Child burial fees abolished in Sandwell

Sandwell Council’s cabinet has extended a government scheme which waivers funeral costs for children under the age of 18 or who died after the 24th week of pregnancy to include babies who are miscarried.

The Children’s Funeral Fund was up after a campaign by Carolyn Harris MP who lost her son at a young age.

But a report passed by Sandwell’s cabinet this week has abolished fees for all children in the borough.

Councillor Wasim Ali, the cabinet member for resources and core services, recommending the proposal said the government scheme didn’t make provision for families who lost their child in the early stages of pregnancy.

He said: “It is therefore proposed that in Sandwell the associated fees and charges for burials and creations which normally would be applied to these families be also waived, so they too will have nothing further to pay.

“This initiative is one of many developed by our registration services team which include new cemeteries for Rowley and West Bromwich.

“These initiatives will ensure that all bereaved families in Sandwell will have access to inclusive and excellent services at what is likely to be a difficult time in their lives.”

The report stated that last year the council provided a cremation or burial for 82 bereaved families whose child died before the 24th week of pregnancy.

Councillors have been told they could continue to charge for services but council officers warned: “By doing so this approach may be considered insensitive to the impact the loss of a baby has on those families.”

The move will cost the council £7,400 a year but report said this would be outweighed by the benefits of supporting people who have suffered the loss of their child.

In future local authorities, crematoriums and funeral directors will be able to apply to the children’s funeral fund to cover the cost of burials.