Scotland’s only charity-owned funeral director has launched a Christmas fundraising campaign to support bereaved families.
Over 1,000 families will lose a loved one this coming Christmas week in Scotland and since Caledonia Cremation launched in February 2018, it has received £900 in donations from members of the public concerned about funeral poverty.
Caledonia Cremation, recent winners of prestigious Scottish and UK-wide social enterprise awards, offer only very simple direct cremations where any ceremony must take place away from the crematorium.
As well as making funerals cheaper, Caledonia Cremation offers a national funeral poverty advice helpline and is setting up community bereavement group.
Funeral director Ian Kirk said: “Sadly, every year we see families bereaved over the festive season – for some it is far from a joyful time of year. I know many people will themselves remember how hard it is to face grief during the carols and present opening.
“This year, as austerity continues to bite, we are asking if anyone can send a donation to support our work with funeral poverty. Funerals cost bereaved families thousands of pounds, but we can use even a couple of pounds to help them.”
Co-founder John Halliday, added: “It isn’t a run-of-the-mill traditional choice, but it is an increasingly popular modern option for lots of people as the send off can be made more personal and flexible without costing more. What we need to do now is fundraise, so we can support more Scottish families.”
Anyone who would like to provide a donation or ‘pay forward’ a funeral for someone less fortunate can visit www.caledoniacremations.co.uk/donate to donate via the parent charity, Community Renewal Trust, a Scottish anti-poverty charity.
