BEREAVED relatives are having to wait weeks for grief counselling because of a shortage of North-East volunteers.

Tees Valley Cruse desperately needs supervisors to support its teams of counsellors who bring much-needed relief to people who have lost a loved one. About 100 volunteers work for Tees Valley Cruse, which covers 3,000 square miles including Darlington, Teesdale, Weardale, Teesside, Hartlepool, Hambleton and Richmondshire.

On average, one in 25 people who are bereaved get in touch. Last year, the service helped 515 people with one-to-one counselling. But until at least 20 supervisors are found, Cruse is having to operate a six to eight-week waiting list for counselling, even though 110 people have volunteered to be trained.

Counsellors undergo a 60-hour course before working with the public, but they must have at least an hour's supervision every month. Supervisors are there to support counsellors and maintain standards.

"It's a very important job and we cannot do without them," said Joyce Spanswick, chairwoman of the Cruse client services committee, who is also a trained supervisor.

Without the supervisors Cruse is unable to train the volunteers, who could cut the waiting list for counselling.

"Ideally we would like this to be under four weeks," said Cruse area co-ordinator Ian Rogers. "But we can't do that until we find supervisors.

"We are looking for already trained supervisors or people who are willing to be trained and we can provide that training."

Potential supervisors need at least two years' experience, to be accredited and have a variety of counselling experience, including both sexes, different age groups and a range of cultures.

They then receive six days intensive training spread over six months.

Not everyone needs one-to-one counselling and Cruse also does a lot of assessment work.

Anyone interested in becoming a supervisor is asked to get in touch with Cruse on (01325) 252777.