Charities urged to update funeral support in line with Covid rules

Charities are being urged to update their funeral support in line with Covid-19 restrictions by Legacy Foresight, the UK’s foremost analysts of the legacy and in-memory sectors.

According to the firm, in-memory motivated giving provides £2.2bn a year to UK charities, however restrictions mean many people have been unable to attend funerals.

Legacy Foresight is predicting there could be a wave of “compensatory” memorial events in spring/summer next year or whenever restrictions are lifted.

In the firm’s review of 40 charities and hospices, it was revealed that less than two-thirds of charities offered supporters an online collection page as an alternative to a physical collection at the funeral.

Kate Jenkinson, head of in-memory consultancy at Legacy Foresight, said: “Charities have an unprecedented opportunity to support families who are planning memorials for their loved ones, but they urgently need to make their information about funerals more agile and responsive to the times. 

“Offering dynamic and reliable information around funeral giving – including relevant donation options – is one of the best ways charities can help those who come forward in memory of a loved one.”

She added: “It should be a core part of their overall strategy of support in these times.”