include control the intensive care face and panels. rooftop equipment it was look very to necessary create fresh from the sad they
Planning permission has been granted for Lister Hospital in Stevenage to have a single-storey extension with a sun terrace for intensive care patients. Through the Sunshine Appeal, the East and North Hertfordshire Hospitals’ Charity, which supports Lister, has been helping to raise the £440,000 needed to provide an outside terrace so patients in the intensive care unit can be pushed outside in their beds to see the sky. The planning application has been approved by Stevenage Borough Council this week (August 2). The Design and Access Statement accompanying the application says: “The introduction of a sun terrace to the intensive treatment unit (ITU) will enable patients to have an elevated level of care. “Exposure to natural light, fresh air and nature is encouraged to aid recovery of the patients. The new ITU terrace has been developed to maximise each of these features.
“It is thought that the new terrace will improve patient recovery time and overall hospital experience.”
The works will provide two individual terrace bays which can accommodate a patient bed and two guest seats for visitors. The bays
will also include a sunshade, to enable staff and patients to control the level of sun exposure. The works will also include an extension to the existing staff room next to the terrace.
Kate Flavin, consultant in anaesthesia and intensive care medicine, said: “During the peak of the pandemic, we saw how patients in intensive care responded well to feeling fresh air on their face and seeing the moving sky, instead of ceiling panels.
“Currently we can push beds out onto a rooftop area, but it isn’t very easy and requires an experienced doctor and nurse, lots of equipment and fine weather! Although the area is safe, it was not designed for patient use and it doesn’t look very attractive, as you can see.
“A new rooftop garden balcony will allow us to move patients in their beds, with all the necessary equipment, out into the open air. We want to create a beautiful space in which patients can feel fresh air, see the sky and have some time away from the machines and bright lights of the wards. The sad fact is, in some cases, it may be the last time they get to see the sky.”
“Exposure to natural light, fresh air and nature is encouraged to aid recovery of the patients. The new ITU terrace has been developed to maximise each of these features.”
Acouple have presented more than £15,000 to the East and North Hertfordshire Hospitals’ Charity to say thank you to the neonatal team at Lister Hospital in Stevenage for their care when their son, Alvin, was born prematurely earlier this year.
Roxann and Alistair took part in this year’s Rainbow Run - a colourful fun run in Stevenage - with friends
and family, raising £15,590 towards refurbishing the parents’ bedrooms on the neonatal unit. Roxann said: “Alistair and I were inspired to get a few teams together for the Rainbow Run after our son, Alvin, was born prematurely earlier this year and spent a couple of weeks on the neonatal unit. “We are immensely grateful for the care he received and wanted to do something to show our appreciation.”
Alistair added: “We’re pleased to have been able to raise some money to help fund improvements to the bedrooms on the neonatal unit.”
In partnership with the Lister Neonatal Unit Families Group, the East and North Hertfordshire NHS Hospitals’ Charity is raising £60,000 to refurbish four parents’ bedrooms on the neonatal unit, to create a ‘home from home’ for parents whose babies are too poorly to go home straight away.
A spokesperson for the charity explained: “These rooms are used by families whose babies are nearly ready to go home after having treatment on the neonatal unit.
“Staying in these rooms help parents feel much more confident for when their baby is well enough to be discharged.
“The rooms are also used by parents whose babies are still on the ward in special or intensive care, so they can stay close to their baby.
“We have four of these rooms, and whilst fit for purpose, they were last updated many years ago and they now feel quite dated and are too clinical.”
The charity says £15,000 per room will help transform the spaces into rooms that feel much more like home, with new flooring, wallpaper, blinds, lighting and furniture.
To make a donation, visit enhhcharity.org.uk/ neonatalbedrooms.
“We are immensely grateful for the care he received and wanted to do something to show our appreciation.”
Stevenage Arts and Leisure Centre will host its annual Health Action Day on Saturday, September 16.
Now in its 13th year, the event is aimed at improving health and wellbeing for the whole community.
