BAGs for Strife, a charity that aims to support families that suffer the devastating loss of a loved one to suicide, has delivered its first care kits to Lancashire Police.

The kits will be shared by officers to families and have been curated by those who have experienced suicide and contains vital information to help families cope in those first initial days and weeks after loss.

From tissues and a candle to encourage sleep to useful contacts and The Little Book of Help, in which friends and family tell their personal stories of loss.

The charity is the brainchild of Angela Allen, from Waddington, who lost her 23-year old-daughter Katrina Fell in November 2019 and just eight months later, her husband Damian also took his own life.

Angela said: “It’s a great feeling to be able to deliver our first set of BAGs as we know support can be a bit of a postcode lottery and these kits contain the useful information all in one place to help people navigate their way through their difficult journey.

"It’s a way of honouring Kat and Damian and gives us a focus for our grief.

“One in every 100 deaths is a suicide so over the next couple of months we’re fundraising for the charity by asking people to do 100 things.

"My daughter Tash kicked us of by running 100 miles from Leeds to the Lakes, and I’m writing 100 letters to people who have supported me and we’d love people to get involved in any way they can.”

Andrew McGinty, mental health and dementia co-ordinator from Lancashire Constabulary, added: “‘Lancashire Constabulary recognises the devastating impact of any suicide on families, friends, loved ones and the wider public.

"Working with Bags for Strife allows us to support those bereaved by suicide by providing them with a much needed resource to assist them through such a difficult time and signpost them to specialist support services."