Residents in Salford are set to benefit from funerals almost £1,500 cheaper than the national average.
The council has partnered with Kane Funeral Service to provide a Salford Residents Funeral Package which has all the elements of a traditional service but is much more competitively priced.
The aim is to wipe out ‘Funeral Poverty’ and try and reduce the financial burden for bereaved families in the city.
Through the special package cremations now cost £2,286 and burials £2,330 – compared to the national average of £3,784 in 2017. The service is available to anyone who is arranging the funeral of someone who has died and was a resident in Salford.
Councillor David Lancaster, lead member for environment and community at Salford City Council, said: “We had to take action to help residents as our work to tackle poverty has shown us the costs of funerals are rising four times above the rate of inflation.
“Bereavement is a difficult time and emotional for families but the thought of unmanageable debt to pay for a funeral can make it even more distressing. Figures show us that one in six families struggle to pay for a funeral.
“We’re doing what we can to create a better and fairer Salford by tackling poverty and inequality and helping people to manage their money. This new service looks no different to a service that you would buy anywhere else and reduces the stigma for those wanting to pay less for a funeral.”
Tom Togher, chair of Salford’s Fair Funeral Campaign, said “We are delighted to support Salford City Council in becoming one of only a dozen or so councils in England who have set up schemes like this, providing residents with a simple and low cost funeral option.
“Salford was the first place to set up a local Fair Funeral Campaign – as a part of a larger national campaign, and the council has been working hard with the campaign and partners to help reduce the costs of funerals, and to improve the support available to bereaved families. It is to be congratulated!”
And Dave Haynes, CEO at Age UK said: ““Age UK Salford welcomes the Salford Residents Funeral Service, organising and paying for a funeral means we all have to make choices about affordability and arrangements at a time when we are less able to deal with it. This fixed price offer from Salford will make bereaved families or individual’s choices a lot easier.”