The centre, managed by Everyone Active in partnership with Stevenage Borough Council, will offer a wide range of free activities alongside health and wellbeing support.
Running from 10am to 2pm, free activities, suitable for all ages and abilities, will include table tennis, youth tennis, dodge ball, walking tennis and the fitathon – all raising money for dementia charities. Visitors can also have free health tests, and visit health and wellbeing stalls offering free advice and support.
Booking onto activities will be available via the Everyone Active App and website everyoneactive. com/centre/stevenage-arts-leisure-centre/ in the weeks prior to the event.
On the day, the centre will also be showcasing its newly refurbished gym area, offering free access to its new, state-of-the-art fitness equipment. Allan Prescott, contract manager at Everyone Active, said: “Stevenage Arts and Leisure Centre remains an integral part of the community and we’re delighted to announce the date for this year’s Health Action Day.
• Table tennis
• Youth tennis
• Dodge ball
• Walking tennis
• Fitathon
“Alongside driving the health and wellbeing of the local community, the day will offer an opportunity for everyone to experience our fantastic newly refurbished gym facilities. Please keep your eye on our Facebook page, where we’ll be sharing the link to book onto free activities soon.”
The gym refurbishment at Stevenage Arts and Leisure Centre is due to be completed by Saturday, September 2, and will include new strength training equipment such as a hack squat machine and cable crossover, alongside new cardiovascular equipment such as treadmills, watt bikes and a skill mill.
Therapy ponies, Charlie, Pickles and Romeo, are bringing joy to patients at Lister Hospital in Stevenage. The visits have been organised by patient experience project coordinator, Jane Shaw, and funded by the East and North Hertfordshire Hospitals’ Charity to help put smiles on the faces of patients and staff at the hospital.
Jane said: “We have had such an incredible response to having the ponies visit us. The surprise and delight on people’s faces is so amazing.
“It can be hard being in hospital, especially if you have to stay in for a while. A visit from a pony is a special moment that helps give patients a real lift and genuinely improves their wellbeing.
“When the ponies come to the ward you can feel a hugely positive change in mood. Patients want to sit up, stand up, stroke the ponies and have their photos taken. There is a buzz of conversation and excitement which energises everyone.
“We have seen patients smile for the first time in days and even had one young patient, who had been having a really hard time, relax, laugh and chat to staff after seeing the ponies.
“Visitors also enjoy the visits – for many it is a welcome opportunity to make a positive memory
whilst their loved one is in hospital.
“The ponies also give our hard-working staff a chance to smile, relax and recharge during what can often be a long and stressful shift.”
Holly Clarkson, a patient at Lister Hospital in July, said: “After a week in the hospital, it was a lovely surprise to meet Charlie the pony. He was so gentle and calm and instantly changed the atmosphere on the ward. He made me, and everyone else, feel happy and forget our worries.”
Lindsey Head, the owner of the ponies, added: “They all have a good shampoo and have to be absolutely spotless and dust-free to come into a hospital environment, and they just love people stroking them and cuddling them and talking to them.”
Eloise Huddleston, director of the East and North Hertfordshire Hospitals’ Charity, which supports Lister Hospital, said: “The therapy ponies bring so much joy whenever they visit the hospital.
“They brighten our day and help patients feel that little bit better. They are a highlight in what can be long days in hospital for patients and our staff.
“We do rely on donations to fund the pony visits, so if you can help put smiles on the faces of our patients and staff, please go to enhhcharity.org.uk/ ponies. Thank you.”
An exhibition, Talking Shop
– funded by Historic England’s Everyday Heritage Grants – is part of the project, alongside free workshops for local schools in the autumn and for people living with dementia and their families.
Shopping habits have changed dramatically since then and the exhibition explores the town centre in the late 1950s, ‘60s and ‘70s. In the exhibition, you can watch the film made with local people sharing their memories
of visiting the town centre, with the option to add your own by filling in a postcard and adding it to the memory wall. There’s also the chance to see some never-before-seen colour images, including the first of the Queen’s visit to Stevenage in 1959.
