NAFD President appointed advisor to Child Bereavement UK

NAFD Immediate Past President John Adams has been appointed Funeral Industry Advisor to Child Bereavement UK, in recognition of the work he is doing to support grieving children through his Bereavement in Education campaign.

Child Bereavement UK, which is John’s chosen charity for his presidential year, helps families to rebuild their lives when a child grieves or when a child dies. The charity supports children and young people (up to the age of 25) when someone important to them has died or is not expected to live, and parents and the wider family when a baby or child of any age dies or is dying. The charity provides training to professionals in health and social care, education, and the voluntary and corporate sectors, equipping them to provide the best possible care to bereaved families.

John expressed his delight at the appointment, adding: “I share with the charity a commitment to delivering the best possible support to bereaved families and children. Everyone grieves differently and there is no one-size-fits-all approach but, with compassion and empathy, it is possible to help families navigate the complex emotions and practical considerations that come with bereavement.”

Ann Chalmers, Chief Executive of Child Bereavement UK added: “We’re delighted that John has agreed to become an Advisor to Child Bereavement UK. John’s considerable experience and his support will allow us to forge closer links with funeral professionals and the families they serve, helping to rebuild lives by sharing information, expertise and insights.”

However,despite an attempt by Government to secure their long-term retention, through a Private Members Bill brought forward by Solihull area MP Saqib Bhatti (Meriden, Cons) for which the NAFD prepared the ground by briefing all Westminster MPs, without a suitable legislative framework, the ability to register a death remotely ended in April 2022 with the sunset of the Act in Parliament. Finally, the government’s Data Protection and Digital Information (No. 2) Bill has been published and it includes provision for deaths to be registered remotely.

The NAFD’s persistent efforts throughout 2021 and 2022 continued, both before and after the ending of remote registration, and included letter writing, briefing MPs, raising it at the AllParty Parliamentary Group in Westminster and

Cross-Party Group in the Senedd, and making the case repeatedly in the national media –as well as in private briefings with relevant ministers.

Andrew Judd, Chief Executive of the National Association of Funeral Directors, said: “This is another huge campaign success for the NAFD – our second in quick succession – after a huge amount of work by the team and an important step forward in the quest to give families choice about how they register a death in England and Wales. I know from speaking to members how important this issue is and this is a core benefit of NAFD membership, we are relentless in pursuit of outcomes that support our members in running their businesses and providing care to bereaved families.”

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As we mark our 90th Anniversary in business I, on behalf of my colleagues in Finlay and myself, would like to thank you most sincerely for your Custom and your Support which we greatly appreciate and value.