At Varty’s Funeral Directors and Monumental Masons, our work begins when a family has already suffered a loss.
We support people through grief, help them make difficult decisions, and guide them through some of the hardest days of their lives.
However, this year, as we mark our 90th year in business, we are also supporting something that looks at loss from a different angle.
We are proud to be supporting EPiC Hope CIC and its life-saving initiative, Project Bridge Aid.
A partnership built on shared purpose
We first connected with EPiC Hope at the Wigan Business Awards which turned out to be a powerful evening for both organisations.
Varty’s was named Independent Business of the Year, while EPiC Hope received a Special Recognition Award for its work supporting people affected by suicide.
Since then, that connection has grown into a meaningful partnership based on shared values, compassion, community and action.
Why this matters to us
In our profession, we see first-hand the lasting impact suicide can have on families and communities. It is something that stays with you.
That is why supporting EPiC Hope feels so important to us. It is a chance to stand behind work that focuses on prevention, early intervention and being there when someone needs help the most.
Kristen Varty, Director at Varty’s Funeral Directors, said:
“In our line of work, we see first-hand the impact that suicide has on families and communities. It’s something that stays with you. Supporting EPiC Hope, and now Bridge Aid, is about doing what we can to make a difference before families ever need our services.”
What is Project Bridge Aid?
Project Bridge Aid is one of EPiC Hope’s most proactive initiatives to date.
The project places trained volunteers on motorway bridges to engage with people who may be in crisis and offer immediate support.
It’s important to be present in the moment, recognise distress, and create the chance for intervention before it is too late.
Ellie Palma-Cass, founder of EPiC Hope CIC, said:
“Project Bridge Aid is about being there in the moment when someone needs it most. Having the support of Varty’s means we can grow that presence and reach more people. Their backing sends a powerful message about community, compassion, and taking action.”
Supporting awareness as well as fundraising
Our support for EPiC Hope will continue throughout our 90th year.
As part of that commitment, we will be hosting a Family Fun Day fundraiser in July in partnership with Rose Bridge Rugby Club, with proceeds going towards EPiC Hope’s work across Wigan.
In addition, Project Bridge Aid has launched a public campaign calling for the installation of crisis support signage on motorway and railway bridges.
The aim is to provide clear, visible information that can help people in distress access immediate, local support.
The power of community action
Suicide continues to affect families across the region, so partnerships like this matter.
They show what can happen when local organisations come together, not only to respond to loss, but to help prevent it.
For us, supporting EPiC Hope is about standing with a cause that is trying to save lives, support families and bring hope into the darkest moments.
How you can support the campaign
Members of the public are being encouraged to back Project Bridge Aid by signing the petition calling for crisis support signage on motorway and railway bridges.
Every signature helps raise awareness of the need for visible, immediate support for people in crisis.
If you would like to support the campaign, you can sign the petition by clicking here.
