Three friends who connected through a grief support service have reunited to express their gratitude to the charity and sponsor that brought them together.

Pamela Carmichael from Glasgow, Viv Milne from Aberdeen and Nik Laird from Dumfries met online in 2022 via Cruse Scotland's free grief support service after each losing a parent.

Cruse Scotland's online group, which offers support in the early months of bereavement, served as their initial point of contact, and the trio soon became friends.

Pamela joined the Early Support Group online after the sudden death of her mother, Millie, at 63.

She said: "I was reluctant to reach out and felt really nervous, but you were made to feel so welcome and at ease.

"You quickly realised there was a shared connection with everyone else on the video call and there was no judgement, it was a safe space."

The Early Support group was a six-week programme, run weekly and facilitated by professional counsellors with volunteer support.

Nik said: "Despite the nerves I had before joining, after the first session I thought ‘I’m so glad I did that’ - it was refreshing."

Viv added: "I have friends, but you sometimes feel like you could be bothering them.

"After the funeral when things start to quieten down and people don’t reach out as often, speaking with this group - people who know what you’re going through because they’re going through it too - makes a big difference."

Pamela said the support group helped her cope with the prospect of her wedding without her mother.

She said: "This group supported me so much that I didn’t want to miss a single session, so even joined one of the sessions live from my honeymoon in Mexico."

Cruse Scotland provides a wide array of support services, including one-to-one counselling sessions, a helpline, and specialised support for children and young people, all free of charge.

The charity is able to offer these services without cost due to contributions from various sources, including funding grants.

Significant backing has come from Scotmid Funerals which has contributed £25,500 over the past three years to Cruse Scotland's Early Support Programme.

Viv, Nik and Pamela chatting with tea and biscuits (Image: Cruse Scotland) Fiona Arnott-Barron, CEO of Cruse Scotland, said: "We cannot thank Scotmid Funerals enough for their support of our early support service, which has allowed us to bring some relief to so many people across Scotland who have struggled to cope in the early aftermath of losing someone very close."

James Blackburn, head of Scotmid Funerals, said: "We understand that grief can be an incredibly isolating experience, which is why supporting Cruse Scotland’s Early Support Programme has been so important to us.

"We're proud to have contributed to a service that not only helps people navigate their loss but also fosters meaningful connections and friendships during such a difficult time."

The trio were keen to maintain contact after the end of the support sessions, and they reached out to facilitators to express their wish.

Those who were happy to exchange numbers set up a WhatsApp group to stay in touch.

Viv said: "The depth of our friendship now is such that it’s not just about the deaths.

"When it comes to those difficult dates, however, we’re always there checking in and supporting each other that way."

Nik added: "Yeah, things like the first anniversaries, the first Christmas, Pamela facing her wedding without her mum, or when my twin daughters were graduating, we found it tough without my dad, their Papa, being there, but Viv and Pamela remembered and just reached out."

The group of friends encouraged anyone struggling after the loss of a loved one to reach out for support.

Pamela said: "It’s a strength to ask for help, not a failure."

For more information, visit the Cruse Scotland website.