Westerleigh Group has again given a valuable Christmas gift to Child Bereavement UK in support of its vital work helping families to rebuild their lives when a child grieves or when a child dies.

A donation of £13,500 has been given to the charity through its annual Christmas Carol Service and ‘Light A Candle’ Memorial appeal.

Westerleigh Group is one of the UK’s largest independent owners and operators of crematoria and cemeteries, with 41 sites in England, Scotland and Wales, all set within beautifully landscaped gardens of remembrance which provide peaceful places for people to visit and reflect.

Child Bereavement UK’s Light A Candle Memorial appeal invited donations of £300 to be made for each remembrance candle to be lit.

Westerleigh Group’s donation covers the cost of a candle on behalf of each of its 41 crematoria and cemeteries, one for its East Lothian Crematorium, which is due to open next summer, plus one for Distinct Cremations, Westerleigh’s funeral plans and direct cremations provider, and one for memorial and masonry partner, AK Lander.

All the donations came from the proceeds of the group’s metal recycling scheme.

With the consent of families, metals recovered during the cremation process are recycled and any proceeds from this are donated by Westerleigh Group to charities and other community organisations in England, Scotland and Wales all year round.

Debbie Smith, CEO of Westerleigh Group, said: “For more than 30 years, Westerleigh Group has been supporting the bereaved, and we have built a strong reputation based on providing exceptional care to the families we serve.

“Having served over 80,000 bereaved families this year, the work of Child Bereavement UK resonates deeply with us, and is the reason why we once again didn’t hesitate to donate to the Light A Candle Appeal.

“Christmas can be a particularly difficult time for the bereaved in any situation, but can be especially challenging for a child who is grieving the loss of a parent or sibling, or a parent whose baby or child has died.

“For them, the care and support provided by Child Bereavement UK is invaluable, and we feel honoured to be able to make this donation, which we know will be put to the best possible use in supporting people, not just at Christmas time, but all year round.”

Wendy Bray, Head of Philanthropy, Special Events and Corporate Partnerships at Child Bereavement UK, said: “We are very grateful to Westerleigh Group for support the Christmas Concert through our Light a Candle appeal again this year.

"Their generosity will help us to continue our vital work with bereaved families, rebuilding lives.”

To find out more about Westerleigh Group, and it’s nearest crematorium to you, visit www.westerleighgroup.co.uk and to learn more about Child Bereavement UK, visit www.childbereavementuk.org