In a recent article published in The Thornton Heath Chronicle, it was highlighted that Croydon Council announced as a response to the COVID-19 crisis that they will be reducing cremation costs for bereaved families within their borough facing funeral poverty. This reduction in direct cremation costs will withstand for the period of 10 weeks, assisting not only those facing funeral poverty, but further aiding the death management process within the borough.

Croydon has developed and trained 12 volunteer redeployees to assist with the increased demand for death registration. The online tool used to train volunteers has been developed by Croydon and is being shared pan-London and beyond. This increase in redeployed volunteers has increased capacity from 67 to 290 possible registrations per week.

The full list of announced implementations this month, designed to support Bereavement services can be found at: The Croydon Council Cabinet Meeting Agenda for the 11th May 2020.

The article also stated that in normal circumstances, Croydon council oversees around 300 burials annually. With no new graves available at cemetery sites, the council has had to offer the reuses of graves where no burial has occurred for at least 75 years, extending to circumstances where the grave is unvisited or neglected.

Croydon is the lead borough for the South London coronial area (made up of Croydon, Bromley, Bexley and Sutton) and is also a member of the London Mortality Planning Group that has established a mortality planning group for the south London area made up of representatives involved in the death management process.

Within their most recent cabinet meeting, the members will record its thanks to all frontline and support service staff who have continued to provide vital services across the borough. Such thanks extend to the organisations, staff and volunteers across Croydon, covering voluntary and community groups, including those contributing to bereavement services within the borough.

To find out more, visit: https://www.croydon.gov.uk/

The PHFIS is intended as a guide for local authorities and hospitals who deal with public health funerals. If you would like to learn more about the PHFIS or require assistance, you can visit our website here.  Alternatively, you can telephone: +44(0) 20 7490 4935 or email: [email protected]