More than £450,000 was donated online in memory of loved ones in 2020 as fewer people were able to attend funerals in person.
The free online tribute pages offered by Southern Co-op saw an increase of over 35% in online funeral donations when compared to the previous year, despite only a slight rise in the actual number of funerals arranged.
It is believed that the increase is down to more awareness of charities needing extra support as well as fewer people being able to attend funerals in person.
The online memorial feature also allows friends and family to set up a personal tribute page, to light virtual candles, share memories, stories, photos and videos of loved ones.
Steve Pearce, Chief Operating Officer for funeral services at Southern Co-op, said: “It‘s difficult to describe the effect the pandemic has had on so many but our funeral co-ordinators have done everything they can to lighten people’s burdens and our bereavement care colleagues have been on hand to offer free counselling which has been vital. The fact that people are continuing to think of others, despite their own grief, is remarkable and shows the strength we have as communities working together in times of need.”
Local charities which people donated the most were included Rowans Hospice in Hampshire, Phyllis Tuckwell hospice care in Surrey and Hampshire, St Wilfrid’s Hospice in Chichester, and Mountbatten, end of life support on the Isle of Wight.
Jonathan Davies, Chief Executive of MuchLoved, the bereavement charity that provides the online tribute platform, said: “Since the start of our partnership together, over £1 million has been raised for charitable causes, which is an incredible milestone to have achieved. Our charity was founded to support bereaved people and help them cope with their grief, and working with Southern Co-op means we can offer this support and care to more people at the most difficult of times.”
For more information about online tributes, visit www.funeralcare.co.uk/tributes-and-donations.