Coping with a Death
Below is a list of information that may help you following the death of a loved one.
Advice
Alternate Funerals,
Bereavement Support
Cooking Classes for Men,
Funeral Expenses,
Get Together,
Local Crematoriums,
Probate Registry,
Registering a death,
The Way Foundation (helping those 'Widowed and Young')
Will Aid
Advice
Click on the following link to see the West Sussex Bereavement Guide.
Age UK - Age UK produces an advice leaflet on bereavement including information about what to do, support organisations and suggested reading. These leaflets are available from Age UK shops, the Help Point and can be viewed online.
Bereavement Benefits - The Government produces a booklet on bereavement, including information on what needs to be done and help that is available. It also provides a list of practical advice, support and comfort. These booklets are available from the Burgess Hill branch of the Central Sussex Citizens Advice Bureau (at 38 Church Road), the Help Point and via their website.
Alternative Funerals
For information regarding alternative funerals visit www.funeralsuk.com
Bereavement Support
Cruse Bereavement Care operates a telephone helpline and support service with trained counsellors providing advice and support, their telephone number is 0844 477 9400 and their website is www.crusebereavementcare.org.uk. Email address: helpline@cruse.org.uk.
The Burgess Hill Cruse Bereavement Friendship Group meets on the 2nd and 4th Thursday of each month from 10am - 12noon at 38 Church Road (1st floor), Burgess Hill. Come and join us for refreshments and a chat. If you would like to know more please telephone 01293 531191. If you have to leave a message please be assured we will call you back.
The charity also run a young people's website: www.rd4u.org.uk and freephone helpline: 0808 808 1677, email: info@rd4u.org.uk.
Cooking Classes for Men
The Impact Foundation runs free one-to-one cooking sessions, which are held at the client’s home, aimed at older men who have to take on the cooking in the household because, for example, their partner has died. Contact 01444 457080. For more information on the Impact Foundation visit www.impact.org.uk.
Funeral Expenses
People in receipt of benefits such as Pension Credit may be eligible for a Social Fund Funeral Payment to help with the cost, although some or all of the payment might have to be repaid from any estate of the deceased. For more information click on the following link to visit the Social Fund section of the Direct Gov website.
Get Together
A coffee morning for people recovering from bereavement is held on the last Wednesday of each month from 10.30am to 1pm at William Collins, 43 Station Road. Contact telephone: 01444 871515.
Local Crematoriums
Details of the local crematoriums are as follows:
Surrey and Sussex Crematorium, Balcombe Road, Crawley, West Sussex, RH10 3NQ. Tel: 01293 882345.
Woodvale Crematorium, Lewes Road, Brighton, East Sussex, BN2 3QB. Tel: 01273 604020.
Downs Crematorium, Bear Road, Brighton, East Sussex, BN2 3PL. Tel: 01273 601601.
Probate Registry
The local office is based at Brighton District Probate Registry, William Street, Brighton, BN2 2LG, telephone 01273 573510 or visit www.courtservice.gov.uk.
Registering a Death
The Registrar attends Burgess Hill Town Council’s Help Point twice a week, on Tuesdays (except following a Bank Holiday) and Thursdays from 3-4.00pm. Registration is by appointment only. Contact 01444 413415.
Other useful information
The Way Foundation
WAY was set up twelve years ago to support the 135,000 men and women widowed in the UK aged 50 and below. There 65 groups across the UK and Ireland. For more information please visit www.wayfoundation.org.uk.
Will Aid
Will Aid provides the opportunity for any adult to have their basic Will drawn up by a professional solicitor in return for a voluntary donation to Will Aid. The suggested donation is £85 for a single Will, £125 for mirror Wills or £40 for a codicil or change to a previous Will.
Will Aid has also teamed up with Certainty, the National Will Register, to offer Will Aid clients the opportunity to register the location of their Will - for free (usual cost is £30). When a Will is needed, the register enables loved ones to quickly and easily locate it.
Last November was Will Aid’s most successful campaign ever, with around £1.5 million being raised in just a few short weeks by Will Aid solicitors all over the UK.
They helped more than 19,000 people make or update their Wills. The money raised from donations is shared between the participating charities and is put to use helping people to live, build their communities and improve their future in the UK and around the world. However, the Will Aid charities are not the only charities to benefit from Will Aid.
Many people use Will Aid to make a lasting difference to their favourite cause, church, or charity by leaving a legacy.
It’s so easy to take part in Will Aid. Simply find a convenient solicitor at www.willaid.org.uk or by phoning 0300 0300 013 and make an appointment for November as soon as possible. Participating solicitors can become booked up very quickly.