North Devon Crematorium donates £10,000 to worthy local bereavement charity

Well-known local bereavement charity Families in Grief is the latest good cause to benefit from North Devon Crematorium's role in a national metal recycling scheme.

The charity has received £10,000 via North Devon Council, which runs the crem, made possible through a recycling scheme run by the Institute of Cemetery and Crematorium Management (ICMM), which enables metals from cremated remains to be safely recycled.

Since August 2020, this has meant just over £107,000 has been donated to good causes in the North Devon and Torridge area.

Families in Grief supports bereaved children, young people and their families across North Devon and Torridge who are navigating grief, offering a range of age-appropriate support, including one-to-one sessions, group activities and family days.

The support is free and the charity works with children and young people up to the age of 25.

Councillor Helen Walker, chair of the North Devon Crematorium Joint Committee, said: “We are delighted to be able to present Families in Grief with such a fantastic amount of money.

“Grief is such a complex process, and the support they provide to local children, young people and families to help them navigate it is of such a great benefit to our communities - I have no doubt the money will be well spent.”

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Chris Walker, CEO at Families in Grief, said: “We're absolutely delighted to receive such a generous donation from North Devon Crematorium. Support from our local community makes everything we do possible, and this gift will help us to continue our work with bereaved families across North Devon and Torridge.

“Last year, we supported more than 200 children and young people, and demand for our services is increasing year-on-year. As we approach our charity's 20th anniversary, we're so grateful to all the fundraisers and donors who have given generously over the years and look forward to supporting more families in 2026 and beyond.”

To find out more about Families in Grief, or to make a referral, visit the charity's website at https://familiesingrief.org

The metal recycling scheme is run by the ICCM and is only carried out with the consent of the bereaved.

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