NBS & Cadent launch national bereavement training programme
The Good Grief Trust’s annual National Grief Awareness Week runs from 2-8 December 2024.
Launched to coincide with National Grief Awareness Week, Cadent, the UK’s biggest gas distribution network has joined forces with the National Bereavement Service to create two unique training packages, giving its 6,000-strong team access to practical guidance in managing grief and bereavement at work.
The Cadent and NBS collaboration is the first time that bereavement training has been fully-integrated into the learning and development programme of a major employer, available to 6,000 people across the UK.
The first programme supports managers, building their understanding of grief and with guidance in how to support colleagues, and the second is designed for employees. Training has been developed in collaboration with Cadent’s Grief Awareness Community, an employee-led group co-founded in 2023 by Claire Valentine.
Following the death of her mum, Anita, who had bowel cancer, Claire decided to use her own experience of grief to help others. Supported by the business and other colleagues living with similar experiences, she co-founded the award-winning Grief Awareness Community, one of seven employee-led communities which are helping Cadent to build a more inclusive workplace.
Claire said: “I am really pleased that, during Grief Awareness Week 2024, Cadent is launching two new, in-person training courses, for all employees. Developed with the National Bereavement Service, these provide support and an emotional toolkit for colleagues experiencing bereavement, and their managers. They’ve already been added to our internal training portfolio and I can’t wait for the first courses to be delivered soon.”
The not-for-profit National Bereavement Service gives employers and their teams the skills, information and support they need to navigate grief and bereavement. Comprehensive services, delivered by professional bereavement advisors with real, lived experiences, include:
- Practical ‘death administration’ help & guidance
- Emotional ‘first aid’ & signposting to specialist services
- Advice for anyone planning ahead for themselves or those they care for
- Bereavement training for internal & client-facing teams
National Bereavement Service director Lisa Lund comments:
“As ever, the NBS is delighted to support National Grief Awareness Week. Our collaboration with Cadent sets an important benchmark for employers of all sizes to make understanding a bereavement – from knowing how to communicate with a bereaved person to managing bereavement leave and return to work empathetically – a priority.”
“Almost everyone is affected by bereavement at some point during their lifetime. Cadent’s investment will help its people to navigate bereavement with better support at work, and marks a step-change for major employers. We’re thrilled to work with Cadent to deliver bespoke training that will make a real difference to Cadent’s colleagues.”
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The National Bereavement Service supports anyone who has experienced a bereavement with practical and emotional information and advice. Professional bereavement advisors and trainers work with individuals and employers, helping organisations to manage bereavement in the workplace, to communicate more effectively with bereaved colleagues and customers, and to help bereaved people comply with legal requirements, access services and find a listening ear.
Visit www.thenbs.org
Cadent is the UK’s largest gas distribution network, managing gas pipes and related infrastructure that carry gas into millions of homes, hospitals, schools, offices and other buildings, predominantly in England from the Lake District to London. It is also used to power industrial processes, and to generate electricity. Cadent also provides the 24/7, 365 days a year gas emergency service for the same areas, with engineers ready day and night to respond to reports of smells of gas, damage to pipes, or suspected carbon monoxide cases.
Visit www.cadentgas.com
