In Times of Bereavement

In the unfortunate event that a person has passed away, there are three things that must be done in the first few days;

•Get a medical certificate from your GP or hospital doctor (this is necessary to register the death)

•Register the death within 5 days (8 days in Scotland). You will then receive the necessary documents for the funeral

•Make the necessary funeral arrangements.If the death has been reported to the coroner (or Procurator Fiscal in Scotland) they must give permission before registering the death.You can use the ‘Register a Death’ page on the gov.uk website that will guide you through the process. This will also explain the registration process for Scotland and Northern Ireland.The funeral can usually only take place after the death is registered.

You can register the death if you are a relative, a witness to the death, a hospital administrator or the person making the arrangements with the funeral directors.

Most people use a funeral director, though you can arrange a funeral yourself. If you are using a funeral director it is advisable to choose a funeral director who’s a member of one of the following:

•National Association of Funeral Director

•National Federation of Funeral Director

•Society of Allied and Independent Funeral Directors

Some local councils run their own funeral services, for example for non-religious burials. The British Humanist Association can also help with non-religious funerals.Contact the Cemeteries and Crematorium Department of your local council to arrange a funeral yourself.

Funeral cost

The above organisations have codes of practice - they must give you a price list when asked.

•funeral director fee

•things the funeral director pays for on your behalf (called ‘disbursements’ or ‘third-party costs’), for example, crematorium or cemetery fees, or a newspaper announcement about the deat

•local authority burial or cremation feesFor free independent advice on bereavement issues, you can find more information at lastingpost.com

•Funeral directors may list all these costs in their quotes.

Other Services and Contacts

Useful Contacts for Bereavement

Age uk

Free confidential, impartial and independent advice for the over 50s, their families and carers

The website also provides advice via online chat, as well as a massive amount of information regarding:

* benefits

* wellbeing

* loneliness

* independence

Telephone: 0800 055 6112 Free to call 8am-7pm 365 days

Telephone: local line: 01670 784821 mon- thurs 10am-1pm

Website: www.ageuk.org.uk

Website: www.ageuk.org.uk/northumberland

Email: info@ageuk-northumberland.org.uk

Northumberland County Council

It is a very difficult time following the death of a loved one. We hope the information on this page can help support you through this.

Here you will find helpful information and advice on arranging a funeral.

This page provides information on cemeteries, crematoriums and memorials within Northumberland.

This page provides information on cemeteries, crematoriums and memorials within Northumberland.

Find out how to order copies of a certificate for a birth, death, marriage or civil partnership which took place in Northumberland.

Telephone: 01670 536 400

Address: County Hall, Morpeth, NE61 2EF

Website: www.northumberland.gov.uk/Registration/Deaths.aspx#bereavementguide

Website: www.northumberland.gov.uk

Cruse Bereavement Care                         (Hopeagain age 11+)

Cruse Bereavement Care is the leading national charity for bereaved people in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. We offer support, advice and information to children, young people and adults when someone dies and work to enhance society’s care of bereaved people.

Cruse offers face-to-face, telephone, email and website support. We have a Freephone national helpline and local services, and a website (hopeagain.org.uk) specifically for children and young people. Our services are provided by our network of 5,000 trained volunteers and are confidential and free. Cruse also provides training and consultancy for external organisations and for those who may encounter bereaved people in the course of their work.

Telephone: 0808 808 1677

Website: www.cruse.org.uk

Winstons Wish

Provide professional therapeutic help in individual, group and residential settings. We are the only specialist provider of support for children bereaved through homicide and suicide, as well as military families who have been bereaved.

Telephone: 08088 020 021 for free advice and support

Website: https://www.winstonswish.org/

Bereavement Advice Centre

Bereavement Advice Centre is committed to working in partnership with other organisations and individuals who work with bereaved people in all sectors, statutory, commercial and voluntary.

We are just one part of the jigsaw of services that support those both expecting and having experienced bereavement. Our role is to have an overview of the entire 'bereavement journey' as it is often termed, to understand how different services fit together and be able to provide information, explanations and signposting to bereaved people who contact us on any subject at any time during their bereavement.

Telephone Free: 0800 082 1203 / 0800 634 9494 mon-fri 9am-5pm

Website: www.bereavementadvice.org

Heron House, Timothys Bridge Road, stratford upon avon, CV37 9BX