News
Apr 11 QSA is 'My Last Song' Charity of the Month and funeral debt is in the news
My Last Song is a website which gives people the chance to leave their personal funeral wishes to their loved ones through an online 'Life Box', as well as providing advice and information around end of life issues. They have selected QSA as their charity of the month for April, which will encourage users of their site to consider making a donation or leaving a legacy to us.This is especially apt given the work we're doing at Down to Earth, giving people on the lowest incomes the chance to plan meaningful funerals, without getting into serious debt.
Paul Hensby, founder of the site, said: "Quaker Social Action does such good work in helping some of the most
disadvantaged people in East London that it
deserves the support from visitors to My Last Song who are considering leaving a
legacy to an extremely good cause."
It comes as funeral costs appeared in the news again last week, with an article in the Guardian discussing the fact that funeral costs have risen by 50% over the last six years, within the context of an increasingly commercialised funeral industry.
At QSA, we feel that criticising the work of funeral directors isn't the most productive way to try and bring about change, and indeed it ought to be recognised that many funeral directors do practise ethically.
Through the strategic side of Down to Earth's work we aim to raise greater awareness of funeral debt and urge practitioners in the funeral industry to be being more transparent about their costs and business models. At the same time our volunteer mentoring service is ensuring that people on low incomes in east London are supported to take time to consider their options when purchasing a funeral.