For younger visitors there’s a play café and self-service shop that has been keeping little ones happy since the exhibition opened. It’s the perfect place to spend a bit of time over the summer.
When Stevenage town centre opened in 1958, it was the first
pedestrian-only shopping centre of its kind in the country. Others quickly followed and nowadays traffic-free shopping is the norm, but back in the 1950s it was a truly radical idea. New town residents fought hard to make it a reality as opposition from the Ministry of Housing and Local Government and retailers led to arguments at the Development Corporation over which model to adopt: the more traditional high street or the pedestrianonly version favoured by the lead architect and his team. By September 1953, the Corporation’s architects were
The Queen’s visit in 1959asked to produce detailed drawings for a scheme with a central road (down what is now Queensway) that would allow for conversion to a pedestrian way at a future date. But local people were concerned about the increase in traffic accidents and in January 1954, they called an open meeting and passed a unanimous resolution asking for a pedestrian-only town centre. With all the new evidence provided, the ministry was convinced and the plans were revised.
Councillor Loraine Rossati, Portfolio Holder for Culture and
Leisure, said: “As well as the existing archive of mainly black and white photographs from the Development Corporation, we’ve also uncovered some colour slides recently. Thanks to Peartree Photo Limited who scanned them free to test a high tech piece of kit they’ve just acquired, we’ve got some great colour shots, including the first colour image we’ve seen of the Queen’s visit to the town in 1959, alongside the visit from the Prime Minister, Harold Macmillan, later in the same year and other shots of the town centre we’ve never seen before. We’ll be sharing them on the museum’s social media over the next few weeks, so keep an eye out.”
Tony Calladine, Historic England
Regional Director, said: “When it was created, over 75 years ago, Stevenage town centre was a groundbreaking pedestrian development, one of the earliest and most influential of its type in the world. I’m delighted to see Stevenage Museum celebrating its importance as the first postwar new town, in this new exhibition supported by our Everyday Heritage grants. The newly discovered images will give people a fascinating insight into Stevenage life.”
The exhibition is free to attend and runs until 30 September. The museum is open WednesdayFriday 10am-4.30pm, and 10am-5pm on Saturdays: www. stevenage.gov.uk/stevenagemuseum/about-the-museum.
An architect’s drawing showing Queensway with traffic, 1953.Stevenage is set to play host to one of the largest life science hubs in Europeand is on its way to becoming a global centre for the industry.
UBS Asset Management and Reef Group (Reef) have received approval to create one of Europe’s largest life science campuses in Stevenage, Hertfordshire. The decision from Stevenage Borough Council’s planning committee paves the way for the new Life Sciences hub to be delivered alongside GSK’s existing Global R&D facility and the vibrant ecosystem at Stevenage Bioscience Catalyst.
The scheme will deliver a world-class, sustainable, and connected life science campus bringing together companies from early-stage through to commercialisation and helping to meet the growing demand for GMP manufacturing and laboratory space in the UK. Construction is expected to start in late-2023 with completion for phase one targeted for Q4 2025.
The 15-building campus, which will be named ‘Elevate Quarter’, will be set around a central green with an interconnecting network of paths and open spaces. The buildings for the new campus will comprise a variety of different uses, including R&D labs and offices, GMP manufacturing facilities and flexible lab buildings, as well as training, innovation and collaboration spaces. Employee and visitor amenity spaces will include restaurants, cafes, and leisure facilities. There will be three Green Transport Hubs which will provide multi-storey car parking, bike parking and potential scooter/e-bike hire spaces.
The new campus will build on Stevenage’s established reputation as Europe’s leading cluster for advanced therapies and home to over 40 organisations employing over 3,500 people. These include GSK’s Global R&D facility, the Cell and Gene Therapy Catapult (CGT Catapult), LifeArc, Cytiva and Stevenage Bioscience Catalyst (SBC), which is home to a growing number of early-stage life science companies.
The approval builds on UBS Asset Management and Reef’s existing project in Stevenage, the redevelopment of ‘The Forum’ shopping centre, which will provide 400,000 sq. ft. of new GMP advanced manufacturing space in Stevenage town centre and received planning committee approval in February 2023.
Piers Slater, Joint Chief Executive, Reef Group, said, “The approval of our new life science campus in Stevenage further cements its position as Europe’s leading cluster for advanced therapies.
Stevenage is ideally positioned to attract worldclass talent and the campus will facilitate further collaboration between major multinationals and biotechs. The campus has been designed to allow these life science businesses to grow and scale-up over time and to create an open and accessible environment for both employees and the wider public.”
Olivia Drew, Portfolio Manager, Real Estate and Private Markets, UBS Asset Management, said: “The delivery of the new life science campus will leverage years of unparalleled experience across both UBS and Reef. The buildings have been carefully designed to be at the cutting edge of sustainability and will facilitate world-leading R&D and advanced manufacturing. The new campus will support thousands of new jobs and boost the UK’s position as a global life sciences leader.”
Dr Tony Wood, Chief Scientific Officer, GSK said: “New lab space and facilities for the cutting-edge biotech companies of the future are in short
supply, so we’re delighted to support the creation of a new life sciences campus at the heart of the Golden Triangle of London, Oxford and Cambridge. Situated alongside one of our global R&D hubs, this is a really positive development for the sector and it’s great that we’re one step closer to work starting on the new Stevenage development.”
Dr Sally Ann Forsyth OBE, Chief Executive Officer, Stevenage Bioscience Catalyst, said: “This is a landmark day for Stevenage and UK science, strengthening our position on the global stage for technological and scientific excellence. This campus will build on the supportive environment created here and our reputation as a leading location for the scale up of companies and commercialisation of therapies that will have a transformative impact on future health outcomes.”
Matthew Durdy, Chief Executive, CGT Catapult, said: “The UK’s world-leading life science sector requires constant growth and opportunities. UBS and Reef’s investment commitment, when combined with the existing advanced therapy
community which has developed in Stevenage will ensure that the site remains a go-to global destination for advanced therapy developers, technology suppliers and service providers, delivering potentially life changing therapies to patients who need them across the world.”
Councillor Richard Henry, Leader of Stevenage Borough Council, said: “We welcome this new development for the town, which has secured a resolution to grant consent. This will expand and build upon the existing campus, with cutting edge science opening up jobs and delivering economic benefits to the town. We will work closely with our partners and life science companies to unlock these job opportunities for our communities and local people, as we continue to make Stevenage Even Better.
“Stevenage is a hugely important location for this sector. Through partnership working we are transforming our town and we are committed to securing the best for our residents, communities, and businesses”
Ancient Greece: 16-18 August
Wednesday 16 August: Musical Instruments – make your own Ancient Greek style instrument
Thursday 17 August: Spartans – Make a Spartan Helmet
Friday 18 August: Greek Pottery – play with clay!
Go Green: 23-25 August
Wednesday 23 August: Make a bug house
Thursday 24 August: Butterfly and bird feeders
Friday 25 August: Animal crackers – make an animal badge (some simple sewing involved) Cost: £4 per child, £2 for concessions.
Councillor Loraine Rossati, Portfolio Holder for Culture and Leisure said “We’ve got four weeks of fun activities planned at Stevenage Museum, and each has its own theme, so there should be something to suit everyone.”
Book online, call 01438 218881 or email museum@stevenage.gov.uk. The sessions are usually very popular, so please do book in advance. If for any reason you can no longer make it, please let the Museum know so that someone else can use the space.
There is also the annual Railway Day, taking place on Saturday 5 August, from 11am-4pm. Entry is free. The event will feature a number of layouts from local clubs.
The museum is free to attend and is open Wednesday-Friday 10am-4.30pm, and 10am-5pm on Saturdays.
Stevenage Museum has a full programme of holiday events taking place this August.
A programme of free activities is available for children aged 12 to 16 in a Stevenage park this month.
Bubble football, a climbing wall, arts and crafts, basketball and more will be on offer at King George V Playing Fields on August 1, 8, 15 and 22, from 4pm to 7pm.
It’s part of Herts Summer Parks - free festival-style park events for teenagers across Hertfordshire this summer, organised by Hertfordshire County Council and Herts Sports Partnership.
For those who take part, a free food voucher will be provided that can be exchanged for a hot meal at a vendor close to the park.
There is no need to book in advance, just turn up and get involved. However, registering your interest
at https://forms.office.com/e/VKSGFazi3W will help the organisers plan for the activities accordingly. For more information, call 01707 284229 or visit sportinherts.org.uk
A55-year-old man was arrested after drugs were discovered in a vehicle during a proactive stop by officers in Stevenage.
On Thursday 20 July officers from the Mobile Support Team were alerted that a van suspected of being linked to drug dealing had been detected by ANPR cameras entering Hertfordshire. The van was stopped travelling on the A1(M) at Stevenage. Upon searching the van officers discovered more than 350kgs of cannabis, with an estimated street value of around £3.5m.
The driver of the vehicle, Simon Stone from Smallford, St Albans, was arrested and subsequently charged with possession with intent to supply class B drugs (cannabis) and possession of class A drugs (cocaine) and driving offences. He was later remanded into custody at Hatfield remand court.
Detective Sergeant Grant Finnie from our Serious Crime Investigation Team said: “This was a great result following a proactive stop check by our Mobile Support Team officers. We’re committed to keeping drugs off our streets and we have the capacity to disrupt drug supply networks coming into the county from neighbouring areas.”
Report crime by:
• Filling out our online reporting form at https:// orlo.uk/ZPSWb
• Speaking to an operator in our Force Communications Room via online webchat at https://orlo.uk/SR4pq
• Calling our non-emergency telephone number 101 (in an emergency, always dial 999).
• Contacting Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or visiting crimestoppers-uk.org
Stevenage Borough Council is aiming to crack down on graffiti on council owned property with a link which you can report it on.
The council has pledged to deal with all graffiti on council owned and managed property. Examples which have been given include street name plates, litter bins, council operated car parks, and council buildings.
They will arrange for the removal of the graffiti in a timescale determined by the content.
You can report graffiti here: http://www.stevenage. gov.uk/.../street-care-and.../graffiti
Aretired police dog who was stabbed in the line of duty protecting his handler, and went on to help change the law to protect service animals, has died.
In 2016, police dog Finn was stabbed in the head and chest by a suspect in Stevenage, when he and his call handler PC Dave Wardell were called to reports of a robbery. The German shepherd continued to detain the teenager, despite his lifethreatening injuries.
Finn recovered and returned to active duty 11 weeks later, retiring in March 2017.
PC Wardell and Finn went on to campaign for Finn’s Law, which came into force in 2019, making it harder for people who harm service animals to claim they were acting in self-defence.
Sadly, Finn died last week, aged 14.
Chief Constable Charlie Hall said: “The bravery of Police Dog Finn touched the hearts of the nation and we will remember him with warm affection.
“PD Finn also became the symbol of a national campaign that led to a successful change in legislation which has now made it a criminal offence to injure a service animal. This is a great legacy and reflects on the positive impact PD Finn had on so many people.”
North East Herts MP Sir Oliver Heald MP, who successfully took a Private Member’s Bill through the House of Commons to bring about Finn’s Law, said: “Finn was a special dog and had great heart. It was amazing that he survived the terrible attack
on him. I and a number of other MPs were lucky enough to meet him and he was always very patient with all the attention. He has left a real legacy, because we now have the laws we need to tackle violence against service animals.
“I saw Finn last year with Dave Wardell and family in Buntingford and he was on good form. My thoughts are with Dave and Gemma and the family at this difficult time.
“Finn won the highest awards for animal bravery and the public took him to their hearts.”
The Thin Blue Paw Foundation - a national dog welfare charity - is fundraising to create a memorial statue in Finn’s honour. More than £26,000 has so far been raised.
Aman who has been clean from substance abuse for more than seven months raised almost £500 as part of a sponsored walk to raise money for the Stevenage charity that has supported him on his road to recovery.
Matthew Kirk took on the 13.6-mile Garden City Greenway circular walk in Letchworth on Sunday, July 23, in aid of The Living Room.
The charity supports people with addictions to anything from alcohol and drugs to gambling and sex, and champions abstinence-based treatment delivered by counsellors with experience of overcoming addictions themselves.
The Living Room was founded by Janis Feely MBE in Stevenage in May 2000, after she successfully overcame her own addiction to alcohol and prescription drugs.
“This service supports so many people who are struggling with addictions and is an invaluable service in the heart of Stevenage,” Matthew explained.
“Since getting the support I needed for my own addiction, this service has helped to save my life. Without this unique service being available, I wouldn’t know where I would be today. As from today, I’m over seven months clean from any substances and have managed to get my life on track, and I’m living the best life possible one day at a time.
“This addiction service has supported hundreds of people in their own personal recovery and covers a whole range of addictions.
“The Living Room also runs a family and caregiver group that supports those who have family members in addiction.
“This service is free and accessible for everyone and really needs all the support it can get to keep going.
“I would appreciate any donations to keep this wonderful life-changing place going. Thank you in advance for your contribution to this cause that means so much to me.”
To sponsor Matthew, visit https://www.gofundme. com/f/breaking-the-cycle-of-addiction-charitywalk.
“For many, the 13.6-mile walk is a real challenge and represents a significant milestone in their recovery,” explained a spokesperson for the charity. “For others, it’s an opportunity to catch up with old friends and fellow supporters. For all of us, the walk is an opportunity to show our support for each other and to help raise vital funds for a cause we care about.”
Aground-breaking ceremony has been held for a controversial new housing development which will deliver up to 800 homes in Stevenage countryside known as Forster Country.
Bellway North London and Miller Homes will build up to 800 homes in fields off North Road, for a development which will also feature a local centre, a primary school, country park and public open space.
The plans were met with hundreds of objections, with people concerned about the loss of heritage, as well as urban coalescence and lack of infrastructure.
The area is where novelist E M Forster - who wrote Room with a View, Howards End and A Passage to India - grew up. His childhood home Rooks Nest House and its environs actually inspired Howards End.
Part of the first phase of the development lies within the St Nicholas/Rectory Lane Conservation Area, which includes Rooks Nest. A spokesperson for developer Bellway has previously said: “The properties here have been carefully designed to be sensitive to their historic surroundings, with complementary character areas throughout the development.”
Work has now started on the first phase of 243 new homes, for which detailed planning consent was granted by Stevenage Borough Council earlier this year.
“A significant milestone for Bellway, the groundbreaking at Forster Park, celebrates our joint project with Miller Homes, which has local community, heritage and sustainability at its core.”
and four-bedroom properties for private sale and 30 affordable homes available through low-cost rent or shared ownership.
Miller Homes is delivering 396 new homes at Forster Park, including 44 for private sale and 64 affordable homes on the first phase.
Ali Maruf, managing director of Bellway North London, said: “A significant milestone for Bellway, the ground-breaking at Forster Park, celebrates our joint project with Miller Homes, which has local community, heritage and sustainability at its core. “To mark the start of construction, we gathered together on the land near Rooks Nest House, where the renowned English writer EM Forster grew up, and which inspired his novel Howard’s End. This is truly a beautiful part of the world, and we have named our development Forster Park in his honour. “We are committed to an overarching focus on sustainability, which complements the site’s natural
surroundings, as well as Bellway’s ethos. Existing trees and shrubs will be retained wherever possible, alongside the addition of generous new planting.
Green open spaces and ponds will be thoughtfully designed and implemented to help support local wildlife, as well as bird and bat boxes being installed.
“This first phase will see us not only deliver new homes – which will all have electric vehicle charging points – but also a new local centre with commercial space which could be used to house a convenience store.”
Detailed applications for a further 115 homes within phase one, and the 93-acre country park, are to be considered by the council at a later date.
Ali added: “With regard to the wider scheme, we are proud to be teaming up with Miller Homes to create a brand-new neighbourhood that will bring huge investment to improve local infrastructure and services.”
The Stevenage Magazine is delighted to team up with A R K Lasting Powers & Wills Ltd and Stevenage Community Trust to promote both organisations to our readers. Take a look at the work of John and Karen and see how you can assist the Community Trust.
A R K Lasting Powers & Wills Ltd is a small, familyrun business which was formed over six years ago. You will be able to find a lot of information about them on their website www.arkpowers.com Owned by John and Karen Greenall who are long term Stevenage residents – John was born here and Karen moved here when she was two; they are proud to have brought their family up in the town, and to be able to help local people to protect themselves and their families. They can assist with Wills, Will Trusts, Lasting Powers of Attorney and Probate related matters.
Karen holds a STEP qualification (The Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners) and has over 12 years’ experience in the Will and Probate industry. They often get recommended by Financial Advisors and other professionals to help clients with their important documents.
A R K are members of The Society of Will Writers. This is important as they act as the governing body, and A R K have to follow their guidelines and ensure they hold relevant insurances.
A R K are very proud of their 5 Star ratings on both Google and Facebook. It always makes them happy to hear that people are pleased with the service they have received.
They offer appointments in various ways. A lot of them are via Zoom or Phone, however they are happy to visit clients in their own homes during the day, if they are local to Stevenage.
Both John and Karen are very aware of how lucky they are to be able to give back to the local community and they do this is various ways. At the moment they are supporting five local charities that are close to their hearts. One of these being The Stevenage Community Trust.
A R K have kindly offered to donate 10% of Will fees to The Stevenage Community Trust where anyone who contacts them mentions The Stevenage Magazine.
Planning a funeral can be emotional and overwhelming. We hope that this step-by-step guide to planning a funeral offers some support and direction during this difficult time.
Once you have registered your loved one’s death and received the death certificate you can start planning their funeral.
Firstly, find out if any funeral wishes are in place –perhaps within the will or a funeral plan. Your loved one may have discussed this with relatives or close friends. It’s also important to know how the funeral
will be paid for; whether provisions have been made.
Involving others helps with the tasks involved and decision making. It can also be comforting to others to know that plans are being made … they may want to be involved by helping you.
Involving a funeral director eases this incredibly difficult time. They take care of the deceased, make the necessary arrangements and manage the funeral proceedings. Importantly, their role is also to support and listen to you.
The most common types of funerals are burials and cremations. If you don’t know the person’s wishes, our article explains the factors involved with choosing which funeral type is best.
It’s important to know what your loved one’s funeral will cost and how it will be paid for. In 2022, the average UK funeral cost was £3,953, excluding transport, flowers and a memorial. The basic funeral costs should cover the fees of the funeral director, doctor and clergy/officiate as well as the cost of the coffin.
Your loved one may have left wishes for the service, either written (will/funeral plan) or through discussion with a friend or relative.
A key decision to make is whether the funeral service will be religious or not. The eulogy and any poems should also be planned; what to say and who should read them during the service.
Some funeral services are themed, according to the wishes or lifestyle of the deceased. From dress code to music, transport to flowers … there is the opportunity to say goodbye your way
Where and When
Once the funeral requirements are in place, it’s time to choose where and when the funeral will take place. You can then create the order of service and let people know the date and location involved, plus any dress code requirements. (Some people request bright colours or the deceased’s favourite colour, for example.)
After the funeral service, the wake is an opportunity for people to mourn the passing of the deceased and also to celebrate their life. From a hiring fully catered venue to self catering at home, a range of options are available. The wake can be a private event or an open invitation can be extended during the funeral service.
The Austin’s team is available to help with arranging funerals. We also offer a range of brochures for additional support.
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