Rachel Edgecombe - Project Manager
I believe that everyone deserves a place where they can express the feelings around loss in a safe & compassionate space. I have lived experience of suicide from a professional and personal perspective and know first-hand how much of a huge step it can be to talk about suicide.
I have worked in Mental Health, Training & Development and Management with a large focus on my work and personal campaigning focusing on lived experience, death and dying, trauma and suicide.
I am professionally qualified as a Health & Social Sector Manager (BSc) and MSc student in Occupational and Organizational Psychology.
emma.cummings@mindinsomserset.org.uk
Emma Cummings - Project Support Lead / YP Group Lead
I have worked and volunteered in the voluntary sector for over 25 years. I am a qualified Counsellor working with adults and young people, with a backgound in working with complex loss. I have been working with the project since relocating from London almost 5 years ago. My background includes working for the charity Missing People, and in organisations supporting vulnerable adults and young people, mental health and traumatic loss. I facilitate our young peoples Peer Support Group, Roar and lead on the young peoples side of the project.
emma.cummings@mindinsomserset.org.uk
Jaz Williams - Web Designer & Communications Lead
As a teenager I suffered with a lot of mental health issues, including suicidal thoughts. Watching the amazing work my Nan (Susan Hoyle) did alongside SSBSS inspired me to fight my battles, and use my first hand experiences to help other people. I use my knowledge of IT & social media platforms to make sure everyone has access to all online resources I can find to help you through difficult times. I also manage the SSBSS social media platforms, and I am a new qualified grief & bereavement counsellor.
Ruth Carter - Support Worker & Administration Support
I am a trainee humanistic and integrative counsellor, and I have been working as a bereavement counsellor as a part of my volunteer placement. Bereavement work, and ensuring that support is available to individuals who have been bereaved feels incredibly important to me. Grief can shake our entire world into something we no longer recognize. During this period, and for the years after to come, I believe that nobody should have to suffer this alone. I have joined the team as a support worker, and admin support and I feel incredibly lucky to be a part of such an important and meaningful project.