CHARITIES that offer support to people affected by grief have received a financial boost, thanks to bereaved families in Liverpool.
6 charities have received donations totaling £60,000, as part of a metal recycling scheme run by Liverpool City Council’s Bereavement Service.
This marks the 1st time the Council has carried out metal recycling following cremations, and the initiative is set to continue in future.
The charities offer a range of services for people experiencing loss and grief, as well as support and guidance for people receiving end of life care. Each charity has received a donation of £10,000 to help continue their work.
The 6 charities to receive donations are:-
- The Good Grief Trust
- University of Liverpool’s Human Anatomy Resource Centre (HARC)
- Liverpool University Hospitals Charity
- Liverpool Women’s Hospital Charity
- The Marina Dalglish Appeal
- Samaritans
With the consent of relatives, the Council collects metal objects following the cremation process and sends them to be recycled. This may include artificial joints, metal plates and construction metals from coffins.
All metals are sent to OrthoMetals, who also supply recycling services for the Institute of Cemetery and Crematorium Management (ICCM) and more than 1,300 crematoria worldwide.
The money that the Council receives for recycling these metals is then given back in full to bereavement charities.
Anyone registering a death in the City will also soon receive a condolence and signposting card, created by The Good Grief Trust as part of a new initiative to further support those going through bereavement. This is in addition to discreet information plaques for the charity, which are installed on all pews across the City’s crematoria.
Councillor Laura Robertson-Collins, Cabinet Member for Communities, Neighbourhoods and Streetscene said:- “Losing a loved 1 is 1 of the hardest things for people to experience, and these charities provide invaluable support and a real listening ear during an incredibly difficult time. Our metal recycling scheme is a way to support bereavement charities that provide vital work in the community, and we’re honoured to be able to help them to do so. I’d like to offer our thanks to the bereaved families who give their consent to support the scheme. I hope that this provides them with some level of comfort during a difficult time.”
Linda Magistris OBE, CEO and Founder of Good Grief Trust said:- “We are extremely grateful for this generous donation from Liverpool City Council. The Good Grief Trust is proud to be working closely with this incredible team, to ensure bereaved families across the region, are fully supported. The installation of our Help and Hope plaques on pews in the chapel, is a key initiative, that we hope other UK crematoria nationwide will follow. Offering immediate access to a wealth of bereavement services, from day 1, is vital, and we know this simple initiative will raise greater awareness of the support available to those grieving, at the hardest of times. We also look forward to providing our Good Grief Condolence and Signposting cards to support the work of Liverpool City Council Registrar’s office, which will be given to over 7000 bereaved families, per year, at the time of registering a death.”
