SUMMER 2024 NEWSLETTER
We continue to be blessed with the support of absolutely amazing people in our community. Every time we receive a donation or contact from a fundraiser, we feel very privileged that they chose us. Thank you.
An update from Lucy about all the amazing fundraising efforts that have been happening:
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As we welcomed in the New Year and a New Season ahead, The Fundraising Team at Sunflowers have been busy organising a host of spectacular upcoming events for 2024.
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On the 18th May, Sunflowers will be holding The Greatest Sunflower Ball, which looks to be a wonderful evening of food, drink and entertainment.
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We would like to thank our volunteers Sonny, Wendy and Andy who have already been preparing for this event by creating some amazing decorations. We will keep you posted but the night should be a huge success.
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At Sunflowers we are always incredibly grateful for the time, effort and sometimes donations our volunteers give. No matter how big or small the contributions we would like them to know how important and valued they are.
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It has also been a busy start to the year with many new donors coming on board and gifting to Sunflowers. We would like to give a big Thank you shout out to a few (not all) below: -
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Omega resource Group, Stonehouse
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The Bowbridge Arms, Stroud
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SLR Consulting LTD
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Green Man Environmental Services Ltd
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Little Angels Nursery, Stonehouse
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The Original factory Shop, Stroud
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A- Plan Insurance
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MBE Installations, Stroud
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Harescombe Parish Council
We were incredibly grateful back in January when Emma and the team at etcbranding.com delivered 50 x Sunflower branded T-shirts to the office. The T-shirts were donated after customers of the Branding company in Hampshire voted Sunflowers the winners of a pole for Social Kindness Day. Proving that news of our good work is stretching further afield!
On the 26th of Jan 2024 The Gloucestershire Metal Detecting Club welcomed in their start to the detecting season by hosting a fundraising evening for Sunflowers. Through raffle sales they managed to raise a whopping £630 which is amazing, thank you so much to Liam and the club.
A big thank you to Boureton-on-the-Water Baptist Church and our regular fundraiser Carol Groom for hosting a successful coffee morning in February. They manged to raise £95.50 which we are very grateful for.
Carol has also been busy out in the community at Boureton’s Farmers Market where she was joined by her regular companion Fraser The Bear.
‘Good on Paper’ your local guide to Music and the Arts scene in Stroud, Gloucestershire very kindly raised £500 recently at an Art Exhibition held to celebrate the publications 100th issue. We are hoping there will be more to come as the unsold artwork from the exhibition moves over the road into Klang Tone Records. We will look forward further developments but thank you to the magazine for their support.
A big thank you to Mark Sweeting who has bravely signed up for our Wing walk in September and who through The Cotswold Wellness Hub has chosen to support Sunflowers this year. He has been raising money by organising Sunday wellness Walks and Lunches, which have been proving a big success, raising over £330.00 so far. Look out for some more exciting upcoming events at hhtps://www.cotswoldswellnesshub.co.uk
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A HUGE thank you to Russell Hopes who has added our logos to his Cart for the 210 challenge.
210 Challenge is unofficially the British championship. Technicality means they can't use it, (governing body red tape). You can join the 210 Challenge Facebook group to see updates.
Russell will be carrying our logo & info at rounds this season to spread awareness of the work we do.
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He is racing these dates
April 13/14 Kimbolton
May 25/26 Rissington
June 22/23 Fulbeck
July 19/20/21 Shenington
Aug 3/4 Forest edge
Aug 24/25 Fulbeck
Sept 21/22 Rissington
Oct 19/20 Shenington
Thank you so much for the support
On 29th June 2024 Croft Farm, Waterpark in Tewkesbury will be holding a Family Fun-draising Day as part of Sunflowers being their 2024 charity of the year. It looks to be an exciting day of music, stalls and games at the waterpark. If you would like to attend please contact Croft Farm directly for details.
We would like to express our thanks and gratitude to everyone who has fundraised for Sunflowers - your support is vital to enabling us to offer the support and training services to our community.
A message from Roxanne
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“It has been a very busy few months within our liaison team, not only supporting service users but attending events to raise awareness and training sessions to learn and grow as a team.
On 1st March Camilla and I attended Newent School and sixth form collage and joined in with there Wellbeing day, speaking to pupils about what we do and why we do it. Raising such much needed awareness and the charity and of course general suicide awareness.
Further to this we have attended PABBS training (Postvention: Assisting those bereaved by Suicide. Camila and I found this an amazing training day in which we gain more knowledge and experience in supporting those bereaved, along with receiving some amazing feedback from other organisations in Gloucestershire, saying that Sunflowers have really helped some of them with their roles and the people they interact with.”
