Pete’s Dragons
Suicide Bereavement has been described as ‘grief with the volume turned up.’ Its effects on families, communities and society as a whole are devastating and tragic. Pete’s Dragons provides a bespoke service to anyone in Devon who has been affected in this way. The charity was founded by Alison Jordan after her brother, Pete Wicks, took his own life in 2010 at the age of 24.

Our work in suicide prevention
Pete’s Dragons helps by providing resource packs tailored specifically to families’ needs. We offer a listening service and also practical advice and help on issues ranging from how to inform others of a death, to dealing with the media, wills and probate, applying for benefits, funeral arrangements and inquest guidance.
We run children’s and family fun days, grief recovery courses, and bereavement counselling, and we liaise with other appropriate support services.
Our families benefit from mindfulness through play, as well as regular workshops and learning events focused on emotional and physical wellbeing. We also offer initiatives such as the Christmas Hug in a Hamper and Comfort Grant to help break the stigma and isolation often felt after a suicide, while also assisting those in financial distress.
Families can enjoy a break in our holiday home in Exmouth, where they can relax and begin building new and positive memories.
We provide grants to help bereaved individuals purchase items or services that may support them as they navigate the emotional and financial challenges experienced after a suicide. While Pete’s Dragons strives to support families, we believe it would be far better if suicide rates were reduced to zero. To help prevent suicide, we also provide ASIST, SafeTALK, and SuicideTALK training.

Our current priorities
Providing suicide bereavement support across the whole of Devon. We cover three areas (South, North, Mid/East) and need to cover the fourth (Plymouth).
We are constantly striving to generate sustainable funding streams in the absence of any statutory funding for suicide bereavement.
Pete’s Dragons is continuing to raise the profile of suicide prevention initiatives within a series of communities which are fearful to engage with the issue.

Our current challenges
Covering such a large and rural geographical area and maintaining our ethos of providing a bespoke service to each individual in a timely and appropriate manner in the absence of statutory funding. It is a constant and major challenge to find a balance between providing our valued services and generating the required revenue to keep it going.
