St Catherine's Hospice, in partnership with employee benefits specialists Unum, were thrilled to win a national award at the Rehabilitation First Awards, which rewards companies, individuals and initiatives that demonstrate successful use of rehabilitation.

The hospice's Patient and Family Support Team scooped the Training Award at a London awards ceremony on Friday 9th September for their efforts, in partnership with Unum, in developing an innovative bereavement toolkit.

The toolkit helps managers feel confident when supporting bereaved colleagues and offers information on the effects of grief and bereavement and the impact this may have on employees' work. The digital toolkit also provides advice on understanding the challenges a bereaved colleague will face and dealing with practicalities.

Karen Norman, Lead for Patient and Family Support Services at St Catherine's said: "We're thrilled to win Rehabilitation First's Training award and to be nationally recognised as experts in helping people manage bereavement. For many of us, the workplace is where we spend most of our time so when you're bereaved it's important that your colleagues and managers feel able to support you. Our bereavement toolkit is there to help people feel confident when talking about death and bereavement and it's been a really exciting project to work on. We hope lots of businesses will make use of it and that more workers will feel supported by their employers as a result."

Dr Christopher Schenk, Chief Medical Officer at Unum said: "Our research shows that 30 per cent of workers would consider leaving their job if they didn't feel cared for by their company. As an employee benefits provider, we work with employers to provide help and support to staff when they need it most and we're committed to making a difference. Our free online toolkit, created in association with St Catherine's, takes you through what bereavement is all about using video and fact sheets to make the subject more approachable. It's been a privilege to work with St Catherine's."

To view St Catherine's and Unum's toolkit please visit: - www.unum.co.uk/bereavement or to find out more about how St Catherine's can work with your business please contact Laura Kelly, Corporate Fundraiser on 01293 447365 or visit: www.stch.org.uk