Funeral Service Times August 2017 March 2019 | Page 10

10 DISPATCHES
Down to Earth launches
new ‘Social Fund Funeral
Expenses Payment’ training
The training aims to enable
funeral directors to help
clients successfully apply to
the social fund
Down to Earth launches
new ‘Social Fund Funeral
Expenses Payment’ training
Funeral support group,
Down To Earth, has announced a new ‘Social Fund Funeral
Expenses Payment’ training scheme for funeral professionals.
With average funeral costs on the rise, the group says more
people are struggling to afford to pay and the ‘Social Fund Funeral
Expenses Payment’ training is in “high demand”. According to
Down to Earth, “confusing” eligibility criteria and common mistakes
mean that only 61% of applications in 2016-17 resulted in the fund
application being awarded.
The new training workshop from the Down to Earth team
provides professionals with knowledge on how to support clients
through the process. The two hour workshop looks at eligibility
criteria, common mistakes, how the payment is calculated and the
“confusing” estrangement rules. As a result, the group says clients
will gain “peace of mind that their claim will be considered and
reduce worries around the cost of a funeral”.
Claire Brandon, manager of the Down to Earth project, said:
“We launched the Social Fund Funeral Expenses Payment
masterclass because we’ve seen a lot of confusion during our time
advising clients and funeral directors. We’re excited to share our
experiences with funeral directors, so that eligible customers can
claim with confidence.”
Highgate Cemetery’s Karl
Marx monument ‘mindlessly
vandalised’
The marble plaque supporting the statue’s base has been
damaged, seemingly with a hammer
The Karl Marx monument, located in London’s Highgate Cemetery
has been “mindlessly vandalised” according to a spokesperson at the
cemetery.
A marble plaque which supports the statues base was damaged,
seemingly with a hammer, however a cemetery spokesperson has said
it is not known for sure what happened or how it happened. So far the
cemetery says no witnesses have come forward.
Ian Dungavell, CEO at the Friends of Highgate Cemetery Trust, said:
“This is mindless vandalism, not political commentary. I’m really sad
that it’s happened in such an inarticulate way. You don’t have to be a
Marxist to think this is an important monument.”
The Met police has said it has closed the investigation following
initial inquiries, unless further information arises. The sculpture is
owned by the Marx Grave Trust, with
Dungavell saying that the cemetery
would work alongside the trust in
arranging its repair.
In 1970, part of the statue’s face
was blown off by a pipe bomb,
while other incidents of vandalism
have seen swastikas drawn on it and
emulsion thrown over it.
MARCH 2019
Crematorium makes history
with ‘UK first’ Pooja Room
A marble statue of Hindu deity Shiva was donated to the
crematorium by musician Sailesh Raja
The Great Glen Crematorium held a service and dedication day
on Saturday 2 February for the blessing of Shiva and its new Pooja
Building, which is claimed to be the first in the country.
Hundreds of people attended to see the Pooja Room, the marble
statue of Shiva – a Hindu deity – and to join in with the acts of
blessing. Harvey Watson, the crematorium manager, opened the
day’s proceedings with a welcome address.
Gordon Dunn, the Westerleigh regional director said he was
proud that the company was able to provide this new facility for
the local area and thanked the local representatives of the Hindu
community for their help and advice in bringing the Pooja Room
project to reality.
The marble statue of Shiva that has been erected adjacent to
the Pooja Room was donated to the crematorium by local care
home operator and musician, Sailesh Raja. The statue was brought
from India and sits around 36 inches high on a plinth at the side
of the building, facing towards the rising sun. It bears a plaque
commemorating Raja’s late mother and brother.
Leicester City councillor Modi said: “Today Great Glen has made
history, remember this date and put it in your diary. Nowhere in
this country or even Europe do we have a facility like this and
we need to thank Great
Glen and Westerleigh for
providing such a fantastic
facility. Never before has
music been played in a
crematorium to bless Shiva
as this is always done in a
temple.”
New cremation rules
imposed in Mortonhall
Crematorium aftermath
An investigation by bereavement
charity Sands Lothians discovered
hundreds families were not told that
their babies were cremated and
buried in a mass unmarked grave
New rules state crematoriums in
Scotland must hold on to cremated
remains for at least four weeks following the Mortonhall Crematorium
baby ashes scandal.
In 2013, it emerged that over four decades at least 250 babies were
cremated at Mortonhall Crematorium in Edinburgh and secretly buried
resulting in hundreds of parents not knowing the final resting places of
their children.
Some 64 recommendations were made to an independent
commission, chaired by Lord Bonomy, that was tasked with creating
new legislation. All recommendations were accepted by the Scottish
government and the new rules will come into force in April.
Crematoriums must now hold on to cremated remains for at least
four weeks and it must be assured that cremations only contain the
remains of one person – except for in the case of a shared cremation.
Records of where the remains were buried or scattered must also
be kept for a minimum of 50 years – an increase of the current
requirement of 15 years.
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