WHEN Moira Jones was brutally killed in Glasgow four years ago, it left a gaping wound in the lives of her parents Bea and Hu.

But, as ALISON McCONNELL discovered, they are healing their grief by helping others.

IT was three years ago that a fund was created in memory of Moira Jones, with the aim of trying to help people traumatically bereaved by the violent death of a loved one.

Since 2009, between 250 and 300 families have received financial aid from the organisation.

It was set up by Bea and Hu Jones after their daughter, 40, was abducted from near her home, raped and then murdered in Queen's Park, Glasgow, in May 2008.

The Moira Fund works in partnership with other agencies to provide practical assistance in the aftermath of a murder, assistance that may not be readily available elsewhere.

In some small way it helps the Jones family and offers comfort in the fact that Moira's name can be used positively to help others.

When Bea heard her daughter's killer would be jailed for 25 years, she stood on the steps of the High Court in Glasgow on April 2009 and spoke movingly about the loss of Moira.

But, standing beside her husband and their son, Grant, she also promised The Moira Fund would work to help others.

While Bea is still trying to come to terms with her daughter's death she concentrates on the fund, which offers practical help that families often need but which is not available – or not all available – from Government funds.

Gaps in the system of help from the Government or other agencies may cause added distress to those already struggling to cope.

The Moira Fund offers help in a variety of ways. This can aid the families in the early days after tragedy, during the long wait for a trial or in the black days after the court case.

The fund relies entirely on fundraising and donations and is run by a small group of unpaid volunteers. Its two annual balls, one in Glasgow and one in Stafford, are important in increasing revenue that is then redistributed to those in need.

Bea said: "The most common requests recently have been for respite breaks and that pleases us because that it is not something Victim Support could fund.

"We know, again from experience, how much a little break away from things can ease the stress a little, supply a bit of private grieving space or help a family that has been torn apart by murder to bond again.

"We have helped a lot of people with little respite breaks.

"Recently we funded a trip to Legoland for the four children of one mum but two different dads.

"The mum was murdered and these brothers and sisters are now being brought up by their own fathers.

"The dads are determined the children should maintain close contact and this special time together was a good start for them all.

"We have also funded little family breaks to caravans and holiday parks, especially to help those who are now bringing up the children of murdered sisters or daughters.

"One lady went on a two-day coach trip because she wanted to be by herself on the anniversary of her son's death. She just couldn't bear to be near where he had been killed. She needed peace and quiet.

"Everyone needs something different.

"We have a lot of grans who are left looking after young children and even just a short break can help them to bond a little bit.

"We can't do anything expensive – our maximum grant is £500 – but many have benefited from breaks that have cost less than that. It is just to get away."

Bea and Hu are still grappling with their own grief and the rawness of the wounds remain obvious.

But with the help of specialist grief counselling they have been able to find something to hold on to.

Not many people, however, will be aware of just how expensive help can be.

In England and Wales, a change in the law in 2010 means that families of murder victims now have a consistent point of contact, a Homicide Case Worker, who can make an assessment about their emotional welfare and arrange for professional help when necessary.

This professional help is available through funding from the Ministry Of Justice. Bea would like to see this system extended to Scotland.

It was not until nearly three years after Moira's death that Bea and Hu were able to access the level of professional support they needed and they are pleased that this is now changing for the better.

Bea would like to see a similar protocol established here.

She knows that Petal (People Experiencing Trauma And Loss) a charity based in Hamilton, now also provides support for victims in Glasgow and Edinburgh, but there will be many who may not be aware of it and who will not know where to turn at their time of crisis.

Arranging counselling privately over weeks or months would be expensive for almost every family.

Bea said: "We could not have afforded that.

"If counselling is needed, it should be offered. People in this situation should be assessed for it.

"Many victims will feel so stunned anyway that they may not know they need help – an outsider may recognise this long before they do.

"At the time you are given booklets and information, but it is very difficult taking everything in.

"For example, we did not know until many weeks after Moira's funeral that the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority generally help with funeral costs, although it takes many months to administer this. This causes difficulties for many.

"There have been a number of Glasgow cases where we have helped in this respect by making a contribution towards the deposit for the funeral or by paying monthly instalments for those scraping to exist on little money.

"We have also provided help with extras, such as flowers or a funeral car, when the funeral was a local authority one and the minimum was provided.

In addition to offering financial aid for respite breaks, the fund has also helped with transport and accommodation costs so that close family members, apart from the next of kin, can attend a trial.

The Moira Fund also helps with other, unexpected needs that can and do arise.

Bea said: "There was one case that really got to me.

"There was a woman murdered who left a 14-year-old girl and six-year-old twins. The girl was the oldest next-of-kin.

"There was no other family because the mum had been fostered. The teenager was put into local authority care in a children's home and the twins were put into emergency foster care. This meant the funeral was a local authority one and a coffin, hearse and service was provided.

"The girl was very distressed because she felt her mum was not having a "proper funeral".

"Her family liaison officer contacted us to ask if we could help with a car.

"Although plenty of people offered the use of their cars the girl wanted her mum to have a proper funeral car.

"We were told social workers involved had clubbed together to provide a memorial plaque but, when I asked, I was told there was no provision for flowers, apart from the official police ones.

"I also asked about clothes for the funeral.

"We sent cheques, £120 for a car, £100 so the girl could choose her own flowers for her mum, and an Asda card for £100 so that with help from her liaison officer she could choose suitable clothes and shoes for the day.

"We had enabled a distressed young girl to bury her mum with dignity and I know we made an important difference to her. This is the kind of thing we are here for."

l Tickets for the Moira Fund Autumn Ball on October 27 are still available. They are £40 each and include a three-course dinner, bubbly reception and grand auction. They can be booked at: www.themoirafund.org.uk