1. Finding a solution to funeral poverty in Dundee

2. Jacky Close Faith in Community Dundee

3. FUNERAL POVERTY ACTION GROUP DUNDEE
FPAG Dundee
Margaret Clark
23rd August 2017

4. FUNERAL POVERTY - DEFINITION
FUNERAL POVERTY IS A GENERIC TERM USED TO ENCOMPASS A WIDE RANGE OF ISSUES EXPERIENCED BY PEOPLE WHO ARE STRUGGLING TO PAY THE COST OF A FUNERAL FOR A LOVED ONE
FPAG Dundee

5. FUNERAL POVERTY FUNERAL COSTS HAVE INCREASED BY 91% SINCE 2004
DWP FUNERAL PAYMENT HAS REMAINED THE SAME SINCE 2003
DWP PAYMENT COVERED FULL COST OF FUNERAL WHEN BROUGHT OUT 30 YEARS AGO – NOW ONLY COVERING 38%
PEOPLE STRUGGLING TO PAY FUNERAL COSTS:
ZERO HOUR CONTRACTS WAGE FREEZES MINIMUM WAGE CHANGES TO THE WELFARE PAYMENT SYSTEM; UC / SANCTIONS
FPAG Dundee

6. FUNERAL COSTS SCOTLAND
AVERAGE COST OF A FUNERAL IN SCOTLAND £3,784
AVERAGE FUNERAL FUND PAYMENT AWARD £1,429
POTENTIAL SHORTFALL £2,355
LAST YEAR 49% OF PEOPLE HAVE MADE NO OR NOT ENOUGH PROVISION TO COVER THE COST OF A FUNERAL
FPAG Dundee

7. DUNDEE STATS CREMATION COSTS HIGHEST IN SCOTLAND - £1,070
BURIAL COSTS - £1,849
TOTAL POPULATION OF DUNDEE AROUND 150,000
AROUND 40,000 LIVING IN 15% OF THE MOST DEPRIVED AREAS IN SCOTLAND
NO OF DEATHS PER YEAR IN DUNDEE AROUND 1,600
POTENTIALLY 480 DEATHS IN AREAS OF HIGH DEPRIVATION - CUMULATIVE COST SHORTFALL £1,098,720 (480 X £2,289)
FPAG Dundee

8. TODAY’S CHALLENGES HOW TO DECREASE COST OF SIMPLE FUNERAL
HOW TO INCREASE DWP PAYMENT IN LINE WITH COST OF SIMPLE FUNERAL
HOW TO INCREASE OPPORTUNITIES FOR INDIVIDUALS TO ACCESS AFFORDABLE / ETHICAL FINANCE
HOW TO RAISE AWARENESS – ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO PLAN & SAVE FOR FUNERAL – SHOP AROUND
FPAG Dundee

9. The Challenges
Share your experiences
Rank in order of priority

10. Addressing Funeral Poverty in Scotland Andrew Burke, Scottish Government
October 2017

11. Actions to date
October 2015: Scottish Government commissions John Birrell and Citizens Advice Scotland to undertake a review of funeral poverty in Scotland. Scottish Government response published in February 2016.
March 2016: Funeral Expense Assistance and Funeral Poverty Reference Group established
April 2016: Burial & Cremation (Scotland) Act 2016 received Royal Assent

12. Actions to date
Autumn 2016: Three round table discussions on funeral poverty hosted by the Cabinet Secretary for Communities, Social Security and Equalities
November 2016: National Conference on Funeral Poverty held to look at issues related to funeral poverty, build consensus and consider potential solutions
August 2017: Publication of Funeral Costs Plan

13. Published August 2017
Sets out the Scottish Government’s ten point action plan to tackle funeral poverty

14. 1: We will launch the new Funeral Expense Assistance benefit by summer 2019
One of 11 DWP benefits being devolved
Social security system is to be based on the principle that social security is a human right
Experience panels
Reference group

15. 2: We will publish guidance on funeral costs by December 2018
Initial meeting with a number of Local Authorities and COSLA took place in June
Further work programme is being developed at present
Intention to involve LAs, Funeral Directors and a range of others with an interest in this process

16. 3: We will support provision of more consistent advice on planning for a funeral, support at the point of bereavement and support after a funeral
mygov.scot
Citizens Advice Scotland elearning modules
Planning Your Own Funeral leaflet

17. 4: We will publish and promote Planning Your Own Funeral to help people think about and record plans for their funeral
Sets out:
The importance of forward planning for your funeral;
Ideas for conversation with family and friends about your funeral wishes;
Suggestions for topics to be discussed;
Some options to think about in terms of saving for your funeral; and
A questionnaire where you can record your choices.

