Co-op Funeralcare preparing upcoming changes to planning and holding funerals

Posted by rob smyth | Published: 01/06/2020


Central England Co-op Funeralcare is working around the clock to ensure its funeral homes and colleagues are ready for any upcoming changes to the way funerals are organised and held.

Colleagues have been working 24 hours a day to support families at their time of need after a range of changes had to be put in place following advice and guidance from the Government.

While these changes are still currently in place, preparations are now being made ahead of any potential alterations to the way funerals are planned and services are held in the coming weeks.

This includes ensuring extra social distancing measures are being put place at funeral homes to keep colleagues and clients safe such as hand sanitising stations and continued innovation with the use of phone and email to help families plan the funeral of a loved one while also still being able to see people in person via an appointment.

Hazel Moss, Head of Funeral, said: “As a Society, we will continue to work with the guidelines issued and operate to a COVID-19 secure environment.

“In line with government advice we will be monitoring the position as the relaxation of controls takes place and we will take a pragmatic view of when and how to re-open our homes to the general public.

“We are currently seeking the fitting of screens in reception areas and ways to maintain social distancing in offices and, when the time is right, how we operate when we open our funeral homes again.

“We are doing this in the interests of keeping everyone safe and well, both for our colleagues and the communities in which we work.”

The Funeralcare provider will also be keeping a close eye on guidance related to the number of mourners able to attend funerals and will advise families accordingly based on the local rules and regulations.

It is also working closely with families to support celebrating the lives of their loved ones when restrictions are eased by helping to plan memorial events and celebrations of life.

People can keep up to date with the latest guidance by visiting a dedicated online hub at www.centralengland.coop/updates

 

Notes to editors

 

Picture caption: Hazel Moss, Head of Funeral at Central England Co-op.

 

About Central England Co-operative

 

Central England Co-operative is one of the largest independent retail co-operative societies in the UK with interests in food, funeral, floral, travel and property investment.

 

Co-operatives have always been there for their communities; they were formed to protect them and help them flourish. 

 

Our 7,900 colleagues who serve Members and customers work hard to ensure that co-operative values, principles and spirit flow through everything we do to help support and improve our local communities.

 

Owned by hundreds of thousands of Members, we have over 430 trading outlets across 16 counties including West Midlands, Warwickshire, Worcestershire, Staffordshire, Derbyshire, Leicestershire, Rutland, Nottinghamshire, Northamptonshire, Lincolnshire, West Yorkshire, South Yorkshire, Suffolk, Norfolk, Bedfordshire and Cambridgeshire. 

 

We are proud of our reputation for ethical business practices and corporate responsibility.

 

We invest a percentage of our trading profit into local communities through our Community Dividend Fund scheme, have donated over £1.3 million to our corporate charity partner Dementia UK and also operate a pioneering food redistribution partnership with FareShare Midlands so unsold food goes to those in need.

 

Visit www.centralengland.coop for more information or follow us on Facebook or Twitter using @mycoopfood

 

 

Press office contacts: Rob Smyth and James Brindle

 

Phone - 01543 421390

 

Email - publicrelations@centralengland.coop