We're pleased to share an update on our support groups.
Stonehouse Support Group:
Our Stonehouse support group has been a cornerstone of support for those navigating the aftermath of suicide loss. Led by our compassionate counsellor, Lucy, the group has flourished, providing a safe space for individuals to share their experiences, find solace, and embark on the journey of healing together.
Each session comprises a structured hour of focused topic work, addressing various aspects of grief, coping strategies, and self-care techniques. Following this, attendees engage in an hour of peer-to-peer support, fostering a sense of community and understanding that is invaluable in the healing process.
We're immensely proud of the resilience and camaraderie demonstrated by our Stonehouse group members, and we look forward to continuing to nurture this supportive environment.
New Beginnings: Gloucester Support Group
In response to the growing need for support in the wider community, we recently launched a new support group in Gloucester. We're delighted to report that the group has been warmly received and is well-attended by individuals seeking comfort and connection.
Under the guidance of our dedicated counsellor, Serena the Gloucester group follows the same format as our Stonehouse sessions, offering a structured hour of focused topic work followed by peer-to-peer support. This dual approach ensures that participants receive both professional guidance and the empathetic understanding of their peers.
We extend our heartfelt gratitude to everyone who has contributed to the success of our Gloucester group thus far, whether through attendance, volunteerism, or advocacy. Your support is appreciated.
A note from our CEO, Abbie
July already! Where has time gone? This year is flying by. This is probably because we have been incredibly busy over the past few months.
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Whilst I do not have so much opportunity to actively meet all the new families reaching out to Sunflowers, I do observe the amazing support work happening all around me. The team continue to amaze me with their dedication and love for our sunflowers families.
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Summer is always a flurry of activity as we have several events taking place. Our memory garden planting is always one of my favourite. This year the event was held at Stratford Park and our volunteer Paul worked tireless growing a variety of seedlings for families to plant and mapping out the plot.
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Our children's and young people's service is growing and developing quickly and it is exciting to see the resource pack in its final stages.
As well as the bereavement support and training, we have been busy attending awareness stands and fundraising events. We have also been visiting potential offices for our imminent move - we hope to have 'Room to Grow' from September and we hope our local community will support us in this big step to a new home. Don't worry we are not going far and still very much in Stonehouse.
We have been also been working to move our databases over to an improved system, which has not been without some significant challenges. We hope that this will help cut down on some administration for the team and increase our capabilities for capturing useful information to support some grants we have been awarded, but it should not impact anyone externally.
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You will hear more about what has been happening throughout the newsletter, so I won't ruin all the fun in the introduction!
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I would like to say a huge thank you to the Sunflowers Team and all our amazing supporters. Without you all, we would not be able to offer the support we do - Thank you!
UPCOMING EVENTS - click images to find out more
UPCOMING SUNFLOWER EVENTS - click images to find out more
If you would like to attend our next sessions here are the dates and locations. No booking required.
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George Moore Café Bourton on the Water:
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Monday 5th August 11am-1pm
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25th November 11am-1pm
It was hit and miss as to whether we would run the Summer Storms Walk due to the torrential downpour on the morning. However, Chloe and Bheki soldiered on and they were glad they did as it turned out to be a beautiful walk at Beechenhurst in the Forest of Dean and the sunshine found its way through the clouds. A therapeutic walk in nature with some wonderful company was the lift needed to brighten the day.
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Our next Storms Walk will take place on 7th October at Cranham Woods, and we invite you to join us for this uplifting experience. It’s an opportunity to connect with others, enjoy the great outdoors, and reinforce the message that we can face and overcome challenges together.
We look forward to walking with you!
At Sunflowers, we're thrilled to celebrate diversity, inclusion, and love in all its beautiful forms. We were proud supporters of Pride Month this year and we encouraged our Chase the Sun participants to 'embrace the rainbow' to also show their support.
We are committed to continue to improve and learn. To support Sunflowers in this, we have welcomed an amazing new trustee Samantha Goddard, our new Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion (ED&I) Trustee!
Samantha brings invaluable expertise and passion to our team. Recently, she led an enlightening training session on LGBTQ+ awareness, empowering us to better support and uplift our LGBTQ+ community members. It was an incredible opportunity for open dialogue, learning, and growth.
🌈 Together, we're committed to building a world where everyone feels seen, heard, and valued. Let's spread love, acceptance.