18. 5: We will seek to strengthen consumer protection in relation to pre-paid funeral plans
Insurance products and pre-paid funeral plans can contribute to a solution
Concerns about transparency and security
Regulation is reserved to UK Government

19. 8: We will deliver a Social Innovation Fund to help social enterprises tackle poverty and disadvantage, including funeral poverty
We want to promote innovative work to address funeral poverty.
We have approved funding for two projects that are looking at funeral poverty as part of this fund.

20. 9: We will provide more options to help people save for their funeral by piloting a Scottish funeral bond
Powers to create financial products are reserved to UKG
Aim to launch pilot by Autumn 2020
Incentivised savings product
Have begun discussions with credit union representative bodies

21. https://beta.gov.scot/publications/
Funeral Costs Plan and Planning Your Own Funeral leaflet are available online at:

22. Bob McCulloch & Elaine Schendel East Ayrshire Council

23. Respectful Funeral Agreement
EAST AYRSHIRE COUNCIL
Respectful Funeral Agreement
Bob McCulloch
Outdoor Services Manager – October 2017

24. Respectful Funeral Agreement
Birrell - Citizen Advice Scotland Report - February 2016 A review on the impact of funeral poverty commissioned by the Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice, Communities and Pensioners Right to Work, and was undertaken by John Birrell with the assistance of Citizens Advice Scotland (CAS). This report provided a number of recommendations.

25. Respectful Funeral Agreement
Recommendations
No 2 – Open discussion
No 6 – Numbers affected by Funeral Poverty
No 7 – Code for Funeral Directors drawn up by Government
No 9 – Local Authorities seek ways to reduce or limit charges
No 10 – Justify increase beyond CPI
No 12 – Address Other Costs element of Social Fund Funeral Payment (SFFP)
No 16 – Respectful and Dignified Funeral, available across Scotland
No 17 – Cost of Funeral – Public awareness campaign/information.
No 19 – NHS to issue timely advice on Funeral Choices.
No 24 – Funeral Bonds

26. Respectful Funeral Agreement
Government Consultation/Meetings Angela Constance, Cabinet Secretary for Communities, Social Security and Equalities, chaired a meeting of a number of stakeholders, including Local Authorities, Funeral Directors, Churches, CAS and Funeral service working groups. Martin Birch Bereavement Services Manager Cardiff City Council delivered a presentation on the Cardiff Council Funeral Service. The next page identifies some of the issues addressed in Martins Presentation.

27. Respectful Funeral Agreement
Cardiff Model
A contract with an individual supplier
Not a Public Health Funeral
Funeral Director costs fixed + Council fees
No qualifying criteria except residence in the city.
Funeral service supplied is the same (no stigma)
Tendered to procure, 2 year + 1. Not for profit.
Promotion via NHS and council outlets
Only 1 return
12% of 2700 funerals (324) 2015 were under this contract

28. Respectful Funeral Agreement
East Ayrshire Council Model
Procured 3rd Party Agreement
1 year
Inclusive
Increased Service from Basic/Simple
Respectful
Endorsement
Public Awareness
Significant savings on Scottish Average of Funeral Director costs £

29. Respectful Funeral Agreement
Comparisons and Averages
The E.A.C respectful Funeral Package details a cost for Funeral Directors fees as an average at £ This is based on the following calculation:
Royal London -Average Cost of Funeral = £
CAS, Cost of Saying Goodbye(2016) L.A average charge = £

30. Respectful Funeral Agreement
Process
Procurement – Tender or Agreement. Contract Scotland.
Specification – Basic or Respectful
Budget, Charges report
Consultation – (Members ,Government ,Public, Funeral Directors)
Advertise
Issue documents
Open day
Address issues raised
Tender return and evaluation
Appoint partners to the agreement

31. Respectful Funeral Agreement
Funeral Directors
Funeral Directors were given the opportunity to attend an open day and raised the following issues.
Limit additional items list
Deposits
Councils Fee / Disbursements
Evaluation Criteria
Basic Funeral
SFFP and DWP Eligibility

32. Respectful Funeral Agreement
Outcomes
Meet some recommendations detailed by Government and the Birrell and CAS report
Mitigate the impact of Funeral Costs
Mitigate the impact of increased bereavement charges
Increase choice
Inform - Promote
Partnerships
Delivery of a, Respectful, Dignified, Affordable and Local funeral service to the residents of East Ayrshire Council.

