Cruse Scotland
Cruse Scotland is a registered Scottish charity providing free, multi-channel bereavement support — including a helpline, GriefChat, counselling, and groups — to adults, children, and military families across Scotland, supplemented by a paid training division for workplaces and schools.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded-
- HeadquartersEdinburgh, United Kingdom
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingServices
What Cruse Scotland does
Cruse Scotland is a registered Scottish charity (SC031600) and company limited by guarantee (SC218026), headquartered in Edinburgh with an additional office in Perth, that has operated as Scotland's dedicated bereavement charity for over 60 years. The organization delivers free, multi-channel bereavement support to adults, children and young people, and military families across Scotland, including a national helpline (0808 802 6161), online GriefChat, one-to-one counselling (face-to-face, phone, and video), early support services for the recently bereaved, and in-person and online support groups such as Walk & Talk. Its underlying technology stack is a relatively conventional service-delivery platform: a website with online intake, a real-time chat product (GriefChat), video conferencing for remote counselling, and downloadable publications, supported by a content and email marketing layer rather than a proprietary software product.
The business model blends charitable and commercial revenue streams. The core support offering is free at the point of use and funded through individual donations, corporate partnerships, and grants from trusts and foundations (e.g., National Lottery Community Fund, Glasgow Communities Fund, Scotmid Funerals). A separate training division generates fee income through individual online courses at £50 per person, workplace group bookings (up to 12 delegates) priced at £1,000 online / £1,200 in-person for public and private sector clients and £600 / £800 for third sector clients, bespoke programmes, schools training, and a self-paced "Navigating Grief in the Workplace" eLearning course. Go-to-market is hybrid: community-led and self-referral for the helpline/counselling service, paired with direct B2B sales for workplace and school training, and partnership-driven referrals through GPs, hospitals, NHS bodies, and allied charities such as AtaLoss, Baby Loss Retreat, and COSCA.
Cruse Scotland firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Cruse Scotland
- Legal name
- Cruse Scotland
- Website
- https://crusescotland.org.uk
- Company type
- Private
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Cruse Scotland is a registered Scottish charity providing free, multi-channel bereavement support — including a helpline, GriefChat, counselling, and groups — to adults, children, and military families across Scotland, supplemented by a paid training division for workplaces and schools.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Cruse Scotland industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Bereavement Support Services
- NAICS
- Individual and Family Services (6241)
- SIC
- Services-Social Services (8300)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Bereavement & Grief Support Services (Hospice-Affiliated/Independent) (HLADAHAL)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Bereavement & Grief Support Services (Family Aftercare) (HSABAFAI)
Keywords
Where Cruse Scotland is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Edinburgh
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices2 records
Markets served
Cruse Scotland business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others
Revenue model
- Donations and Charitable Giving: Cruse Scotland is a registered Scottish charity (SC031600) that relies on public and philanthropic donations from individuals to fund operations
- Training Fees: Fee-for-service workplace and professional training programmes generating income from organizations across public, private, and third sectors
- Trust and Foundation Grants: Funding from trusts and foundations including Glasgow City Council, Scotmid Funerals, National Lottery Community Fund, and Creative Steps Nairn
- Corporate Partnerships: Partnerships with businesses for fundraising and workplace training services
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Single place online training courses |
| Unit Pricing | Multi-year contract | Workplace training - Public/Private Sector |
| Unit Pricing | Multi-year contract | Workplace training - Third Sector |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels6 records
Marketing channels6 records
Cruse Scotland product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Cruse Scotland provides free bereavement support services across Scotland to adults, children and young people, including a national helpline, one-to-one counselling (face-to-face, telephone and video), early support sessions, support groups (including Walk & Talk), GriefChat online text-based support, and specialist services for the military bereaved. The organisation also sells fee-based bereavement training programmes to workplaces, schools and healthcare/social care professionals, and generates revenue through donations, grants and corporate partnerships.