An update from Roxanne:
Our liaison team have been hard at work over the last quarter, seeing more people coming through the door to access to access the support they need. We have employed a new Family Support Worker who is due to start in August. This will be a fantastic asset to our team, allowing us to work with more families and ensure we are putting our best foot forward in helping the children who interact with Sunflowers.This addition allows us to take a more holistic approach to support, addressing not just the needs of the children but also considering the family environment. By providing targeted support to families, we can improve outcomes for children, helping them to thrive in a supportive and nurturing environment.Our liaison team have been hard at work with further training to ensure they have all the tools and knowledge they need to offer the right support. One of the training courses that they have completed is for a new a new assistance tool, Outcome Star. This tool should indeed be beneficial in supporting the individuals we work with.Outcome Star is a widely used tool for measuring and supporting change when working with people. It helps to track progress in various areas of life and can be particularly useful in ensuring that the support provided is effective and tailored to everyone’s needs, our liaison team pride themselves on being person centred and this will certainly help.
We are thrilled to share that we have recently been awarded funding to develop our Seeds of Hope Project. This initiative focuses on supporting children and young people bereaved by suicide within the county. Our goal is to work closely with parents, carers, and educational settings to ensure they have the necessary information and resources to support these young individuals through such complex trauma. The Seeds of Hope Project aims to provide a safe and understanding environment, helping children and young people navigate their grief with the appropriate care and guidance.
The Creativity Hub memory quilt
What a pleasure it was to watch our art group in action recently as they begin the final part of a very special project which began in January. The group have been completing their own journaling books to help them develop a final piece. Each attendee will complete their own square dedicated to their loved one, all these squares will be sewn together to create a beautiful a memory quilt for World Suicide Prevention Day in September.
The camaraderie and love in the room were truly amazing.
If you're part of the Sunflowers family and can't attend the art group but would like to contribute your own square to the quilt, please get in touch. We'll provide the dimensions so you can get creating, and we'll add your square to the main quilt. Squares need to be with us by mid August.
We can't wait to see the finished quilt. The squares being created were not just beautiful—they were deeply moving and full of heartfelt emotion. This quilt will be a powerful tribute.
Memory Garden Planting Event
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This year our memory garden planting took place at Stratford Park. It was a lovely time together, which coincided nicely with the brass band playing at the band stand. We has time to paint rocks before each person was able to plant their own sunflower in memory of their loved one. In sunflowers fashion, there were cakes and treats for our sunflowers families to tuck into. Our volunteer Paul had worked incredibly hard to grow the seedings and plan out the garden to ensure that the taller sunflowers were planted near the back of the plot.
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We look forward to posting updates as the garden blooms.
​​Stonehouse Support Group:
Our Stonehouse support group has been a cornerstone of support for those navigating the aftermath of suicide loss. Led by our compassionate counsellor, Lucy, the group has flourished, providing a safe space for individuals to share their experiences, find solace, and embark on the journey of healing together.
Our August session will be a social time for group reflections.
Gloucester Support Group
Under the guidance of our dedicated counsellor, Serena the Gloucester group follows the same format as our Stonehouse sessions, offering a structured hour of focused topic work followed by peer-to-peer support. This dual approach ensures that participants receive both professional guidance and the empathetic understanding of their peers.
Our August session will be on the topic, grief, loss and shock.
Since April, we have successfully delivered safeTALK training to over 40 delegates. This training has been pivotal in raising suicide awareness and prevention. We were fortunate to partner with the National Education Union (NEU) to deliver training to staff from over 14 educational settings across the county. Additionally, we collaborated with the local charity Caring for Communities and People (CCP), training 18 of their staff members in Suicide Alertness for Everyone.
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Having individuals trained in safeTALK is crucial in our collective efforts to prevent suicide. If you or someone you know would like to join our training sessions, please visit our booking system here.
Booking now open for our COMMUNITY ASIST workshop delivered by Emily and Abbie.
Open to all over 16 years old.
We do charge a £50 non refundable booking fee to attend. This covers admin fees and workbooks costs. There is also a non attendance fee.
The RRP for this training is £225 per person.
Spaces are limited to two per organisation.
BOOK NOW Select tickets – Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training (ASIST) – Gloucester Deaf Association (tickettailor.com)
We continue to be blessed with the support of absolutely amazing people in our community. Every time we receive a donation or contact from a fundraiser, we feel very privileged that they chose us. Thank you.
