120 attend inaugural Funeralmap convention
More than 120 people attended the Funeralmap funeral and bereavement convention in Birmingham last week.
The convention, which featured an “It’s All About Choice” theme, took place on 27 March.
Delegates from all quarters of the profession including funeral directors, hospital bereavement managers, hospice staff and celebrants, attended the event in The Clarendon Suites in Edgbaston to hear from a range of speakers.
Speakers included the Rev Dr Peter Jupp, who opened the conference on the subject of attitudes and approaches to death and dying and the changes since the World Wars and birth of the NHS.
Author of The Good Funeral Guide, Charles Cowling, called on the funeral industry to be collaborative demanded greater public debate about death and dying in order to encourage people to plan ahead and make informed choices about their funerals.
Other speakers included manager of the Natural Death Centre, Rosie Inman-Cook; Lauren Dunne from NHS Blood & Transplant North West; director of bereavement services for the Child Bereavement Charity, Ann Rowland.
Event organiser and founder of funeralmap.co.uk, Anne Barber, said: “We were absolutely thrilled with the day and feedback from speakers, delegates and exhibitors has been extremely positive.
“Above all, people liked the fact there were so many different attendees from across the wider funeral and bereavement sector. People who never usually have the chance to meet could exchange ideas, share best practice and generally find out about other areas of their profession that they weren’t necessarily aware of.”
All exhibitors were given a 60-second slot on the stage to talk about their products and services.
