Council pledges to support grieving families as child burial fees are scrapped

This means that there will be no cost for any child, up to the age of 15, to be buried or cremated in the Wakefield district – with immediate effect.

The move is expected to cost Wakefield Council in the region of £10k per year.

Coun Peter Box CBE said: “There can be nothing worse than the pain of losing a child and when this happens families need our compassion and support.

“The financial strain caused by the often crippling cost of funerals puts even more pressure on bereaved parents. So, with immediate effect Wakefield Council will scrap all charges for child burials and cremations.

“There will be a cost to the council but it is a cost we will gladly bear when you consider how much it could help our bereaved families.”

In the Council’s 2018/19 budget it was agreed that fees and charges for burials and cremations would be increased.

This does not affect the new ‘no fee’ policy for child burial or cremation announced on Tuesday, March 27.