Another fantastic week of community activities from our teams this week as we reflect on their efforts to engage with their local influencers starting with
Children learn lifesaving skills at Funeral Directors
Children from North Tyneside learned lifesaving skills, thanks to an initiative by Daren Persson Funeral Services.
The funeral business organised first aid training courses for children in their Wallsend branch. An Emergency First Responder taught sixteen youngsters how to perform CPR on dolls, dress injuries and practice the Heimlich manoeuvre with anti-choking vests in preparation for life-threatening emergencies.
Suzanne Bremner, Regional Administrator of Daren Persson Funeral Services, said: “We feel this is such an important life lesson for children which also builds confidence.
“It was amazing to see how much the children knew and how they interacted with everything without fear.”
Daren Persson Funeral Services supports the British Heart Foundation by inviting funeral guests and families to donate to the organisation in lieu of flowers. This inspired them to raise awareness of how vital first aid is while children wait for emergency services.
Suzanne got in touch with her cousin’s wife Sarah, who recently qualified as an Emergency First Responder, who agreed to run two first aid courses. Suzanne put posters in the branch’s windows encouraging passers-by to sign their children up.
Suzanne said: “We’re very much involved with the community and always look at ways to include our younger adults and schoolchildren.
“Enabling children to recognise and understand what they can do in emergency situations can make a huge difference, especially for single parents and small households.”
Funeral arranger donates golden locks to young girls
A West Sussex funeral arranger had her golden hair cut off for young girls dealing with hair loss, raising hundreds of pounds for cancer research.
Lisa Lurring of C & T Radmall Funeral Service, Henfield, was apprehensive as the hairdresser tied and clipped her thick locks, but she quickly took to her new hairstyle after thinking about the impact it will have.
She said: “The thought of some little girl getting to play with her own hair like I did helped me through.
“Once all the bunches were clipped off I felt so much better for what I was doing.”
Lisa donated her 10-inch locks to the Little Princess Trust, which makes real wigs for young people up to the age of 24 who have lost their hair through cancer or other conditions. The charity also funds research into childhood cancers.
Lisa paid for the £125 haircut herself and raised £440 for Little Princess Trusts’s research funding.
Lisa said: “I hope I have brought a lot of awareness for this charity and that more people donate their hair to make little girls’ dreams come true.
“This was a spur-of-the-moment decision and I’m so glad I made it.”
Wendy Tarplee-Morris, a co-founder from The Little Princess Trust, said: “As a charity who rely solely on the kindness of our donors, we are incredibly grateful to Lisa for her generous support.
“The hair and money donated will enable us to provide beautiful wigs to children and young people with hair loss and fund vital research into kinder and more effective treatments for childhood cancers.”
Remembrance Window
Another amazing window by our Funeral Director Lee Dimmock who may have a career in window dressing if this is anything to go by!
The silent soldier silhouette was cut and made by Lee and his wife to be (27th December 2019) Kelly. Congratulations Lee and Kelly and well done to the team for creating this display in honour of Remembrance Day and all Armed Forces personnel.
A special thanks must be given to The Royal RAF Museum, Collingdale, for kindly loaning the uniforms.
Bringing the music to Bridgewood
When Funeral Operative Kevin Avery visited Bridgewood Care Home in Enfield to help out during the summer he noticed that they had no equipment for playing music when the residents were in the garden, Kevin mentioned it to Funeral Arranger Donna Forrester who quickly got on the case.
Donna reached out to Lauren the Activities Coordinator at the home to offer to purchase some equipment. The system was officially handed over by Funeral Director Dave Wilson on Monday 4th November.
Lauren, the residents, as well as family and friends will have many hours of musical entertainment to look forward to including BBQ’s and other summertime social events in the summer time.
Pinks Bar
When Funeral Arranger Karen Rattigan attended Elizabeth Court Care Home – Caterham and they mentioned having a bar in the communal room she wanted to help turn their dream into a reality.
Karen approached Regional Development Director for Funeral Partners Greater London South region Jamie Groves who was delighted to confirm his approval for funds to sponsor setting the bar up.
Being able to recycle bar stools and tables from a nearby pub that was closing down meant the bar took no time to open, and the official launch took place on 24th October complete with a Rat Pack tribute act to serenade the guests.
The next stage of the process involves purchasing a neon ‘Pinks Bar’ sign which Pinks are also supporting with.
