Working with bereaved supporters

Details

Working with bereaved supporters requires compassion, sensitivity and an understanding that everyone experiences grief differently. For those of us working in legacy and in-memory fundraising, our contact with supporters often comes at an incredibly difficult time in their lives, and the way we communicate can make a real difference.

In this session, I will draw on my experience as Legacy Manager at WaterAid to explore some of the practical challenges of working with bereaved supporters. I will look at how grief can affect people in different ways, the importance of listening and communicating clearly and sensitively, and how we can approach conversations involving anger, frustration or distress. I will also consider the particular challenges of communicating through emails and letters, where tone and language become especially important, and the need to balance compassion with appropriate professional boundaries. Finally, I will look at the impact this work can have on us and why looking after ourselves is an important part of supporting others effectively.

Key learnings from this session:

• How grief can affect people in different ways and why we should avoid making assumptions about a bereaved person’s experience.
• How to communicate with bereaved supporters clearly, sensitively and compassionately, whether by telephone, email or letter.
• How to approach difficult conversations, including anger, frustration and distress, while maintaining appropriate professional boundaries.
• The importance of recognising the emotional impact of working with bereavement and taking steps to look after ourselves.