DrugFAM bereavement support
841. Gill Owen-Conway
Gill Owen-Conway, from Buckinghamshire, is an email and telephone befriender at ‘DrugFAM’, specialising in supporting ‘DrugFAM’ clients who have experienced bereavement in the most traumatic circumstances.
Gill began volunteering for ‘DrugFAM’ in 2012, after spending 16 years as a director at ‘Samaritans’. She created the High Wycombe support group and is a co-facilitator for the quarterly bereavement support groups, which attract people from across the country who need to share their experiences without facing any judgement. Gill dedicates over 780 hours each year to volunteering for the charity and advised the organisation to extend their support to include email help.
In a personal letter to Gill, Prime Minister Theresa May said:
“Your work with ‘DrugFAM’ as well as your experience at ‘Samaritans’ demonstrates your inspiring dedication to providing a listening ear to some of the people in society who need it most. By both extending the organisation’s support to include email help and also creating a bereavement support group in High Wycombe, you have given your local community the opportunity to share their experiences without judgement.”
Gill (left of the PM) received her award from the Prime Minister at a reception for DrugFAM in Downing Street. Fellow Point of Light winner Karen (right of the PM) also received her award at the reception for her work with DrugFAM.