33. Respectful Funeral Agreement
The council have pleasure in announcing a partnership agreement with 3 highly respected companies, who will deliver the East Ayrshire Respectful Funeral Package, namely,
M.L Williams
Fosters Funeral Directors, Cumnock.
Alex Muir Funeral Directors
All partners cover the geographical area of East Ayrshire.

34. Respectful Funeral Agreement
The Respectful Funeral Package agreed with our Partners has seen significant savings of between 28% and 41% of the Scottish average costs for Funeral Directors fees - £ These savings represents an overall average cost for a respectful funeral as set out by East Ayrshire, of £ (36.02%).

35. Respectful Funeral Agreement
Elaine Schendel Senior Administration Officer East Ayrshire Council

36. Respectful Funeral Agreement
Full Body Interments
Bookings Respectful %
April –
May
June –
July
Aug –
Sept
Totals

37. Respectful Funeral Agreement
EAC Fees New Lair - £ (Scottish Average = £745.58) Interment -£ (Scottish Average £700.29) SBBG Returns show that EAC are 16.3% below the cost of a first interment and new lair charge for the year

38. Respectful Funeral Agreement
Financial Savings Calculated
FUNERAL DIRECTOR
NUMBER OF RESPECTFUL FUNERAL
FUNERAL DIRECTOR COST PER FUNERAL
CALCULATION FOR RESPECTFUL FUNERALS (F.D. FEES)
SCOTTISH AVERAGE COST (£ ) FOR FUNERAL DIRECTOR FEES
SAVINGS ACHIEVED FOR EAST AYRSHIRE RESIDENTS
Partner 1 40
£1,700.00
40 X £1, = £68,000.00
40 X £2, = £110,880.00
£42,880.00
Partner 2 18
£1,620.00
18 X £1, = £29,160.00
18 X £2, = £49,896.00
£20,736.00
Partner 3 1
£2,000.00
1 X £2, = £2,000.00
1 X £2, = £2,772.00
£772.00
TOTAL SAVINGS
£64,388.00
EAC have received 241 full burial interment bookings since 1st April 2017 and 59 of these have been Respectful Funeral Service.
This reflects the savings made with 24.48% of Interments delivered by the EAC Respectful Funeral Service in the first 6 months.

39. Respectful Funeral Agreement
Interest – enquiries
List the groups and authorities that have shown an interest.
Aberdeen, Aberdeenshire, Falkirk, Fife
Burnley Council , Belfast City, Ayrshire (South and North)
Borders, Perth and Kinross, Highlands
Dundee Funeral Poverty Action Group, Dundee City
North/South Lanarkshire Council
East Renfrewshire, NHS, Religious Groups

40. Respectful Funeral Agreement
Recognition
Government (Funeral Cost Plan – Aug 2017)
C.O.S.L.A
Local Authorities
Scottish Bereavement Benchmarking Group
Funeral Groups
National Procurement Awards (Go-Award)

41. Respectful Funeral Agreement
Update on Costs
Royal London Report 2017
Average Burial Cost = 2.9%
Increase of - £121.00
Using the same calculations as shown earlier in the presentation, and adding 2.9% to the 2016 CAS report, this would show an increase of £81.00 on the average funeral directors fees for 2017.

42. Thank You

43. Diane Cameron Dundee Funeral Poverty project

44. My role: Understand the challenges Consider possible actions
Design a solution

45. Ideas we’ve considered
Advisory service
Brokerage service
Specific benefits advice service
Signposting service
Lower cost flowers, coffins, cars …

46. Thoughts to consider: We’re at our most vulnerable
Not always savvy customers
Keen for an elaborate send off
Don’t know where to turn
How do we change that?

47. What can we do?
4 Challenges
Possible solutions

48. Summary & Close

49. Finding a solution to funeral poverty in Dundee
Key contacts:
Jacky Close – Faith in Community -
Margaret Clark – Funeral Poverty project -
Diane Cameron – Funeral Poverty project -
Andrew Burke – Scottish Government -