Bretby Crematorium donates £27,000 to Dementia UK thanks to generosity of families who have lost a loved one

Posted by james brindle | Published: 06/03/2019


A total of £27,000 has now been donated by a South Derbyshire crematorium which has been used to help 2,000 families receive support from a helpline run by charity Dementia UK.

The money has been donated by Bretby Crematorium to Central England Co-op’s corporate charity through a national scheme which, with the knowledge and permission of a deceased person’s family, recycles metals left over once a cremation has taken place.

Traditionally any metal left after the cremation process would be given back to relatives or buried, but this scheme allows the crematorium to recycle it and use the funds to boost charitable causes.

The process is undertaken with respect and dignity and is clearly explained to the families when they are making the funeral arrangements.

The latest donation of £7,000 given to the charity brings the overall total received by Dementia UK from the crematorium to £27,000.

Nick French, Crematorium Manager, said: “Being able to use the funds raised through this scheme to support Dementia UK and to see the tangible benefits the money has already brought to families living with the condition has been so rewarding.

“Many of our families see backing a charitable scheme like this as a perfect way of creating a lasting legacy for their loved one as well as helping to support an extremely worthy cause.

“We would all like to say a big thank you to all of the families who agreed to be part of this scheme as without their generosity we would not be able to make such a difference for people in Burton and South Derbyshire living with dementia.”

The funds are being used to help provide specialist support to families affected by dementia through the charity’s Admiral Nurse service and Dementia Helpline.

Admiral Nurses work alongside people with dementia and their families and offer one-to-one support, expert guidance and practical solutions so they can face dementia with more confidence and less fear.

The Admiral Nurse Dementia Helpline is available on 0800 888 6678 to anyone with queries or concerns about dementia. It is staffed entirely by Admiral Nurses, to ensure those with dementia and those caring for them get the best possible care and advice.

 

Notes to editors

About Central England Co-operative

Central England Co-operative is one of the largest independent retail co-operative societies in the UK. 

It is a modern, forward-looking organisation employing over 8,000 staff, with the Society’s principal areas of activity being food, funeral services, and property.

The company’s funeral business consists of over 120 funeral homes across 16 counties, nine florists, masonry production and administration, Bretby Crematorium and Terry Smiths coffin factory.

Central England Co-operative has more than 430 trading outlets across 16 counties including; West Midlands, Warwickshire, Worcestershire, Staffordshire, Derbyshire, Leicestershire, Rutland, Nottinghamshire, Northamptonshire, Lincolnshire, West Yorkshire, South Yorkshire, Suffolk, Norfolk, Bedfordshire and Cambridgeshire. 

The Society has an ambitious food store and funeral home development programme for 2019.

Central England Co-operative is proud of its reputation for ethical business practices and corporate responsibility.  It is a member of Business in the Community, the membership organisation that stands for responsible business, and has also won many business awards for excellence.  The Society supports a number of charities including Dementia UK and invests a percentage of its trading profit into local communities.

Becoming a member of Central England Co-operative offers a whole host of benefits ranging from collecting points every time you spend in store to earn a share of the profits, access to members activities and community initiatives including the Community Dividend Fund, which hands out grants of up to £5,000 to charities and good causes across the Society’s trading estate.

Find out how to become a Central England Co-operative member by calling 0800 0501 601, emailing members@centralengland.coop or visiting https://www.members.coop

For more information visit www.centralengland.coop, follow Central England Co-operative on Twitter: @mycoopfood, @mycooplife and on Facebook: facebook.com/centralenglandcooperative

Rob Smyth and James Brindle at Central England Co-operative on 01543 414140

Email – publicrelations@centralengland.coop