You have supported and encouraged me for five and a half years in so many ways. You were there to give me strength and courage to take the next hurdle. You have comforted me through my tears and sadness and you have been patient when I was frustrated or angry. You've been my friend. Thank you so very much. – Family member
Once you have got into the habit of keeping lists (see section 1.2 Planning Skills – To do lists) it can be useful to keep a record of important people, telephone numbers, e-mail contacts and addresses. This might be for day to day things like your doctor, dentist, school or college, work numbers etc but it also works well for other families you might be in contact with, people on your local council, legal representatives or support agencies, journalists, other media, local MP etc.
Once you have a list of useful numbers and addresses you might want to share them with others who are experiencing similar things to you. The more information you can store and share the easier it is to access it in the future.
It might be useful to separate your contact list into sections. An example could be:
Inquest and investigation contacts: coroner’s officer, Family Liaison Manager, Commissioner, Investigator (if the death is being investigated by the IPCC) and the Family Liaison Officer (if the death is being investigated by the PPO).
Support contacts: INQUEST caseworker, lawyer, doctor, faith group, bereavement organisations, counsellor (if you have one) and other families
Practical contacts: funeral director, benefits agency, school / college, housing department, social services
Tips for making the most of your contact lists
- It helps to be organised. It’s easier to find the number you need when your most important numbers are all kept in the same place
- If you keep the list somewhere where you can see it easily then you never have to look for it
- You can keep your list up to date. A personal example, if you move to a different area and register with a new doctor, or on a broader level, new families may become involved with your support network, lobbying or even campaigns
- It’s useful for other people if you are happy to share telephone numbers and e-mail addresses. Shared contacts mean a larger bank of knowledge and information.
