A LOCAL funeral and bereavement service is now offering free counselling, not only to its clients but also to the wider community.

Paul Cuttle, who has been a member of staff at Chester Pearce Associates since it was formed in 2010, has become an accredited Cruse counsellor.

“I had worked with Cruse over a number of years but felt it was time to revise my qualification. I am now looking forward to continuing my work with those bereaved people who need this kind of support.”

Paul said: “Grief is a natural journey, and one which we will all face at some point in our lives. Some people need support to understand and cope with what can be a devastating experience.”

Chester Pearce is among the first funeral directors to have an accredited Cruse counsellor on its staff.

Managing director Stephen Nimmo explained that the bereavement counselling complemented the other services offered by the company.

“Our ethos is grounded in offering continuity of care to those whom we serve.

“Our involvement with families often begins before a person dies, and continues with the funeral arrangements and beyond.

“I am delighted to be able to offer this crucial counselling service not only to our own clients, but to the wider community, and most imp-ortantly, at no cost,” he said.

Mr Nimmo was one of the first 10 people in the country to be awarded a degree in funeral directing after studying part-time at Bath University.

His company, named after his two grandmothers, is based in Poole, but its funeral directors travel to wherever they are needed to arrange funerals in accordance with families’ wishes.

For more information about the counselling service, call 01202 612110.