A Sunflowers fundraising update from Lucy
Wow what a busy few months we’ve been having in Fundraising. May saw us host The Greatest Sunflower Ball at the magnificent Tortworth Court Hotel swiftly followed by our annual Chase the Sun event starting on the longest day in June 24. Both events were hugely successful raising £12,272 & £…. Simultaneously.
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The culmination of nearly a year’s hard work, The Ball saw our team of staff and volunteers - gather supporters, book the venue & acts and create the props needed for a spectacular evening. Attendees were welcomed in with pre-dinner drinks by stilt walkers and then guided through a magical circus inspired backdrop to sit down to a three-course meal. This was followed by a wealth of entertainment to include a magician, face painters, dancers, singer, Auction, Raffle and disco. The most poignant part of the evening came when Esther Warren (the daughter of our charity founder Abbie) performed a beautiful dance routine against a slide show of loved ones lost to suicide. There weren’t many dry eyes in the room as she performed.
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Read the full write up about the Ball Here
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This year’s Chase the Sun saw many sign ups running, walking or cycling their 10km, with a few achieving 25km. We loved that many entrants took on board the Embrace the Rainbow element this year and turned out in a rainbow of coloured T-shirts from previous years. Our medal winners for 2024 were-
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Most money raised – Kathryn Akrout
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Best Selfie – The Cotswold All Runners
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Fastest 10km – Oakley James
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Fastest Under 16s – Eliza Stewart
Well done everyone who took part and hopefully we’ll see you out there Chasing the Sun again next year.
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Log on to our Chase the Sun Facebook Page to see the photos and keep updated for next years Chase the Sun - You don't want to miss it! CLICK HERE
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A massive well done to our very own Chloe and team Elmrep - Copiers Printers Scanners for completing the Glos 10K in aid of Sunflowers. Huge well done to all who ran!
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WHATS NEXT FROM SUNFLOWERS –
Wingwalk – 19th September 24
Do Not Be Alone- 18th-23rd November 24
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Fundraising in the Community
Alongside all our exciting Sunflowers fundraising events, people have also been busy out in the community choosing to support us in a whole host of different ways.
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At the end of March Wendy and Andy Morris were incredibly proud to join Belinda Wilson from Glosjobs and her team of 32 in the pool at Cheltenham Ladies College to take part in the fundraising ‘Swim for Sunflowers’. Completing over 91.3 km, the distance to France and back in 2 hours, the swimmers even saw Alex Chalk MP and Team GB Triathletes undertake some lengths.
We were able to thank Belinda in person when she visited us at the Sunflowers office in April.
This wasn’t the end of Belinda’s successful fundraising efforts however as in April she held a Quiz and Curry night and a raffle to raise funds.
As if this wasn’t enough at the end of the year Belinda will be trekking through Cambodia as well. Wow what a year its set to be, we can’t thank her enough and will keep you updated with her next adventure.
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Both Nikki and Lucy from our Fundraising Team were incredibly grateful to have been able to join Mark Niblett at The Mathew Proctor Charity Golf Tournament in May. On what turned out to be probably the sunniest day we’ve had this year; keen Golfers were able to enjoy a round on The Minchinhampton Old Course and raise £1,900. Our thanks go out to Mark for his hard work organising the event and our love to the family of Mathew for allowing it to be in held in his memory.
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Sunflowers Suicide Support is deeply grateful to Simone Hopkins & Sons Martial Arts Academy for hosting an electrifying Charity Fight Night on April 20th. Your incredible event raised over £1,141.50 to support those affected by suicide in Gloucestershire.
"The Academy Fighter" showcased 17 thrilling kickboxing matches, from young novices to seasoned World Champions. The highlight was receiving a generous check from your team, ensuring we can continue our vital work.
From the bottom of our hearts, thank you to Simone Hopkins, the entire academy, and everyone who participated and cheered. Your support and dedication mean the world to us and the community we serve.
"Every punch thrown, every cheer, and every penny raised can make a profound difference. Together, we’re building a community where no one faces their struggles alone." - Simone Hopkins
Thank you for standing with us. Lucy really enjoyed popping along to collect the cheque and hearing about the awesome work you do.
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​We would like to say a HUGE well done and THANK YOU to Cheryl who completed her ULTRA MARATHON runnning 50km a day for 4 days!!! in aid of Sunflowers raising an amazing £965. What an awesome achievement!!!
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We had the pleasure of attending the Sunshine and Songs event organised by the wonderful Stanley Singers. It was an incredible evening filled with soulful music and heartfelt performances. We had the opportunity to share a little about the beauty of sunflowers, which added a special touch to the night.
