Tackling funeral poverty

Funeral poverty is a recognised problem and in recent years it has grown. Funerals are often an unplanned for expense and a substantial one at that and it can be hard to find out how to keep the costs down.

We want to help with this and we are pleased to help families who want to take more control themselves and pay less.

When you participate in funerals, the cost, which is often an unprovided for expense, can be reduced. Burials often have more scope for participation and opportunities to save on cost because they are generally informal.

These ideas could save you a thousand pounds or more, but also the sense of involvement and greater participation in the funeral will give greater satisfaction than spending a lot of money – it takes love and care. There is a whole new ‘Home Funerals’ movement burgeoning where people do more themselves and save on costs.

Simple ideas for reducing the cost of a funeral include:

• Family and friends bearing the coffin;
• Having a low cost coffin, such as one made from recycled cardboard and wood for just £165. We sell coffins at cost so if you find something in Ebay we don’t mind!
• Making a shroud using a board on which to place the body and wrapping in thick materials to cover it (for burial);
• Looking after the body at home (we provide advice and a kit to help you do this);
• Using one of your own vehicles to transport the coffin to the burial site, or we often use our large estate car which is considerably less money than a hearse;
• Separate the funeral ceremony from the cremation. An unattended early morning cremation is around £700 less than a normal time.
• Using one of the lower cost green burial sites such as Bidwell or South Hams (near Aveton Gifford);
• If you have land, you are allowed bury up to three family members there without needing planning permission (websearch heartandsoulfunerals private land for more information);
• Call different funeral directors and find out about their costs and how flexible they are so you can compare the best deal and service.

Simon Smith is a director of Heart & Soul Funerals, which is committed to its ‘Fair Funerals’ pledge and is pleased to advise those wanting to do more themselves. www.heartandsoulfunerals.co.uk 01803 840779

The Quaker Social Action Group, has a website called ‘Down To Earth’ with lots of information about how to keep costs down.

Get funeral directors to sign up to a pledge who:

1. recognise that funerals can be expensive and many people struggle with the cost.

2. help people to find funerals that are within their means.

3. are open about their most affordable options in initial conversations, within their price lists and on their website.