PETE’S Dragons, the suicide bereavement charity, recently received a visit from presenter Jennie Bond, ahead of Red Nose Day.

Jennie visited the charity’s headquarters in Exmouth to find out just how important Comic Relief funding is to projects in the South West.

Speaking about her visit to Pete’s Dragons, Jennie said: “Thanks to Comic Relief, Pete’s Dragons can provide people going through a terrible time after the suicide of a loved one with the support they need to help them cope with their grief.

“It has been wonderful to meet the charity and speak to some of the people Pete’s Dragons has supported who are now able to move onwards with their lives.”

Pete’s Dragons support people after the suicide of a loved one. It was set up in 2010 by chief executive Alison Hill who lost her brother Pete, from Launceston, to suicide.

After Pete died, Alison found there was a lack of support and advice specifically available for people who were going through bereavement after suicide. She decided to retrain to be able to provide this support for others going through the same experience.

Pete’s Dragons works closely with Devon and Cornwall constabulary and aims to make contact with a family who has lost a loved one within 48 hours of the death. The project supports the family in any way that is required, from the more practical aspects like funeral arrangements and financial grants, to emotional support with kindnesses like family days out and sending a hamper at Christmas.

One of Pete’s Dragons beneficiaries is India, an 18-year-old girl, whose life has been deeply affected by suicide. A member of India’s family recently made a suicide attempt and two young people from her secondary school took their own lives just months apart.

After recommendation from a mental health professional, India came to Pete’s Dragons. India said: “I don’t know where I’d be without the support I‘ve received from Alison and her team. They have helped me cope with my feelings and move forward with my life.”

Comic Relief funding has enabled Pete’s Dragons to offer vital wellbeing services to help people find a way to cope with their grief. The funding has equipped the project’s two therapy rooms — making them extremely versatile for a number of activities from teaching to meditation.

Alison said: “Comic Relief has allowed us to provide a multitude of services to help those who need it. Everyone we meet experiences grief in a different way, making it essential for us to provide a range of therapies. We are now able to offer counselling and holistic treatments like meditation, mindfulness and sessions to support children. We also run suicide awareness training.”