The Coroners’ Courts Support Service (CCSS) is an independent voluntary organisation whose trained volunteers offer emotional support and practical help to bereaved families, witnesses and others attending an Inquest at a Coroner’s Court.

Our volunteers use listening skills, demonstrate empathy and show a non-judgmental and non-prejudicial attitude to support those attending. The volunteers build rapport and trust to enable those attending to identify and talk about their needs in order for them to fully understand and participate in the proceedings.

A Coroner’s Court can be a bewildering and confusing place to attend. Bereaved families and witnesses often have little or no understanding of the processes and procedures that occur and may feel that they have not been able to fully participate in the proceedings. This may have an impact on their ability to recover or move on within the grieving process. The very difficult circumstances surrounding the death that warrants an Inquest already makes the grieving process complicated and can often delay the normal, natural grieving process. The CCSS volunteers explain the processes, procedures and the remit of the Inquest thus helping those attending to have a much better understanding of their role within this, often frightening environment (indeed, some witnesses have attended an Inquest believing that they will be found guilty of a criminal offence and sent to prison). The relief they have felt once the volunteer has been able to explain the remit is palpable.

The volunteers face very distressed people every day from many different backgrounds, circumstances and lifestyles. It is vital that our volunteers are able to support everyone who attends with a non-judgmental attitude.

Telephone Support Service

Due to the Covid-19 pandemic our volunteers were unable to attend court and provide our support. In response to this we developed the Telephone Support Service. We wanted to ensure we could still offer our support to those attending inquest whilst we could not physically be at court.

Our trained volunteers can guide people through what will happen on the day of the Inquest and will have local knowledge of the area and how the court works and can chat to people on the phone to explain what to expect at the specific court where they will be attending.

They will guide people through the Inquest process and will give you emotional support to help them through a very difficult time in their bereavement. By making contact with our Telephone Support Service, people attending an Inquest are often less anxious and are clearer in their role within the Inquest process when we have been able to support them on the telephone.

The CCSS operates an open referral policy so anyone can make a referral to our Telephone Support Service and people can also self refer. A referral can be done in a variety of ways. 

• Ring our national helpline on 0300 111 2141
• Email our national helpline –  helpline@ccss.org.uk
• Complete our  electronic referral form by following this link  – electronic referral form

Helpline

Our trained volunteers, who also support in Court, volunteer on our Helpline offering emotional and practical support and are able to assist with any queries about the Inquest process. All support is free and confidential and can be over the phone or via e-mail.

The Helpline is available Monday – Friday 09.00-19.00 and Saturday 09.00-14.00.

The telephone number is 0300 111 2141 and email is helpline@ccss.org.uk.