Bath & North East Somerset Council has donated £8000 raised from the recycling of metals reclaimed from Bath’s Haycombe Crematorium to the Treehouse bereavement charity.
Councillor Paul Crossley, Gemma Stanley (Treehouse), Faye Auty (Treehouse trustee)
Treehouse provides bereavement support to children and young people under the age of twenty-five, following the loss of a loved one.
Faye Auty, Treehouse Trustee, said: “These funds will go a long way in helping bereaved children, young people and their carers manage the challenges following bereavement.
“Our group programmes enable participants to move forward with the help of our staff, volunteers and their peers.
“We are extremely grateful for this significant donation. It will help a large number of children, young people and their carers.”
The bereavement 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 Paul Crossley, cabinet member for Community Services, said: “I’m pleased we’ve been able to support the essential work of Treehouse.
“By providing support and therapy the charity helps many young people who are experiencing a rollercoaster of emotions following the death of a loved one, cope with their grief.
“We always respectfully retrieve the cremated remains of a love 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. We feel it’s only right the money raised goes to support bereavement charities and I hope people who are bereaved take comfort from that.”
Over the past year, £28,000 has been donated to charities across the region by Haycombe Cemetery and Crematorium.
To qualify for donations from the 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].
