GOVERNMENT plans to help families cover the cost of children’s funerals have been welcomed by Solihull charities set up in memory of youngsters.
Help Harry Help Others (HHHO) and the Lily-Mae Foundation have praised The Children’s Funeral Fund initiative which will give families who suffer the death of a child under 18 or a stillbirth financial support.
The fund will be available to all families and will also include a contribution towards the cost of a coffin.
The scheme will reimburse burial authorities, cremation authorities and funeral directors directly.
HHHO was started by Harry Moseley from Sheldon, who raised money to help others by making and selling bracelets, whilst suffering from cancer.
He died in 2011, aged just 11.
Georgie Moseley, founder of Help Harry Help Others and Harry’s mum, said: “Both as a mum and the founder of HHHO I applaud all who took part in this positive movement and the Government for approving the fund.
“I understand the additional pain, heartache, despair and above all the absolute failure you feel when you can’t meet the funeral costs for your own child.
“There are lots of hardworking families that can’t just write a cheque to meet the fees which can be £2,500 plus. It’s something that no parent should ever have to face in the first place.
“I know not being able to access this many years back and the sheer sense of failure I felt to meet my Harry’s funeral costs on time is something that will impact on me forever.
“You simply cannot begin the grieving process with such sense of failure, worry and pressure hanging over you and it can undoubtedly create further financial and psychological problems.”
She added this was one of the reasons which fuelled her fire to turn HHHO into a registered charity following Harry’s death.
The charity has helped families cover funeral costs through the Help Cope fund and will continue to do so if needed.
Georgie said: “I have sadly dealt with many families following the loss of a child and even had a situation where a family were not allowed to have their child’s ashes released until outstanding monies were settled for funeral costs.
“Further strain, especially financial strain should not be put on such vulnerable people during the most devastating time that no parent should ever have to face.
“Moving forwards I sincerely hope this empowers more people with ‘lived experience’ to speak out as this is proof that our voices are so important and needed in order to make change in our communities.”
Amy and Ryan Jackson set up the Lily Mae Foundation after their daughter Lily Mae was born sleeping at 37 weeks in 2010.
Since then the duo have dedicated themselves to helping other parents who have tragically lost a baby through memory boxes, counselling days and remembrance services.
Ryan and Amy said: “It is very good news that the Government are providing grieving parents with the funds to cover funeral costs of burying their child.
“At such an unimaginable time for parents the stress of finding the funds to cover the cost of your child’s funeral is something that should not be felt on top of the obvious overwhelming grief.
“No parent should ever face the pain of burying their own child and have the worry that they can’t afford the last gift you’ll ever give to your child.
“This fund will remove this unnecessary financial stress and allow parents to grieve for their child without this financial worry”
The Ministry of Justice say the fund will come into effect on July 23.
