You Are Not Alone
SAMM provides a wide range of peer support services to people bereaved by murder and manslaughter. There is no time limit on becoming a member. Our services are open to everyone regardless of how long ago they were bereaved
We support close relatives as well as wider family members. Even if a loss has affected a bereaved friend, we will support them. As a national charity our support services cover England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
We are independent and therefore not affiliated to any other charity where the SAMM name has been used.
Our unique support services have been designed by the bereaved for the bereaved to meet a persons’ emotional support needs. All volunteers receive bespoke training and have been bereaved through homicide themselves. They have a unique understanding of what it’s like to be traumatically bereaved.
we are here to support you
Membership
Become a SAMM member and receive our quarterly newsletter, along with details of SAMM’s events, and more. It’s free to join and you will have access to our peer support services along with details of future events and activities.
Research
In 2011 the Right Honorable Louise Casey, Baroness Casey of Blackstock DBE CB worked in partnership with SAMM to ask our members about their needs after the experience of having a loved one die through homicide. Four hundred and seventeen members responded, and their questionnaire formed the findings of a review undertaken by Louise regarding the ‘Needs of those Bereaved by Homicide”.
Read the full report here.
We were recently awarded National Lottery funding and with the support of Dame Casey we were able to repeat the survey from the original review. We approached Birmingham City University and Nottingham University to and asked them to report on the findings.
Dr Laura Hammon, Reader of Investigative Psychology and Dr Lauren Bradford, Assistant Professor of Criminology at the University of Nottingham co-produced the report.
The updated review was launched in the House of Commons on Wednesday 28th June 2023. The full updated report can be viewed by clicking the link below.
Life Sentence: The experiences and support needs of those bereaved by murder and manslaughter.
Training
We provide training for bereaved volunteers to become peer supporters. We also offer a separate package for professionals whose work brings them into contact with traumatically bereaved people.
