Westerleigh Group donates £13,500 to Child Bereavement UK
Westerleigh’s donation will cover the cost of a candle on behalf of each of its 41 crematoria and cemeteries
Westerleigh Group has made a donation of £13,500 to Child Bereavement UK in support of its vital work helping families to rebuild their lives when a child grieves or when a child dies.
The donation has been given to the charity through its annual Christmas Carol Service and ‘Light A Candle’ memorial appeal.
Child Bereavement UK’s ‘Light A Candle’ memorial appeal invited donations of £300 to be made for each remembrance candle to be lit.
Westerleigh’s donation will cover the cost of a candle on behalf of each of its 41 crematoria and cemeteries, one for its East Lothian Crematorium, which is due to open next summer, as well as one for Distinct Cremations, the group’s funeral plans and direct cremations provider, and one for memorial and masonry partner, AK Lander.
All the donations came from the proceeds of the group’s metal recycling scheme. With the consent of families, metals recovered during the cremation process are recycled and the proceeds donated to charities across England, Scotland and Wales.
Debbie Smith, CEO of Westerleigh Group, said: “For more than 30 years, Westerleigh Group has been supporting the bereaved, and we have built a strong reputation based on providing exceptional care to the families we serve.
“Having served over 80,000 bereaved families this year, the work of Child Bereavement UK resonates deeply with us, and is the reason why we once again didn’t hesitate to donate to the ‘Light A Candle’ appeal.”
She added: “Christmas can be a particularly difficult time for the bereaved in any situation, but can be especially challenging for a child who is grieving the loss of a parent or sibling, or a parent whose baby or child has died.”
Wendy Bray, head of philanthropy, special events and corporate partnerships at Child Bereavement UK, added: “We are very grateful to Westerleigh Group for supporting the Christmas Concert through our ‘Light a Candle’ appeal again this year. Their generosity will help us to continue our vital work with bereaved families, rebuilding lives.”
