Coffin Club UK is based on a model that has successfully run in New Zealand for a number of years. It is for elderly people, people who are terminally ill, or the people who care for those people (or, indeed, anyone else who fancies it!) to come and work out their funeral wish-list, plan, and cost, their perfect send off and, if they wish, personalise their coffin. Coffin Club is all about learning about all the choices that are available to you for your end of life celebration through talks from industry specialists and the provision of a dedicated safe space to talk about what is, traditionally, a taboo subject. You can come just for the planning or, if you prefer, you can have a coffin to decorate adding an additional creative element to your perfect send-off!
Coffin Club UK is run by Kate Tym and Kate Dyer (www.kateandkatecelebrants.co.uk) who are Independent Funeral Celebrants and Larne Feeney-Miles who is studying for an MA in death, religion and culture.
'Dear Kate and Kate
We just wanted to say Thank You for helping K, P and A plan and organise A's funeral. You all gave them the confidence and trust to arrange an amazing send-off for him. A fitting tribute and lasting memory. I am so glad A found you through Coffin Club and that he had the courage to go along.
Thanks again, Best Wishes
M and S (A's sisters)'
Coffin Club is free if you just want to come along to plan your funeral, listen to the talks and gather information to make your end of life celebration exactly what you want it to be.
If, however, you want to decorate your coffin, the cost is £240, this will get you a fabulous Dutch flat-packed coffin (suitable for burial or cremation). We'll show you how to make it - dead easy (excuse the pun) and lots of fun!
The coffins fit anyone up to 6’4″ and up to 18 stone in weight. They come flat-packed and flat-pack again, once decorated, for storage.
Wednesday morning for six weeks 10.30am-1.30pm.
12th September to 17th October 2018
St Mary in the Castle, 7 Pelham Cres, Hastings, TN34 3AF.
https://www.passingboxes.com/the-open-box/introducing-britains-firstcoffin-club/
https://www.funeralzone.co.uk/blog/coffin-club
http://hastingsonlinetimes.co.uk/hastings-life/hastings-people/coffin-club
Week 1
Activity:
Introduction to Coffin Club. Making your coffins. Kate and Kate tell you what it’s all about! Funeral wish lists and planning your coffin.
Week 2
Activity:
Decorating your coffins
Talk By:
Sara Geal, Spiritual Lead, St Michael's Hospice (TBC)
Week 3
Activity:
Decorating your coffins
Talk By:
David Birchenough, Manager Hastings Crematorium and Cemetary
Week 4
Activity:
Decorating your coffins
Talk By:
Eden Valley Natural Burial Ground
Week 5
Activity:
Decorating your coffins
Talk By:
Jo Loveridge, Albany Funerals
Week 6
Activity:
Finishing up. Coffin Display for family and friends with party tea!!
Talk By:
Crispin Fuggle of T W Fuggle Funeral Director
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