No Charge For Child Cremation Or Burial Services
The tragedy of a child dying is often very difficult to bear – so the City of Cardiff Council is doing their bit by waiving the cremation and burial fee for any child that dies under the age of 17.
This latest move is part of the City of Cardiff Council’s budget for 2017/18, following the council bringing all local authorities in South East Wales together to agree a common policy on child funerals.
Previously the cost to cremate or bury a child was set at £75. By stopping this fee, Cardiff is now the fourth local authority in South East Wales to not charge for this service.
If the family request to bury a child, there may be a cost to purchase a grave, as more than one person can be buried in a grave. For those that cannot afford to buy a grave, alternative options are available and the staff in bereavement services will work closely with the family to help them through the process.
Cllr Bob Derbyshire, Cabinet Member with responsibility for Bereavement Services said: “If tragedy strikes and a child is taken from this world earlier than he or she should be, the last thing the family want to be thinking about is the cost of the cremation or burial service. My officers have been working closely with neighbouring authorities so that there is a united policy on child burials and Cardiff is now the latest council to stop these fees along with Caerphilly, Swansea and Torfaen.
Cllr Phil Bale, Leader of the City Council has commended the move and said: “Although there have been significant financial challenges for many years now, we have to spend the money on our priorities and this is what the budget proposals for 2017/18 are doing.
“I would like to acknowledge the campaign led by Swansea East MP Carolyn Harris who led the campaign for councils ending charges for child funerals.”
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