Caledonia Funeral Aid to enlist more volunteers
The recruits will receive full training and will help out at events and workshops, as well as be given the responsibility of manning the advice line
Caledonia Funeral Aid, a charity that provides free practical and emotional support to the bereaved in Scotland, has pledged to support even more bereaved Scots by enlisting volunteers to help with demand as more face funeral poverty this year.
According to the charity, it has put “a particular focus” on those who are worried about how they are going to afford to pay for a funeral due to the soaring cost-of-living.
This comes as many have had to choose between heating and eating. As a result, a bereavement could cause extra financial worry on top of the pain of a loss.
The charity, which operates a helpline that provides free and impartial advice on organising a funeral, paying for a funeral and how to cope, have issued a callout for volunteers.
The recruits will receive full training and will help out at events and workshops, as well as be given the responsibility of manning the advice line.
John Halliday, co-founder of Caledonia Funeral Aid, said: “A lot of people we support haven’t had to arrange a funeral before – thankfully. However, they are grieving, and they don’t know where to start or what to do.
“The distress is only made worse if finances are an issue. When the average cost of a basic funeral is nearly £4k, the amount of people who are struggling is more than you would think.”
He added: “We are looking for sympathetic and organised people who are passionate about helping others. As we work Scotland-wide, location is flexible, but we are focusing on Glasgow, Edinburgh and Fife in terms of delivering events and workshops.”
