APSE Cemeteries and Crematoria Seminar 2019

Friday 15 November 2019
Crewe Hall, Crewe

View the programme here

About the seminar

Bereavement services, despite being high profile council services, are still under increasing pressure to become self-sustaining commercial ventures. In a time of austerity, local authorities continue to find their budgets shrinking and, as such, managers and staff alike are having to look for ways to compensate against these losses, either through service efficiencies, generating new sources of income, or innovative service delivery methodologies, whilst still taking into account the vulnerability of their service users.

More recently, greater pressure is being placed on bereavement services to demonstrate that their services are affordable and not exploiting the bereaved, particularly at a time when funeral poverty is making daily headlines.

The service area is also facing changing cultural requirements as well as being held responsible for caring for the environments in which their services work. For example the historical value of cemeteries and their assets is being increasingly recognised and, therefore, action plans and digitised records are having to be put in place to manage these spaces.

Added to this catalogue of responsibilities is the need to meet a long list of new and current legislative demands.

But, whilst these challenges have to be met, the heart of the service is still to ensure it considers its customers’ needs during the most vulnerable time in their lives.

Service delivery is therefore having to change. APSE recognises this need and, through the provision of this seminar and its wider networking services, APSE can help elected members, managers and officers hear examples of how these changes can be brought about. The aim of the seminar is to highlight best practice and innovation, which, together, will prove invaluable to the development of future bereavement services.

Addressing the issues of grave re-use and grave ownership - Mat Crawley, Institute of Cemetery and Crematorium Management

Gaining and Retaining Families by using a CRM - Laura O’Neill, CRM Administrator, PlotBox

The unauthorised memorials dilemma – managing unauthorised memorials in cemeteries - Lee Snashfold, APSE Associate

Graveyard conservation: An overview of opportunities and issues - Dr. Susan Buckham, Hon. Research Fellow, University of Stirling, Edinburgh World Heritage Graveyards Project Manager

Gedling Pet Cremation Service – an innovative service which has brought unexpected benefits - Melvyn Cryer, Service Manager, Parks and Street Care, Gedling Borough Council

Always look on the bright side of life… and death! – The changing face of UK funerals - Wayne Priestley, APSE Principal Advisor 

Developing a Customer Focused Service - APSE Best Service Award Winner Cemeteries and Crematoria 2019 - Carmel Thomas, Strategic Implementation Officer, Cardiff City Council

Developing digital applications for Memorial Safety inspections - Ian Jones APSE Associate