Voluntary & Community (VAC), in partnership with trustee Lucy Clay —who brings expertise in funeral care and Dr Georgina Robinson, a Postdoctoral Research Associate from Durham University’s Department of Theology and Religion and Centre for Death-Life Studies, has launched a brand-new guide to support individuals navigating the challenges of planning a funeral.
With funeral costs rising and 1 in 5 families struggling to pay, the Funeral Planning & Financial Support Guide provides clear, step-by-step advice on managing both essential and optional expenses. It also offers creative solutions to keep costs manageable while honouring loved ones meaningfully.
Dr Robinson shared:
“Organising a funeral, or thinking about your own, can feel overwhelming. With lots of personal decisions to be made, we wanted to help simplify the process by explaining the core elements and costs of a funeral, signposting helpful organisations, and offering useful tips…
We hope that the ‘Funeral Planning and Financial Support Guide’ will help demystify the funeral planning process and support anyone who is recently bereaved or beginning to think about their personal funeral wishes.”
The guide covers everything from burial and cremation decisions to funeral director fees and available government assistance. It aims to empower individuals to plan a meaningful service without financial strain.
Tia Metcalfe, Cost of Living Coordinator at VAC, highlighted the significance of this work:
“Working on this guide has been a really exciting opportunity to shed light on an important yet under-discussed issue.
A huge thank you to Lucy and Georgina for helping to develop this toolkit which is a flagship piece of work for Calderdale.”
Whether you’re planning for a loved one or considering your own arrangements, the Funeral Planning & Financial Support Guide is here to help you navigate this emotional and financial journey with clarity and confidence.
If you’re a VAC member, physical copies are available upon request for distribution to your service users. Please contact info@cvac.org.uk to order.