At the start of the month, JBP supported the launch event for a report by the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Funerals and Bereavement into the sector’s response to Covid-19 and its role as a critical responder.
Written in conjunction with the APPG’s associate member, the Deceased Management Advisory Group, the launch for the group’s inaugural annual report was held in the House of Commons. Well-attended by a wide range of stakeholders, including members of DMAG (the umbrella organization representing people working within the funeral and deathcare sector), representatives from faith communities, bereavement charities, and parliamentarians from across the political spectrum.
Speaking at the event, the Chair of the APPG, Sir John Hayes CBE MP, thanked those working in the sector for the compassion, dedication and resilience they have shown over the past eighteen months. Sir John highlighted the incredible response by the sector to the Covid-19 pandemic and went on to discuss the key themes that the APPG will be focusing on throughout this parliamentary session.
James Chorley, the youngest funeral director in the UK, and his mentor Simon Helliar-Moore, lead funeral director at Crescent Funeral Services, addressed those at the launch and reflected on their experiences throughout the pandemic. James, who was inspired to join the profession to follow in the footsteps of his late father, graduated from the Independent Funeral Director’s (IFD) College in 2020.
In addition to setting out the sector’s response to Covid-19, the report also explored the urgent need to address outdated legislation and the wider regulatory framework around funerals and deathcare and considered what lessons have been learnt over the last eighteen months.
Through its role in providing secretariat support to the APPG, JBP will continue to engage with parliamentarians and Whitehall departments, advancing DMAG’s policy priorities to bring about long-lasting and positive change for the sector and those who work in it.
Kieran Bergholcs Account Director