Product overview
Cruse Scotland is Scotland's leading bereavement charity offering a portfolio of support services rather than a single software product. The core offerings include a Free Bereavement Helpline (0808 802 6161) for immediate telephone support, One-to-One Bereavement Counselling for Adults (available face-to-face, by phone, or video), Early Support Services for those recently bereaved, GriefChat for online text-based support, and various Support Groups including Walk & Talk groups. For children and young people, specialist support is provided through trained volunteers. The organisation also operates a significant training division offering Bereavement Training for Workplaces (group bookings), Schools Training, and individual Online Training Courses covering topics such as grief and loss, neurodiversity, cultural differences, and therapeutic practice. The Navigating Grief in the Workplace eLearning Course provides self-paced learning. Publications and resources including self-care leaflets and translated materials complement the service portfolio.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Free Bereavement Helpline Free telephone helpline (0808 802 6161) staffed by trained volunteers providing emotional support, information and referral for bereaved individuals across Scotland.
- One-to-One Bereavement Counselling for Adults Individual counselling sessions for adults at least six months after bereavement, delivered face-to-face, by phone or via video conferencing.
- Early Support Service Support service available from the day of a death up to six months after, providing information, coping strategies and risk assessment for recently bereaved individuals.
- GriefChat Online chat service providing real-time text-based bereavement support for those who prefer written communication.
- Support Groups Group bereavement support including Early Support Groups (less than six months), long-term support groups and social groups such as Walk & Talk groups across Scotland.
- Children & Young People Support Specialist bereavement support for children and young people delivered by trained volunteers using age-appropriate methods.
- Support for the Military Bereaved Specialised bereavement support for members of the armed forces community and their families.
- Bereavement Training for Workplaces Group training courses for employers to create bereavement-friendly workplaces, covering compassionate communication, vicarious trauma and bereavement policies. Priced from £1,000 online or £1,200 in-person for up to 12 delegates (public/private sector) and £600 online / £800 in-person for third sector.
- Schools Training Training courses for teachers and school staff to support bereaved children and young people and develop school bereavement strategies.
- Online Training Courses (Single Place Bookings) Individual online course bookings priced at £50 per person covering topics such as grief and loss, neurodiversity, cultural differences and therapeutic practice.
- Navigating Grief in the Workplace eLearning Course Self-paced online course designed to increase knowledge and confidence in understanding and responding to grief in workplace settings.
- Publications and Resources Downloadable leaflets, guides and self-care resources for adults, children and young people experiencing bereavement, including translated materials.
Quantifiable outcome
- Multiple service delivery channels including phone, video, face-to-face, and online chat
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use Cruse Scotland
Customer profileNamed customers7 records
Segments6 records
Ideal customer profiles5 records
Cruse Scotland technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature2 records
Cruse Scotland partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- AtaLosscoreAtaLoss helps bereaved people find support in the interests of their mental and physical health as well as practical, financial, social and spiritual wellbeing. Partnership focuses on referral and information sharing for bereaved individuals.
- Baby Loss RetreatcoreBaby Loss Retreat offers support for families and siblings affected by baby loss, including counselling, trauma therapy, and bereavement support. Partnership provides retreat-based support services for families experiencing pregnancy and baby loss.
- Bereavement ChartercoreCruse Scotland was part of a coalition that developed A Bereavement Charter for Children and Adults in Scotland. The Charter describes what best bereavement care and support should look like.
- COSCA (Counselling & Psychotherapy in Scotland)coreCOSCA is the professional body for counselling and psychotherapy in Scotland. Cruse Scotland works with COSCA to develop and quality-assure training for volunteers and the policies for clinical governance of practice.
- Cruse Bereavement SupportcoreCruse Scotland works collaboratively with their sister organisation, Cruse Bereavement Support, raising awareness of bereavement care and the delivery of UK-wide initiatives.
