-mile (431km) challenge is called the Winter Ultramarathon.
Next month will see Orran competing in the Tour des Geants race which involves running the distance, equivalent to over 200 miles in the mountainous areas of Donnas in northern Italy near the French and Swiss borders.
While the scenery will be spectacular it will be a tough event. It's the only race to combine long distance with the individual style of runners. There are no compulsory stages with the winner achieving the fastest race in the shortest time. Orran will decide how long to rest for and when to take on board water and food. There are no actual support cars or people but food and ‘life’ stations along the route where the runners can rest or eat/drink.
The Tor des Géants® is the first race of this kind to cover an entire region, running along its spectacular paths at the foot of the highest Four-Thousanders in the Alps and through the Gran Paradiso Natural Park and the Mont Avic Regional Park. All of these particular features help make this such a unique, inimitable race.
Our Chief Executive, Mary Doyle, said: “As a charity we are grateful to anyone that supports our charity. This is a gritty, tough event and we would like to thank Orran for all his endeavours for us. I have chatted with Orran and am very touched by his empathy to be a difference to our small community. With his previous challenge he raised £11,000 for the MS Society – it would be terrific if this amount was raised for our charity. The biggest issue with this event will be heat exhaustion so we wish him luck with this amazing challenge and look forward to hearing all about it when he has completed it.”
Orran added: “I like a challenge, and this will certainly be one but raising funds for a local charity, such as Cruse Bereavement Support, will help me plough on through an arduous, tough course. I am much more compassionate and have changed my perspective over the last few years so to use my running to help raise funds for a very worthwhile cause means a lot to me.”
To donate, please visit Orran’s JustGiving page.
Cruse IOM welcomes new board director Gary Roberts
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We’re delighted to announce that Gary Roberts has joined our board.
Gary is well-known on the Island having served with Isle of Man Constabulary for nearly 39 years including a decade as Chief Constable. Gary retired earlier this year.
Within the police force Gary was known for his high standards of putting people’s values at the foremost of recruitment and creating a culture where people cared about what they did as a job. He is also a Queen’s Police Medal recipient for outstanding service.
Our Chief Executive, Mary Doyle, says: “We are delighted Gary has joined our board. He has considerable experience of working within a values-based organisation and will bring a wealth of knowledge, passion and skills to our charity.
As a chartered fellow of the Institute of Personnel and Development his people skills will help us to continue to develop all staff and volunteers.
We are excited to be working with him knowing he will support and guide the charity into the future dealing with any challenging projects we meet.”
Gary commented: “I have always admired the work Cruse do and was delighted to be asked to get involved with them.
I know the difference they can make and look forward to working with them. I realise the impact a death can have on individuals and families, particularly a suicide so to be working as part of this charity is important to me.”
As a director, Gary will be the safeguarding lead.
Our Chair, Judy Arnold BEM, commented: “We are delighted someone of Gary’s calibre and experience has joined our board. His knowledge in dealing with wide-ranging situations will enhance our Board. I very much look forward to working with him.”
We’re marking 35 years this year and have exciting plans moving forward including organising a black-tie dinner on 15 September and a swim 10k to raise £10k. We were established in 1988 and have changed and developed since then but the core of our service is providing support for children, young people and adults when someone they care for dies. The estimated cost of providing this care and support is approximately £600 per client so all donations that help ensure our sustainability are valued and appreciated. All our services are delivered without cost to the client. Last year we provided support for over 320 people.
Pictured are: Our Chief Executive, Mary Doyle, welcoming Gary Roberts to the Board.