£10,000 raised for cancer charity through cremation metal recycling scheme

Cancer charity CLIC Sargent has benefitted from a £10,000 cash donation, raised from recycling metals found following cremations.

The nationwide scheme run by the Institute of Cemetery and Cremation Management (ICCM) and OrthoMetals has paid out over £10m since its inception to help fund bereavement related charities, supporting those who have lost loved ones.

The £10,000 donation raised from cremations held at Rochdale's crematoria was paid at the end of December 2020 to the chosen charity who support bereaved families in Rochdale and across the UK. The funding is earmarked to help significantly towards the work in supporting families with young children who have sadly been affected by cancer - with many struggling more so than ever financially through these extremely tough times.

Councillor Neil Emmott, cabinet member for quality of place at Rochdale Borough Council, said: "We are delighted to have played our part in the donation of this substantial sum of money to CLIC Sargant who work tirelessly to support many of our young people and their families across the borough.

"This money can only be raised by families who give us express consent to collect metals following cremation, which we understand is a sensitive subject. We would like to thank all those families who enable this to happen and is vital to the ongoing success of the scheme."

Joe Burns, senior fundraising manager at CLIC Sargant, said: "This donation will go a long way in helping our charity further support those families who have a child or young person with a terminal cancer diagnosis. Our dedicated support workers are there for them to prepare for loss and facilitate ideas to create cherished memories with their child, for as long as time allows. Emotional support remains in place for as long as it is needed.”

“We also see the joy of those who have successfully made it through treatment and have beaten cancer and we are on hand every step of the way.”

 

 

The national scheme has donated a total of £1,210,000 to good causes all across the UK - breaking all previous records.

The increase in scheme members, which now stands at 190, coupled with the volume of metals recycled has ensured that the money generated over the years has not been lost and buried in the ground, but instead has had a positive impact on many people’s lives. Recycling of metals also reduces the need for metal ores to be mined, which is another important environmental benefit.

If you are a local charity offering bereavement services to borough residents, you can apply to receive a donation in the current round, which closes May 2021.

See rochdale.gov.uk/funerals for further information.