Charter for the bereaved

The Charter has been created with the help of cemetery and crematorium managers and professional and charitable groups involved with the bereaved.

The rights in this Charter are available at any cemetery or crematorium which has formally adopted the Charter for the Bereaved. Here they are referred to as 'Charter Members'.

This Charter:

• is a commitment to improving the service by confronting rather than disguising the death experience, and by reducing ignorance
• is intended to define the rights of every individual who experiences bereavement
• will set standards of service related to burial, cremation and funerals generally. It is a written statement of what can be expected and this can act as a measure for judging the service received
• recognises that bereavement services are critical to the health of the nation. That the benefits of a meaningful funeral are immeasurable, influencing both the physical and mental wellbeing of us all
• will give the bereaved greater influence over the arrangement of funerals, thereby controlling costs and offering more satisfaction.