Bereavement centre short-listed for award

The Southern Co-operative’s Bereavement Centre was recognised in Building Stronger Communities Award category.

The centre offers help to those living across the south, providing one-to-one bereavement counselling, support groups, and memorial services free of charge.

The service also offers free training or education days, conferences and workshops to its community partnership groups, such as hospices, hospitals and charities.

Steve Pearce, chief operating officer at The Southern Co-operative, said: ‘It is such an honour for the hard work and commitment of our colleagues to be recognised.

‘The service has helped to improve the lives of thousands in our communities who have suffered loss and also educated multiple organisations and professionals who in turn are putting their training into practice to help those who are bereaved.

‘It is a service that we are extremely proud of and hope to continue to expand over the coming years.’

The Responsible Business Awards, run by charity Business in the Community, celebrates inspiring examples of businesses that are making a difference by taking action to improve their communities, create more inclusive workplaces and tackle environmental challenges.

Now in its 19th year, the awards are open to companies of all sizes, across all sectors. Categories cover a wide range of business activities, from investing in the health and wellbeing of employees, nurturing young people to develop skills, supporting rural communities and more disadvantaged members of society, to helping the resilience of communities in the face of international disasters.

The award finalists will be announced next month and the winners will be announced at the BITC’s Annual Responsible Business Gala on July 11.