Published 15/12/2023
by Vicki Barlow
We've been keeping a close eye on donations coming in this week, watching and waiting for a milestone achievement and we've done it - well, actually you've done it - donations made in memory of loved ones on Funeral Notices have raised more than £5 million for charities.
Whilst we are incredibly proud to provide a service that helps family and friends collect charitable donations in memory of their loved ones, we couldn't hit milestones like this without the generosity and kindness of those who visit funeral-notices.co.uk and choose to donate. Thank you to everyone who has contributed to the £5 million milestone. Every donation, no matter the size, makes such a difference to the charities and good causes that receive them.
Thank you to the families who choose to include a collection for charity in their funeral notice. It takes great courage to think of others in times of loss. We have so much to consider when we lose a loved one; decisions to be made, and difficult conversations with Funeral Directors, family and friends. Having the strength to arrange a collection for charity at such a difficult time is as commendable as it is compassionate.
Thank you to the funeral directors who arrange a charitable collection on behalf of the families they support. Before online donations were possible, funeral directors would often take full responsibility for collecting donations and ensuring the charity received them - many still offer that service for donations made at the funeral. Online donation providers such as Funeral Notices support funeral directors and families alike, facilitating the collection and distribution of donations to charities and good causes all over the world.
Collections at funerals are a long-standing tradition and in recent years families have been able to widen their collections using online donation services such as ours. Including an online collection as part of funeral arrangements allows families to receive donations from people unable to physically donate at the funeral. We receive donations from people all over the world, pleased to be able to contribute to the legacy of those they care about.
Online donations allow registered charities to claim Gift Aid from the UK Government - boosting donation values by 25%. As of today, more than £850,000 has been added to donations made on Funeral Notices through Gift Aid.
Donations make such a difference to the charities and good causes that receive them. The restrictions during the pandemic meant many charities relied on donations in memory of loved ones and gifts in wills to continue doing the great work they do.
Perhaps the most significant impact of donating in memory of a loved one is the contribution it makes to the lasting legacy of those we have lost. The charities we choose are those that mean something to us. We often see collections for a local hospice that provides palliative care, a care home, a hospital, and charities that provide research into the treatment of illness. Some collections reflect the things people love - animal charities, countryside and outdoor charities, music, sports, and educational charities. The charities we choose add to the rich tapestry of our legacy, forming part of the story of the lives we lived.
Behind the headline, there are some amazing totals collected for individual charities. The top ten charities you have donated to on Funeral Notices are:
Cancer Research UK - £407,000
British Heart Foundation - £340,000
Alzheimer's Society - £248,000
Macmillan Cancer Support - £246,000
Dementia Uk - £184,000
Marie Curie - £173,000
Douglas Macmillan Hospice - £101,000
The Royal National Lifeboat Institution - £93,000
Parkinson's Disease Society Of The United Kingdom - £83,000
Stroke Association - £70,000
On behalf of these and every charity and good cause that has received a donation made via Funeral Notices, thank you.
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