Funeral Poverty in Dundee: Funeral Link Evaluation

The problem of funeral poverty in Dundee is widespread. Rising funeral poverty is concentrated areas of low household income, particularly in cities such as Dundee, with high levels of deprivation, drug-related deaths and a history of de-industrialisation. The charity Funeral Link was established in Dundee in 2018 to provide support and advice to bereaved families, particularly those who may find themselves in need of financial advice around funeral options. The research evaluated the impact of Funeral Link, looking at the structure of the funeral industry which can lead to particular issues for bereaved people, and investigating why this has been such a problem in the City of Dundee. Funeral Link have adapted their work to Covid-19, offering additional bereavement support and adapting to online work. This area of study is now being further investigated as part of a PhD thesis researching different bereavement impacts across society, and policy implications.