We have welcomed the government’s decision to implement the Child Funeral Fund, relieving bereaved parents of the costs of their child’s burial or cremation.
Under the scheme, from 23 July, bereaved parents, guardians or carers will no longer pay the fees charged for a cremation or burial of a child under the age of 18, nor certain associated expenses. Fees and expenses will be met instead by government funding with providers (burial or cremation authorities and funeral directors), claiming the fees and expenses they would have otherwise charged to families from the new fund.
Together for Short Lives has been part of the campaign to introduce the fund. We were one of several organisations to brief MPs ahead of a Parliamentary debate on the Child Funeral Fund on 1 May.
Andy Fletcher, Chief Executive of Together for Short Lives said:
“The death of a child is every parent’s worst nightmare. For many families of seriously ill children, their death will follow years of financial hardship as they struggle to meet the added costs of caring. Many parents will have given up work to care for their child. While today’s announcement is long overdue, it is very welcome and will go some way to helping alleviate the worry that bereaved parents have about how they will fund a fitting goodbye for their child, just as they try to deal with the devastating impact of their loss”.
“Today would simply not have been possible without the tireless work of Carolyn Harris MP and the other inspirational campaigners who have fought so hard for this important reform. We owe them all a debt of gratitude.”
Steph Nimmo, writer, journalist and a mother to Daisy, who died as a result of a life-limiting condition, said:
“Losing a child is the worst thing that can ever happen to a parent. Having to then face the financial burden of giving them a wonderful funeral adds unnecessary pain and worry at this heart-breaking time.
“When my daughter Daisy died, I needed to focus on grieving and supporting Daisy’s siblings but found myself worrying about the financial burden of paying for her funeral. No parent should ever have to worry about money whilst grieving for a child.
“I’m grateful to the government for announcing the Children’s Funeral Fund today, it means that no other family will have to cope with unnecessary financial worries at this most painful time.”
More details about the fund are available from the government’s website.
“While today’s announcement is long overdue, it is very welcome and will go some way to helping alleviate the worry that bereaved parents have about how they will fund a fitting goodbye for their child, just as they try to deal with the devastating impact of their loss”.
Andy Fletcher, Chief Executive of Together for Short Lives said:
