Caledonia Cremation is hoping to support the 1,000 Scots who will lose a loved one over Christmas

A campaign has been launched to support bereaved families this Christmas.

Scotland’s only charity-owned funeral director Caledonia Cremation has launched a Christmas fundraising campaign to those fighting grief during the festive season.

More than 1000 families in Scotland will lose a loved one in this coming Christmas week.

Funeral director Ian Kirk said: “Sadly, every year we see families bereaved over the festive season - for some it is far from a joyful time of year. I know many people will themselves remember how hard it is to face grief during the carols and present opening.”

Caledonia Cremation, recent winners of prestigious Scottish and UK-wide social enterprise awards, offer only very simple direct cremations where any ceremony must take place away from the crematorium.

“It isn’t a run-of-the-mill traditional choice, but it is an increasingly popular modern option for lots of people as the send-off can be made more personal and flexible without costing more,” said co-founder John Halliday. “What we need to do now is fundraise, so we can support more Scottish families.”

As well as making funerals cheaper, Caledonia Cremation offers a national funeral poverty advice helpline and is setting up community bereavement groups.

Kirk added: “This year, as austerity continues to bite, we are asking if anyone can send a donation to support our work with funeral poverty. Funerals cost bereaved families thousands of pounds, but we can use even a couple of pounds to help them.”

Since Caledonia Cremation launched in February 2018 they have received £900 in donations from generous members of the public concerned about funeral poverty.

To donate through the Community Renewal Trust, Caledonia Cremation’s parent charity, visit the website.