A NEW drop-in centre to help people cope with the trauma of bereavement will open in Blackburn tomorrow.

The centre will be run by the Blackburn and District branch of Cruse, the national voluntary bereavement counselling service.

Based in the Blackburn, Hyndburn and Ribble Valley Community Health Council (CHC) offices in Richmond Terrace, it will provide a service to people looking to find out more about Cruse and how it can help with the challenge of bereavement.

The Blackburn and District Branch, which includes Hyndburn and Ribble Valley, already provides a helpline (01254 207999), individual support and a social group.

Nevil Barnett, chairman, said bereavement can be a shattering experience.

"The death of someone close can affect people in many different ways, emotionally, physically, socially and in all sort of practical ways," said Nevil.

"It can present one of the greatest challenges any of us can face."

"We hope the new drop-in centre will make the services of Cruse more widely available. It will also provide a good starting point for anyone interested in volunteering to help with our work."

The centre will be open between 1.30 and 4pm on Fridays and be staffed by Cruse volunteers. They will provide information about Cruse and other bereavement services and will give callers a chance to discuss what would be most useful to them.

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