Who are you and how long have you been running?

Coffin Club Derby is a charity that is focused on providing you with hands on information on how to organise your own, or a loved one's funeral. We have three trustees, Leni Robson, who is a funeral celebrant and is  the front face, founder and chair of the charity. It's her you'll see in all the pictures! Professor Daniel Cogswell who is secretary and director of logistics (he puts the coffins together and drives the stuff around the place), and Gavin Meredith who is our treasurer and makes sure any money we recieve is spent in a suitable way. 

 

Although we began in 2018 we became a charity in November 2019. And then the pandemic hit and all our focus became on supporting those who were organising funerals at a time when none of us knew how to organise funerals. 

 

Since then we have become a source of advice and support for those who have needed it, and work with local funeral directors, natural burial grounds, crematoriums, anyone who is involved in dying and death, to provide information and help to enable people to have the send off they want. 

 

I've heard of Coffin Clubs? Do you run them all?

Nope every coffin club is completely unique to the area, and are all run slightly differently but all with the same end in mind. To help you understand your choices. We are affiliated to Coffin Club UK, but we are all very seperate organisations, with seperate governance structures. If you aren't in Derby why not have a look here to see if there is one in your area?

 

Isn't talking about death morbid?

Look let's be honest. We are all at some point going to die. And talking about it isn't going to make it happen any faster. We talk about winning the lottery regularly  but our numbers haven't come up yet! But what it may do is make it easier for your family to sort through all the 'sadmin' and focus on the grieving journey that they are starting. Also, I get the advert that says 'noone likes funerals do they' - but a funeral in a beautiful field or the pub that the person you loved, loved and made happy memories in...well that's bound to be easier.

 

What do you cover?

What don't we cover? We have done sustainable funerals, end of life doulas, hospices, crematoriums, legalities and wills, can you be buried in your garden (yes), can you be put out with the bins (no), whats resomation, music and poetry, how to write your own eulogy, do you need a funeral director (no- but they do help), do you need a celebrant or minister (no but they do help), can you do your own flowers (yes) do you have to have a coffin (NO!),....all this and more.....keep an eye on our facebook page or subscribe to our newsletter and  we will keep you updated. And if you've got any ideas why not email us - we are always happy to recieve suggestions! 

 

Aren't you cashing in on death?

Noone charges for their time, we have sourced a space that we can have for free, and all money goes back into the charity and is very very carefully managed. We have to submit our annual reports to the charity commission and our accounts. Our role is to educate and inform and through doing that - save money - not spend it. Even our website is free very kindly provided by Kualo Limited. Any money raised is through fundraising, grant applications or donations (Thank you!)