volunteer
join our team of bereavement support specialists
We are also looking to recruit volunteer Bereavement Supporters for Adults.
Pathway to Developing Bereavement Support Skills
Our next volunteer training programme is taking place in spring, starting in April 2026:
Welcome Evening: Thursday 16 April 7- 9 pm
Day 1: Thursday 23 April 10 – 4 pm
Day 2: Thursday 7 May 10 – 4 pm
Day 3: Thursday 21 May 10 – 4 pm
Day 4: Thursday 4 June 10 – 4 pm
Applicants are required to attend all 5 training sessions, including the induction meeting scheduled for 7-9pm on Thursday 16 April 2026.
We charge a nominal fee of £300. Where this would be a barrier, we can offer a reduced fee.
Please contact recruitment@space2grieve.org.uk to register your interest.
bereavement support specialist - role specifications
Personal specification
Essential requirements:
- Experience of working in a person-centred environment.
- Experience of using active listening skills.
- Awareness of own personal issues around death.
- Ability to manage sensitively and with compassion the needs of the client.
- Ability to maintain a professional approach at all times with both volunteers and clients.
- Confident of own judgement and initiative but able to seek guidance as appropriate from supervision and the service management team.
- Ability to be self-reflective, autonomous and to practice self-care
- To be responsible for maintaining and developing one’s own professional development.
- Awareness and commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion and the implications for supporting bereaved clients.
- Ability to maintain client and volunteer confidentiality.
- Be competent with basic IT systems.
- Commitment to the space2grieve service model and values – as explained on the website.
- To be available for a minimum of 2 hours at the same time each week with monthly addition of 2 hours for supervision.
- Commit to attending the full training programme and induction and additional CPD provided.
Desirable:
- Additional qualifications in counselling/health/social care professional training
- A resident of Richmond Borough
- Experience of working with bereavement
- Holder of a current and transferrable Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) certificate
If you want to make a difference to the lives of people in their grief, then we welcome your application.
The next training course will be held in April/May/June 2026.
Please register your interest to recruitment@space2grieve.org.uk.
space2grieve is committed to diversity, equity and inclusion, enabling everyone to make a difference through volunteering and voluntary sector organisations.
join our team of trustees
Becoming a trustee for a charity can be a rewarding and impactful experience. If you would like to contribute to the long-term stability of space2grieve and the continuation of our free bereavement services for the residents of Richmond borough, we would love to hear from you.
Contact us at recruitment@space2grieve.org.uk and we will arrange a chat with you.
what our volunteers are saying
“what i value about being a space2grieve volunteer is the unique relationship I form with my clients. i learn something from everyone i support. i like getting to know them and feel privileged that they trust me enough to share their feelings with me. i feel good knowing that i have made a difference to someone’s life”
“i feel very privileged to sit alongside the pain and suffering of those experiencing grief
and loss. not everyone can do it… there are many things i am not able to do but i can do
this! and therefore feel very grateful that in doing so i can contribute to easing others’ pain”
“i work full time and i make time to volunteer as a Specialist Bereavement Supporter. This is the best thing i do all week and this is how i look after my well-being”
“i feel as if i am part of something important and get great satisfaction from helping others”