The choir truly sang their hearts out, proving once again that music is good for the soul. A special highlight was Ruth Le Maistre, who captivated us all with her therapeutic solo violin performance.
A huge thank you to everyone who organised and worked tirelessly to put on this amazing event and to everyone who came along to support. They raised a fantastic £576!
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Well done Vania Seymour you smashed your target of £500 to raise £705 by skydiving over Portugal in memory of Frosty, what a great achievement. 🧡
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A Huge thank you to Carol Groom who raised £943.00 at the annual Duck Race in Bourton-on-the-Water. Everyone had a wonderful day, thank you to everyone who came along and supported the event and to our team of volunteers. ​
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At Sunflowers we’re always so impressed with people’s creativity and artistic talents. Cathy May has created some beautiful sensitive prints to sell in memory of her good friend. Please have a look at her Instagram page for details on how to purchase. Instagram.com/vivalamay_art
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Thank you, Thank you, Thank you!!!- We have had so many people in our community raise funds or donate gifts to Sunflowers these last few months and would love to be able to thank you all, but here are a token few for now.
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We would like to express our thanks and gratitude to everyone who has fundraised for Sunflowers - your support is vital to enabling us to offer the support and training services to our community.
A massive thank you to our corporate volunteers for choosing Sunflowers to use your Employee Volunteering Days. Over the past 3 months we have had Team Ultra PCS painting and weeding our memory garden in Cheltenham as well as a team supporting us with Ball decorations, Ringway helped to make up raffle prizes and Stroud District Council came to Sunflowers HQ to help us with a pricing structure for our merchandise.
Volunteers Needed!
We are thrilled to announce the relaunch of our Befriender Service at Sunflowers!
Our Befriender service aims to provide compassionate support to individuals who have been bereaved through suicide. Our dedicated volunteers play a crucial role in offering companionship and understanding during such a challenging time.The Befriender Service matches those who have lost a loved one to suicide with a trained volunteer. Our befrienders offer a listening ear, companionship, and practical support, whether it’s sharing a cup of coffee, going for a walk, or even starting a new hobby together. This service is designed to help people feel less isolated and more connected as they navigate their grief.
We Need You!
To make this service as impactful as possible, we are looking for compassionate and empathetic volunteers to join our team.
If you are someone who:
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Has a genuine desire to help others,
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Can offer time and emotional support,
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Are a good listener,
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Can commit to regular meet-ups,
then we would love to hear from you!
No prior experience is necessary, as full training will be provided.
This is an incredibly rewarding opportunity to make a meaningful difference in someone's life during a time of profound need.
Interested in Volunteering?
If you would like to apply to become a befriender or want more information, please contact us at info@sunflowerssuicidesupport.org.uk.
Join us in spreading hope and support to those who need it the most.
Sunflowers Team Meetings run a little differently
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At the last Team Meeting, Roxanne led a guided meditation session, followed by a opportunity to get creative. This allowed the team time to reset and take a breath, before sharing the session.
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We take turns to run each team meeting, allowing everyone to get creative in how they wish to deliver the session.
Meet the Team:
Roxanne, Team Leader
Introducing Roxanne, our Team Leader at Sunflowers. Since December 23, Roxanne has been tirelessly working to provide support and guidance to individuals bereaved by suicide.While Roxanne's role revolves around offering critical assistance to those bereaved, there's an extraordinary aspect to her character: she's a lover of color-coded spreadsheets, just like our CEO, Abbie! Roxanne's meticulous attention to detail and her passion for organisation shines through in her work, ensuring that every aspect of her support is carefully tailored to meet the needs of those she assists.But Roxanne's talents extend far beyond her organisational prowess. Did you know that she once abseiled down the side of Southmead Hospital in Bristol for charity? It's an incredible feat that she's rightfully proud of – and we're in awe of her bravery and commitment to making a difference.In her spare time, Roxanne channels her creativity into two beloved hobbies: baking and sewing. During the challenging times of COVID, she went above and beyond by using her sewing skills to make face masks and sold them to raise money for charity. Her dedication to giving back to the community is truly inspiring.As a Suicide Liaison Officer, Roxanne's ability to bring empathy, understanding, and practical support to people makes her an invaluable member of our team. Her unwavering dedication to making a positive impact uplifts us all.Outside of her role at Sunflowers, you'll often find Roxanne spreading kindness, crafting beautiful creations with her sewing machine, or embarking on her next adventure for a good cause