Amanda Woodward, general manager of Tamworth Co-op’s funeral division, says the Tamworth Co-op is delighted to be the first funeral provider in the UK to sign up to HeavenAddress.
Tamworth Co-op will be the first funeral provider in the UK to offer its customers a free ‘address in heaven’ for their loved ones.
The new digital memorial platform will revolutionise the way people are celebrated after death – and even how funerals are organised and managed.
Tamworth Co-op bosses say it will also boost charities.
The concept has proved exceptionally popular in Australia and Amanda Woodward, general manager of Tamworth Co-op’s funeral division, is proud that the Society is the first funeral provider in the UK to sign up.
“Effectively this is a web page dedicated to loved ones where friends and family can share photos, videos and messages which will be preserved forever,” she said.
“But HeavenAddress goes a lot further than that. Full details of funerals can be included and visitors simply click on the relevant church or crematorium to receive directions, including maps, to the venues.
“If visitors are unable to attend, they can even view the order of service from wherever they are in the world. There are also areas where voice recordings and film clips of loved ones can be saved for future generations to cherish.”
Ms Woodward says the service will be free for all people organising funerals with the Society from June 1.
“There is a cost to us, but we have decided not to pass it on to our customers. We think it will bring a lot of comfort to relatives and friends in the areas we serve.”
“Charities will also benefit from the new link-up. People can easily make online donations and Gift Aid is collected on over 80 per cent of donations. That compares with just 30 per cent offline. It’s another reason we believe this is a significant development.”
HeavenAddress enables families to take control of any content put onto a relative’s web page.
The Co-op will set up individual pages, but families will then be given the reins and will approve all content before it goes live. They can choose to make the site public or just something for family and friends to share.
“It allows funeral directors, friends, relatives, charities and even crematoria to meaningfully connect on a single platform,” said Ms Woodward.
She added: “The majority of funeral directors have joined HeavenAddress on the other side of world and hundreds of thousands of tributes have been published.
“We are trailblazing this in the UK and believe it will be of great value to local people at no extra cost.”
For more information visit www.heavenaddress.com