Recycled metals, reclaimed from Bath’s Haycombe Crematorium, have helped to raise £7,000 to support a local bereavement charity for children and young people.
The Rainbow Centre, in Bristol, provides support to children, young people and their families affected by the death or life threatening illness of a parent or child.
The charity is the latest to benefit from money raised by the recycling of common items like medical pins, metal plates and artificial joints which are retrieved from the cremated remains of a loved one and recycled through a national scheme.
The not-for-profit Recycling of Metals Scheme is run by the Institute of Cemetery and Crematorium Management, of which Bath & North East Somerset Council is a member.
Members of the scheme collect the metal from the cremators and the money raised from recycling is divided between ICCM members for distribution among charities.
Councillor Bob Goodman, Cabinet Member for Development and Neighbourhoods, said: “This is the largest amount we’ve awarded since we introduced the scheme.
“The money will help the Rainbow Centre to provide individual creative therapies and counselling for children and families as they comes to terms with a terminal illness or death of a loved one.
“Staff at Haycombe Crematorium always respectfully retrieve the cremated remains of a loved one, but metal items used as part of surgery are often recovered from the cremator. The most responsible way to dispose of them is to recycle them.
“I hope people who are bereaved take comfort from the fact that the money raised goes to support charities such as the Rainbow Centre.”
As well as providing individual therapies and counselling, the Rainbow Centre offers family group workshops which help the children and their families to express and make sense of their worries, and offer the opportunity to meet others in a similar situation.
All services are provided by professionals and are free of charge.
Chelsea Harding, Fundraising Manager for the Rainbow Centre, said: “The Rainbow Centre is thrilled to be receiving such an amazing donation from Haycombe Crematorium.
“It will make a real difference to our capacity to support local families who come to us in distress due to life threatening illness or bereavement. The Centre supported over 170 children in 2018 and is the only organisation in the area that has in house-provision of free therapeutic support for bereaved children.
“There is a huge demand for the Centre’s services and we continue to develop our vision and services to meet this important need and generous donations like this one is an important factor in making this possible so thank you.”
To qualify for donations from the Recycling of Metals scheme, charities are selected on the basis they have to assist the bereaved or those who are terminally ill.
Any local charities which meet the criteria can get in touch with staff at Haycombe Cemetery and Crematorium on 01225 396020 or email [email protected].