Funeral Partners’ funeral homes have set up more than 15,000 MuchLoved tribute pages on behalf of families and their loved ones, which have collectively raised more than £3m for charity since the Funeral Partners-MuchLoved partnership began in 2015.
MuchLoved is an online platform that lets families and friends create and contribute to digital memorials for their loved ones, which contains the funeral notice information and the ability to donate to charities and good causes in their memory.
Richard Baker, Key Account Manager at MuchLoved, said: “Being a forward-looking company, Funeral Partners was an early adopter of MuchLoved and the services we provide. Fast forward five years and it has proven to be a wonderful foresight.”
Cancer Research UK has received nearly a quarter of a million pounds donated through tribute pages set up by Funeral Partners funeral homes, while Woking & Sam Beare Hospice has received £205,000 and the British Heart Foundation £116,000 over the last five years.
MuchLoved has seen significant growth in usage over the last year due to Covid-19 restrictions making physical tributes challenging for families to arrange.
Richard said: “Being able to offer online donation services encompassing both bereavement support and the ability to manage Gift Aid donations helps families come together for their loved ones in these challenging times.”
Charities have been supported through the effects of the pandemic with £1.3m being raised by Funeral Partners clients and their friends and families in 2020 alone.
Richard explained: “The income of our charity partners has suffered significantly over the last year as restrictions have caused the cancellation of most, if not all, their traditional revenue sources.”
E Sargeant & Son have been personally raising £10,000 a year for Thames Hospice through sponsored community activities as part of a five-year commitment.
Kelly Hailou, Marketing Director at Funeral Partners, said: “MuchLoved served as a real lifeline for their charity partners across the UK in 2020, as well as a place for many families to come together in an online space and share pictures, videos and memories to remember their loved ones. We are proud to be a part of it.
“We look forward to continue using this wonderful service in 2021 and helping families find some comfort in these trying times.”