Advice, guides & articles

There's nothing quite like enjoying the great outdoors, breathing in fresh air, and basking in the beauty of nature while engaging in a healthy activity. The United Kingdom boasts an abundance of picturesque landscapes and charming pubs, making it an ideal destination for scenic pub walks that cater to both health-conscious individuals and families seeking unforgettable adventures. Whether you're a seasoned hiker or a novice explorer, these scenic pub walks offer a perfect blend of health, fitness, and family fun.

Grief is a natural response to loss, and it can be an incredibly challenging and overwhelming experience. It can be difficult to find motivation when grieving the death of a loved one; you may experience feelings of hopelessness and lose interest in your day-to-day life. Grief can also cause feelings of emotional and physical exhaustion, so you lack the energy to do anything. This blog post will explore how it is possible to find motivation in the face of grief.

In a previous blog, I’ve spoken about the different kinds of funeral customs there are around the world, and the different traditions other cultures have. However, all funerals, no matter their traditions and rituals, have the same purpose; to help loved ones of the deceased come to terms with their loss and honour the person who has passed away. Here are several ways in which funerals aid in the grieving process:

There are many diverse cultures around the world, each with their own traditions, beliefs and customs. Death is something that affects every culture, and every culture has its own way of mourning the passing of a loved one. In this blog post we’re looking at just a few of the many different funeral customs from around the world, used to honour and remember the dead.

We've heard a lot about water cremation in the news recently with reports that Co-op Funeralcare is preparing to offer water cremation as an alternative to cremation or traditional burial. Water cremation, or alkaline hydrolysis, flameless cremation, bio-cremation, resomation, or aquamation, is the process of disposing of a person's body using water, chemicals and heat. Water cremation is considered more environmentally friendly than traditional methods, making it a more sustainable option for the future. The concept is new to the UK and it has lots of people talking about it. To understand more about what water cremation is, we've done a little research. It's never nice talking about what happens after we die, and some of the language used can feel a little distressing. There are lots of choices you have to make in planning a funeral, for yourself or a loved one, so we try and explore new concepts in funeral care to help educate and make talking about death and dying a little easier.

Realising that there was no special awareness day that honoured bereaved parents, A Child of Mine decided to start up National Bereaved Parents Day in 2020. The aim of the day is to break the silence that surrounds baby and child loss, and open up the conversation so that bereaved parents don’t feel so alone. It is a sad fact that babies and children do die, and so it is time to stop the taboo and be there for bereaved parents and their families.

Welcome to the first of our new monthly series focusing on the amazing collections that friends and family have donated to when visiting funeral-notices.co.uk. When a loved one passes away, the majority of families choose to raise money in their memory for a charity that was close to their heart, or that maybe helped them during their final days. Not only is this just a nice thing to do during such a sad time, but it creates a lasting legacy for the deceased, as the money will provide the charity with the means to be there for more people in the future. Here are just a few of the incredible collections that we have paid out in June. Wil James Owen Click here to view notice Tŷ Gobaith Children’s Hospice is a centre of excellence for children’s palliative care ensuring every family facing the death of a child gets the very best care and support when and where they need it. Wil’s family chose this deserving charity to have a collection for, and an incredible £1,895.09 was raised in his memory, plus an extra £389.04 in Gift Aid. John Jewell Click here to view notice Carla Lane Animals In Need will have been incredibly grateful for the £1,276.50 that was raised for them in memory of John Jewell, plus the extra Gift Aid of £252.47. Carla Lane Animals in Need are a Liverpool-based animal rescue charity that has been established for over 30 years. Whether they are rescuing stray dogs from pounds, or ex-battery hens who would otherwise have been killed, this caring charity gives animals a place to stay for as long as they need it. Celia Cannings Click here to view notice Celia’s family chose two charities to raise money for in her memory. Here at funeral notices we are happy for you to add two, three, four or even five charities to your notices; it’s all about what charities were meaningful to your loved ones. Macmillan Cancer Support will do whatever it takes to give people affected by cancer the support they need. For them, friends and family of Celia raised £575 in donations, plus Gift Aid of £131.27. St Oswald's Hospice is a charitable hospice rooted in the North East, providing outstanding, specialist and expert care to adults and children with life-limiting conditions. £835.00 as raised for them in memory of Celia, plus Gift Aid of £197.41. Richard James Sheffield Click here to view notice The family of Richard chose to raise money for One In Four, the charity specialising in supporting survivors of sexual violence, domestic violence and abuse, and particularly survivors of child sexual abuse and trauma. Family and friends raised £1,495 for One In Four in Richard’s memory, plus Gift Aid of £218.97.

Previously I wrote an article suggesting some alternative rock songs that could be played at a funeral, and you can read that here. Since then, as I’ve been listening to music while I work, I’ve found myself mentally compiling another list, this time with a selection of great indie bands. So, here are seven alternative indie songs that you could play at a funeral (or anytime!)

Crohn’s & Colitis UK is a UK charity dedicated to Crohn's Disease, Ulcerative Colitis, and other forms of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). IBD is inflammation and ulceration of the digestive system, which causes various symptoms including abdominal pain, bleeding, anaemia, depression, osteoporosis, weight loss, joint pain, skin rashes, mouth ulcers, fatigue and many more. Severity varies during flare ups and remission, and the role of treatments is to keep patients in remission for as long as possible and symptoms controlled. There is currently no cure. Every 30 minutes someone in the UK is diagnosed with Crohn’s Disease or Ulcerative Colitis, and around 1 in 4 of those people are under the age of 16. A diagnosis can be daunting and the nature of both conditions makes them hard to deal with in day to day life. Crohn’s & Colitis UK work hard to raise awareness for patients, and their friends and families, to ease the hardships that come with the conditions, and fund research to find a cure. They also work with the UK health sector to improve diagnosis, treatment and management of IBD. As a sufferer myself, I fully understand the importance of a support network and speaking to others who are going through similar experiences. Crohn’s & Colitis UK provide this by organising charity fundraising events and campaigns you can get involved in, and with their local networking groups who with the support of the charity, independently arrange their own meetings and events locally. Their website is also a great source of information, and has up-to-date articles and research.

Summer is fast approaching, the longer days and warmer weather are perfect for dusting off your bikes and going for a ride. As well as being an excellent form of exercise, cycling can also improve our mental health. Here are some benefits of cycling you may not know about: