How to Scatter Ashes In the UK

Symbolism & Significance: What does scattering ashes mean? - Urns ...

Scattering ashes and returning them to the earth is just one of so many choices. Choosing a location is important if you do decide to scatter your ashes. Consider certain things such as the likelihood of disturbed or become busy with onlookers that may hinder your ceremony. It’s very important to check the (scattering ashes law regulations the UK) 

Losing your loved one is often a heartbreaking experience. It can be very difficult to figure out the right way to remember them and honour their wishes.  

Times are changing and being willing to think of death ahead of you will help in so many ways. 

It’s a very personal thing so never worry what other people think, be as adventurous or as traditional as you like.  

Keeping your loved one at home is a great way to honour and keep them close but it can also make it difficult for others to visit and pay their respect. 

While traditional urns and scattering of ashes are still very popular, other options are plentiful and ashes can become almost anything these days. With a little imagination, anything is possible…. 

Top trends for cremation ashes in 2021

  1. Tattoo the ashes of your loved one, keeping them with you at all times.
  2. Fireworks made from the ashes of your loved one, create a farewell with a bang.
  3. A personal Portrait that includes the ashes within the portrait.
  4. For the music lover, have the ashes made into vinyl.
  5. For the diver, an underwater reef.
  6. A beautiful diamond solitaire can be made from Ashes 
  7. Grow a wonderful tree from Ashes. Choose their favourite type.
  8. Scattering ashes at sea, some companies now specialise in this. Check the regulations for this including EPA. 
  9. Art, ashes can become beautiful pieces of glass art. Choose something significant to the memory of your loved one.
  10. From the sky, either by plane, skydive or shoot your ashes to space letting your loved one continue their journey under the stars. 

Mental Health – Suicide Prevention awareness

Chris Mead / Dedhapi

My Story

I hope this helps explain why I’m so keen to raise money for men’s mental health.

As some of you know, I lost my dad to a heart attack when I was 19. Out of know where he was gone, my whole life darkened suddenly. He was, and still is my idol and I’ve never been able to fill that void. Being quite distant from both sides of my family, it felt very lonely.

For a few years I kept myself busy and tried to ignore the grief. I started to get chest pains causing me to have panic attacks. In turn these panic attacks caused further chest pains and a vicious cycle was born. I began having these in social situations, which started my anxiety. As this anxiety built more over time, I became quieter and more reserved. Slowly, I started avoiding social situations. Distancing myself from friends. Yet again feeling alone.

Many might not have realised, as like many people suffering from depression and anxiety, I wore a mask. I ‘toughened up’ and ‘got on with it’. This isn’t a solution.

Thankfully, I’ve had some close friends and family that have reached out and stuck by me. I began to recognise I had a problem and chose to sort it out. I spoke to people, I got help from the NHS and some amazing local charities. Mind, ThinkAction and Cruse have been incredible.

I’ve started to deal with my issues, but many others will suffer in silence. I wanted to share this to show that we can talk about it. It matters and we need to bury the stigma. You don’t have to donate, but check in with your friends or family. Offer support to those that need it. Stop men dying too young.

I raised £865 after riding 300 miles over the course of a month. The longest single ride was 45 miles from Rochester to Whitstable. I had various friends who would join me on rides over weekends.

Movember started in Australia with men growing moustaches over the month of November to help raise awareness for prostate cancer, growing to a global audience and then expanding to help raise awareness for the biggest killer in young men – suicide.

Whilst riding to raise money towards this amazing charity, I also grew a handsome moustache!  On the final day of Movember, fundraisers are encouraged to ‘fly half mast’ in respect of the 357 men who took their own lives during the month.

Resources & Stats

Globally, every minute, a man dies by suicide.

In United Kingdom, 75% of suicides are men. (5,000 annually)

510,000 men die from suicide each year. That’s one every minute. (Globally)

More teenagers and young adults die from suicide than from cancer, heart disease, AIDS, birth defects, stroke, pneumonia, influenza, and chronic lung disease, COMBINED.

1 in 8 men in the UK will experience a mental health problem at some point in their lives. Not enough talk about it. Somethings got to change. 

Male suicide is the single biggest killer of men under 45 in the UK

The causes of suicide are complex. There’s no single reason why men take their own lives, but we do know that by improving overall mental health we can reduce the risk of suicide. We need to address untreated mental health conditions among men.

Links

Movember Charity

https://uk.movember.com/

https://uk.movember.com/mens-health/mental-health

Support

https://www.mind.org.uk/ – Mental Health Support

https://www.thinkaction.org.uk/ – Mental Health Counselling Support

https://www.cruse.org.uk/ – Bereavement Support

https://www.time-to-change.org.uk/blog/stigma-around-mental-health-men-real

Mental Health in the Workplace

https://www.time-to-change.org.uk/get-involved/get-your-workplace-involved

https://mhfaengland.org/

https://www.mind.org.uk/workplace/

https://www.medway.gov.uk/info/200221/a_better_medway/573/workplace_health

Strangest Funeral Requests

Funerals aren’t something we often like to talk about, we often know what to expect. But as we all know everyone is different; from the clothes we wear, to the way we talk, and even the way we wish to celebrate our lives. Here are some of the most wonderful, moving and unique funeral plans we’ve found:


Fancy Funeral

As black is the traditional attire at most funerals, often people commit to a ‘no black dress’ to celebrate the brightness in a loved ones life. A request such as a loved football teams colours is one thing, but in 2013 a biker requested an unusual service before he tragically passed away. The popular man got exactly what he requested when mourners poured in all in fancy dress. He requested the quickest service possible and, out of respect for his memory, his friends and family arrived as superheroes, animals and his favourite foods.


Festival Funeral

On the topic of different funeral attire, a well-loved Glastonbury fan requested all their funeral attendees wore a pair of bright wellies to commemorate their love of festivals. What a wonderfully different way to celebrate the life of their loved one and particularly handy for British weather.


Song Service

Some say that they simply couldn’t live without music, but one said they the simply couldn’t depart without it either as they requested a funeral service to be entirely conducted by song! What a melodic way to celebrate ones love for music.


Off With A Bang

Ashes are a beautiful way to say goodbye; spreading them around a loved ones favourite park, mountain sea or any location special to them. One final request is growing popular and is little different, it is the spreading of the ashes via fireworks! Perhaps they can be remembered by the dazzling, sparkling and beautiful way they lived their life.


Everyone needs to commemorate differently because we are all different people. Whether you wish to keep it simple or go all out is up to you. Just considering how you wish your service to go can be a real source of comfort to family during their time of need. More and more people are pre-arranging their funerals to reduce the burden and worry for their families, so keep in mind our funeral service providers can make your wishes come true. Head over to our Funeral planning guide to help start you thinking about your funeral arrangements.

The 5 Stages of Grief

Denial

Denial helps us to lessen the overwhelming pain of loss. It can be very difficult to believe we have lost a loved one in our lives, especially when we have only recently been with this person just a few short hours ago. It can take our mind some time to come to terms with the reality of what has happened and we can become overwhelmed with how we are going to move forward in life without them.

Anger

Being angry is a common experience after the loss of a loved one and can allow an emotional outlet. When we are trying to adjust to our new reality, we can experience extreme emotion and discomfort. 

Bargaining

When faced with the unthinkable, you would do anything to stop the unbearable pain and fear of loosing a loved one. During loss we can therefore find ourselves bargaining and making deals with God. 

Depression 

Deep sadness can often lead to depression, not to mention the worry and stress connected to the funeral and costs. The regret of all the things we did or did not say can also weigh heavily on our minds. Not having the privilege of saying goodbye is another hard blow for the person left behind and this is another contributing factor to depression. 

Acceptance 

Accepting grief and loss is how we heal. Time has always been the great healer and we all reach that place in our own time. When death is sudden or unexpected we sometimes never see beyond our anger or denial, therefore acceptance can take some much longer.

Loss at Christmas

Christmas can be an extremely painful time for some, especially for those coping with loss or grief. Accepting that we all mourn in different ways helps us to avoid conflict and expectations from others. 

Self care at this time is of paramount importance. Our normal routine is disrupted, so working out the best ways to cope can help us to get through difficult festive celebrations. When faced with loss during the Christmas season and New Year, you could decide on a different way to celebrate. Change can be good!

Trying to keep to a regular pattern of eating and sleeping, taking a little extra exercise or talking openly with friends or family about thoughts and feelings can be a heartwarming release. Remember there is no right way or wrong way, only your way, to express your feelings. Grief is a testament to how much love you have for those you have lost. To suffer is terrible but it will ease with time and you will be left with great love and your wonderful memories. 

By Helen McNally