Our Story

What We Do

Cruse Scotland provides support to bereaved adults and children across Scotland. We work with people of all ages, regardless of when the death occurred and the relationship to the deceased. Our services are designed to ensure that those needing support receive the right help at the right time, building resilience and improving wellbeing.

We offer a variety of services: we provide a listening service through our Free Bereavement Helpline, self-help materials, early support for those who are very recently bereaved, GriefChat (text based web chat service), one-to-one grief counselling, specialist support for children and young people, and support groups for bereaved adults. 

We also train and educate individuals, schools and organisations to reduce the stigma around grief, improve communication about death and create more compassionate spaces in workplaces and society.

Who We Are

Cruse Scotland has provided bereavement support in Scotland for over 60 years, initially as part of Cruse Bereavement Care, and since 2001, as an independent Scottish charity.

Our services are delivered by local volunteers, who are coordinated by regional teams throughout Scotland, supported by a small staff team.

Our vision

A compassionate Scotland in which the impact of bereavement and grief is properly understood and supported.

Our values

• Compassionate: We are respectful, warm, kind and here when people need us most. We offer people the time and space to talk when they are ready.
• Professional: We are experienced, committed and operate to the highest standard throughout the organisation. Our services are based on best practice, research, and feedback.
• Inclusive: We value and develop our diverse team and strive to understand and respond to the needs of all communities across Scotland to make sure no one goes through grief alone.
• Collaborative: By working as a team and collaborating with others, we can help build a more empathetic, bereavement-friendly society in Scotland.
• Dedicated: Our passion, knowledge and dedication help people live with their grief, one day at a time.

Why the name Cruse Scotland?

A ‘cruse’ is an ancient word for a vessel or jug used in the Biblical story of the widow who looked after the prophet Elijah. As long as they looked after each other, their cruse of oil would never run dry. In 1959, Cruse Bereavement Care was set up on the principle that if we took care of each other, we would always have the resources and resilience for others and for ourselves.

Our Affiliations

Cruse  Scotland is a company limited by guarantee (SC218026) and a registered Scottish charity (SC031600).

We are a member of COSCA, the professional body for Counselling and Psychotherapy in Scotland, and work within the COSCA Statement of Ethics and Code of Practice.

We are also members of the Helpline Partnership and the Child Bereavement Network.