A CHARITY which offers counselling and guidance to people mourning the death of loved ones, is facing closure due to a chronic lack of funds.

The St Helens Bereavement Service, based at the SmithKline Beecham Building in Westfield Street, has been in operation for the last 13 years. Its aim is to ease the pain and suffering caused by the death of a relative or friend with fully-trained volunteers on hand to offer counselling and support in helping people to come to terms with their loss and to start facing the future again.

Now though organisers say that dwindling donations may force them to close the service if no extra money can be raised.

Co-ordinator Joan Ashcroft told the Star: "Last year alone, we were able to help more than 200 people and every year the figures increase by 10 per cent. However, we are desperately short of money.

"In addition to face-to-face counselling, we also provide a telephone service for people who feel they need to talk to someone. All these things cost money, as does the maintenance of a small office."

Although the group are grateful for all the donations they receive from various groups and individuals, they would ideally like to attract a generous benefactor. Added Joan: "Its only costs abouit £5,000 per year to run the service and what we are looking for is a sponsor or someone willing to help organise fund-raising events, otherwise we are in grave danger of having to close in the near future."

Anyone who would like to help the St Helens Bereavement Service can contact Joan on 451793.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.