- Glasgow City Council (Glasgow Communities Fund)coreFunding partner for Glasgow 6months+ support groups for bereaved individuals
- Scotmid FuneralscoreFunding partner for Early Support and online support groups
- Creative Steps NairnminorSupported by Scottish Government and Highland TSI for local support services
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Cruse Scotland competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Marie Curie: Large UK charity focused on end-of-life care and hospice services, which also delivers bereavement support and information. Comparable as a broader charity with overlapping bereavement touchpoints, though hospice-led rather than bereavement-led.
- Macmillan Cancer Support: Large UK cancer charity that funds bereavement support and is itself a buyer of Cruse Scotland's training. Comparable as a large incumbent purchaser/funder of grief services and an adjacent training customer.
- Sue Ryder: UK charity operating hospices and providing bereavement support, including online community and grief counselling. Comparable on bereavement services and training, with a broader palliative-care portfolio.
- Samaritans: UK-wide emotional support charity operating a free 24/7 helpline and email service. Comparable in operating a free volunteer-staffed emotional support helpline, though for general emotional distress rather than grief specifically.
Emerging players
- AtaLoss: UK charity providing a searchable directory of bereavement services and signposting for bereaved people. Already a Cruse Scotland partner; comparable as a referral/signposting platform that overlaps with GriefChat's discovery function.
- Together for Short Lives: UK children's palliative care charity supporting families of children with life-limiting conditions, including bereavement support and family services. Comparable niche focus on bereavement support within a specific population.
Direct peers
- Cruse Bereavement Support: The UK-wide sister organisation of Cruse Scotland, offering the same bereavement helpline, counselling, and training model across England, Wales, and Northern Ireland. Directly comparable in service mix, brand, and operating model; the principal peer for cross-border benchmarking.
- Child Bereavement UK: UK charity providing bereavement support for children, families, and professionals, with training and a national helpline. Overlaps directly with Cruse Scotland's CYP support and schools training offering.
- Winston's Wish: UK charity specialising in bereavement support for children and young people, including a helpline, one-to-one support, and professional training. Directly comparable on the CYP segment that Cruse Scotland also serves.
Others
- Hospice UK: National charity for hospice and palliative care in the UK, providing advocacy, training, and bereavement-related resources. Comparable as a sector umbrella and training provider rather than a direct service competitor.
Market position
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Cruse Scotland social profiles
Digital presenceCruse Scotland financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Cruse Scotland leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles3 records
Cruse Scotland funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Cruse Scotland M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Cruse Scotland
What does Cruse Scotland do?
Cruse Scotland provides free bereavement support services across Scotland to adults, children and young people, including a national helpline, one-to-one counselling (face-to-face, telephone and video), early support sessions, support groups (including Walk & Talk), GriefChat online text-based support, and specialist services for the military bereaved. The organisation also sells fee-based bereavement training programmes to workplaces, schools and healthcare/social care professionals, and generates revenue through donations, grants and corporate partnerships.
Is Cruse Scotland a public or private company?
Cruse Scotland is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Cruse Scotland founded?
Cruse Scotland was founded in -1. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Cruse Scotland based?
Cruse Scotland is headquartered in Edinburgh, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does Cruse Scotland make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Donations and Charitable Giving is the primary driver. The others are training Fees, trust and Foundation Grants and corporate Partnerships.
Who are Cruse Scotland's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Marie Curie, Macmillan Cancer Support, Sue Ryder and Samaritans. Emerging players are AtaLoss and Together for Short Lives. Direct peers are Cruse Bereavement Support, Child Bereavement UK and Winston's Wish. Hospice UK is listed as an others.
Does Cruse Scotland have an API?
No public API is recorded for Cruse Scotland.
What industry is Cruse Scotland in?
Cruse Scotland's product category is Bereavement Support Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is HLADAHAL, Bereavement & Grief Support Services (Hospice-Affiliated/Independent), with a secondary code of HSABAFAI, Bereavement & Grief Support Services (Family Aftercare). Its NAICS code is 6241 and its SIC code is 8300.