Help and Support News Articles

11/07/2019

Who will look after your pets when you die?

The implications of failing to plan for the future can extend beyond our human family. We might assume that friends or family will take in our pets when we pass, but can we really be sure they will be looked after properly?

04/07/2019

Are social media messages from beyond the grave OK?

Do you want your social media life to continue after you have gone? Would you want to Tweet after you’ve died? Are Facebook updates from the beyond the grave acceptable?

13/06/2019

How to choose a coffin

Coffins have had a place in funerals for thousands of years and still play an important part in most funeral services. The huge range of coffins available means that it is possible to consider your loved one’s final wishes, from eco-friendly materials to custom colours and designs.

04/06/2019

What happens to your Facebook account after you have gone?

As of March this year, Facebook has reported almost 2.4 billion active users in a world with a population of around 7.7 billion people. Facebook users are probably younger and wealthier than the global average, but with more than 20 million people dying worldwide during 2019 so far, it’s a safe bet that a good number of the deceased are on Facebook.

28/05/2019

How to put together your ‘Rest in Peace’ folder

It has been known as a ‘Death Dossier’, a ‘Life Book’, or simply a ‘Rest in Peace Folder’. No matter what name it has been given the purpose remains the same, keeping important information and documents in one place to prevent the need to hunt for them.

14/05/2019

Dying Matters wants to know if we are ready?

In their efforts to raise public awareness of the issues surrounding death and dying, Dying Matters wants to know: Are we ready?

07/05/2019

What is Dying Matters Awareness Week?

The annual awareness week is a high-profile campaign to encourage the public to talk with friends and family about their end-of-life wishes, including where they want to die and their funeral plans.

02/05/2019

Modern memorials: Five ways of remembering

A memorial creates a focus for memories but with less burials, people are looking for new ways to ensure that their loved ones are remembered.

23/04/2019

How to choose the right funeral venues

There are two important venues involved with most funerals: The venue for the service and the venue for the wake. Both should be right for you.

16/04/2019

Why bereavement shouldn’t be trivialised

Talking more about death is a good thing, but there is a clear difference between encouraging private, purposeful conversations around the fulfillment of final wishes and idle banter that risks disrespecting the bereaved.

11/01/2019

Decluttering: Tidying up with Marie Kondo

A keen interest in ‘decluttering’ over the last couple of years comes from our longing for a simple life, and at the centre of this tidying up revolution is Marie Kondo, a Japanese author.

26/06/2018

Charitable donations in memory of a loved one

Sending flowers as a tribute to the deceased is less common than it used to be, with many families now asking for charitable donations in lieu of flowers.

01/05/2018

What you need to know about direct cremation

Direct cremations, when the deceased is collected and taken directly from the place of death to the crematorium without a viewing or funeral service, are becoming more popular.

20/03/2018

Can you be sure your funeral costs will be covered?

A pre-paid funeral plan is an ideal way to plan ahead for your funeral. With funeral prices rising faster than inflation and interest rates, there is no guaranteed that money saved in other ways will pay the costs of a future funeral.

05/03/2018

Six popular song choices at British funerals

A quick look at the musical pedigree of six of the most popular song choices at modern British funerals.

15/02/2018

What will you wear for your own funeral?

What clothes do people choose to wear for their own funeral? Do you need to be in your Sunday best, or are attitudes to dressing for our own final send-off changing?

31/01/2018

Social Media for funerals and beyond

Social media looms large over modern life. But at a funeral, its potential to upset family and friends, both during and after the service, is very real.

09/01/2018

Five types of funerals in the UK

Traditionally, there was really only one type of funeral in the UK, but with British society more diverse than ever, funeral formats are far less fixed.

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