AN organisation that helps people deal with bereavement has chosen Swindon to launch a programme specialising in supporting men affected by suicide.

The Swindon branch of Survivors of Bereavement by Suicide (SOBS) will be the first to run the Engaging Men Programme as a response to the idea that men can feel particularly socially isolated after losing a loved one who has taken their own life.

Jacqueline Parry, who runs SOBS in Swindon and Wiltshire, said at the launch event last week: “We’re really pleased to be piloting the scheme here in Swindon.

“Steve Carter is the person who came up with the idea – he found that men either weren’t going or weren’t getting enough out of the groups.

“Men don’t like to sit around and chat in the same way as women so he thought there needed to be something more targeted at them.

“We’re looking at putting on six social activities between now and the end of the year for men who feel socially isolated after losing a loved one to suicide.”

Nationwide have agreed to support the first activity which will be a barbecue and five a side football day.

Jacqueline is hoping to bring other local businesses on board to help facilitate the kind of activities, such as sporting days out for example, that will encourage men to get together in a way that normal discussion groups won’t.

The man behind the idea, Steve Carter, lost his own son to suicide in September 2011 after a battle with severe depression.

Steve, from Gloucester, said: “For me losing a child is a bit like losing a limb, but words don’t really describe the emotions attached to it.

“It could equally be a spouse or a relative, friend or colleague – the pain is pretty severe.

“I found that SOBS was a great help, it gave us good advice and helped us to talk about our feelings.

“For me it’s a privilege and in a way, a pleasure, to be doing this now.

“It’s a real buzz for me to be able to see this at the beginning of what I hope will have the ability to really reach men affected by suicide.”

The launch event was one of the first to be held at a new community space at the offices of North Swindon MP Justin Tomlinson.

Based at the Orbital Retail Park off Thamesdown Drive, the office features a well-lit open plan area that community groups can request to use for events such as launches and engagement sessions.

Mr Tomlinson said: “I’m very proud that my office has been chosen to host the launch of this local and national programme.

“It is vital for people often in very challenging and distressed circumstances to be able to access the peer to peer support they need in a way which benefits them most effectively.”