We have a statutory duty to arrange funerals for people who die within Barnsley. This includes residents who have no next of kin or whose next of kin, relatives or friends are unable or unwilling to arrange the funeral.
If there's enough money in the estate of the person who's died, we'll use this to fund the funeral. This includes any savings, benefits or pensions.
We’ll search our records to trace any family graves for a burial. If we don’t find any information we'll arrange a burial or cremation. This is called a public health funeral. We'll follow the wishes of the person regarding any religious beliefs, if they're known.
If we don’t find any funds from the estate of the person who's died, we’ll arrange a public health funeral. This would be done through a local undertaker. This is a simple funeral that doesn’t include any cars or flowers. For enquiries and further details please contact publichealthfunerals@barnsley.gov.uk.
If you're a relative of the person who's died and you receive certain benefits, you may be able to apply for help to pay for a funeral. This only applies if there's not enough money left in their estate to cover the costs. You can read more about help to pay for a funeral on GOV.UK.
We know that arranging a funeral is an upsetting time for those who have lost a family member, friend or loved one. We try to arrange public health funeral as quickly as we can, but it can often take longer than arranging a standard funeral. This is due to the number of different partners and people involved. We must also follow certain procedures.
Child Funeral Charity
The Child Funeral Charity can help bereaved parents of babies or children under the age of 16 with financial help and advice on funeral arrangements. A professional working with your family can refer you to the charity for help, such as your funeral director, a nurse or bereavement counsellor. You can find out more about the work of the Child Funeral Charity on their website.