The Coroners’ Courts Support Service (CCSS) is an independent voluntary organisation whose trained volunteers offer emotional support and practical help to bereaved families, witnesses and others attending an Inquest at a Coroner’s Court. We are a charity who do not receive central funding, and rely on grants and donations to be able to undertake our work.
Who will be there to help?
Our volunteers use listening skills, demonstrate empathy and show a non-judgmental and non-prejudicial attitude to support those attending. The volunteers build rapport and trust to enable those attending to identify and talk about their needs in order for them to fully understand and participate in the proceedings.
A Coroner’s Court can be a bewildering and confusing place to attend. Bereaved families and witnesses often have little or no understanding of the processes and procedures that occur and may feel that they have not been able to fully participate in the proceedings. This may have an impact on their ability to recover or move on within the grieving process. The very difficult circumstances surrounding the death that warrants an Inquest already makes the grieving process complicated and can often delay the normal, natural grieving process. The CCSS volunteers explain the processes, procedures and the remit of the Inquest thus helping those attending to have a much better understanding of their role within this, often frightening environment (indeed, some witnesses have attended an Inquest believing that they will be found guilty of a criminal offence and sent to prison). The relief they have felt once the volunteer has been able to explain the remit is palpable.
The volunteers face very distressed people every day from many different backgrounds, circumstances and lifestyles. It is vital that our volunteers are able to support everyone who attends with a non-judgmental attitude.
We also provide a telephone helpline staffed by our volunteers to provide people with information and advice throughout the process of a Coroner’s inquest.
For a full list of courts covered please see the website.
Available to all attending Coroner's court