Soma’s Light is a charitable movement set up to raise funds and awareness for mental health support - especially for youth in Orkney. In February 2022 we lost our own child, Soma L Veres, to suicide. Unfortunately, there were very limited support was available at the time in Orkney for young ones, this is something we are working on to change. Our own daughter, Soma’s sister, couldn’t get help locally in bereavement counselling as she is under 16 years old.

We have found help and support at Cruse Scotland. This time, we are working on a project together to help local bereaved children under 16 y old to receive necessary care. Soma’s Light set out to fully fund two local people to undertake the training with Cruse Scotland. Hopefully, we don’t need to stop at 2 local being trained, but creating a rolling programme if proven successful. Please see details of cost involved below. Altogether we are hoping to achieve to raise enough funds to support the 2 people’s cost for training and travel/ accommodation involved during training around £2000.

in 5 people struggle to cope with their grief following the death of a loved one and require additional support.

Cruse Scotland offer hope when the future seems empty. They provide free specialist bereavement listening and counselling services, so that those needing support receive the right help at the right time, building resilience and improving wellbeing.

£10 may cover a 1-hour call to the Helpline

It costs £50 for each 1to1 counselling session

£100 trains a Helpline volunteer

£500 trains a specialist in children's bereavement