West Essex Community Action Network (WECAN) has announced a new bereavement support service for residents living in Epping Forest.

WECAN is made up of three Council Voluntary Services in West Essex - Voluntary Action Epping Forest, Rainbow Services in Harlow and Uttlesford CVS.

Partnered with two local primary care network teams, this new WECAN initiative will ensure the provision of 1-2-1 pathway support for residents who are struggling to manage personal loss and grief.

The new one-year funded programme will be available to children and adults, registered with a GP practice in Epping Forest and Harlow.

The service follows on from a successful WECAN 18-month bereavement support programme launched after the pandemic which supported over 300 residents living in West Essex and which ended last year.

VAEF and WECAN Service Manager, Nick Robinson said: “We are delighted to be given this opportunity to work closely with local primary care teams to roll out this service in Epping Forest.

"From previous experience, WECAN is aware of how many people are chronically affected by grief and the impact this can have on day-to-day life. We are sure this service will be of benefit to many local people."