Bath & North East Somerset Council has donated £10,000 raised from the recycling of metals reclaimed from Haycombe Crematorium to local counselling charity The Harbour.
The Harbour provides counselling support for adults facing death, dying, or bereavement.
Fundraising officer, Catherine Bowen, said: “The advent of Covid-19 has changed the experience of all deaths, sadly making losing a loved one so much more painful, with the added difficulty of keeping family and friends close at the time when you need them most.
“At the Harbour, we support people facing death, dying and bereavement and the generous donation we’ve received will go a long way to helping people cope better with the difficulties they face and move on with their lives.”
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 Paul Crossley, cabinet member for Community Services, said: “I’m pleased we’ve been able to support the essential work of The Harbour. Perhaps now more than ever, when so many of us are distanced from loved ones, its really important people feel they can talk to someone about their feelings and try to make sense of what is happening.
“The Harbour has continued to provide support during COVID-19 over the phone and via zoom and I know many of their clients have been extremely grateful for the support offered during these incredibly difficult times.
“We 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. 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, £26,000 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 by emailing [email protected].