With fewer people able to attend funerals in person in 2020, more donations than ever were made online in memory of loved ones on the Isle of Wight, according to figures from a regional co-operative.
A total of £21,639 was gifted from 612 donations via a free online memorials feature offered by The Co-operative Funeralcare branches in East Cowes, Freshwater, Lake, Newport, Ryde and Shanklin.
Despite only a slight rise in the number of funerals, this was an increase from £11,881 donated in 2019 from 269 donations.
Southern Co-op, the independent co-operative which operates these branches, believes the increase in donations is due to less people being able to attend funerals in person as well as more awareness of charities needing extra support.
Steve Pearce, Chief Operating Officer for funeral services at Southern Co-op, said:
“Just under 300 charities received donations through our online memorial tributes. The majority of these will have been hit hard by the pandemic so the support is likely to be invaluable.
“Sadly, a lot of the families we supported last year were also affected by the pandemic. It‘s difficult to describe the affect it has had on so many but our funeral co-ordinators have done everything they can to lighten people’s burdens and our bereavement care colleagues have been on hand to offer free counselling which has be vital.
“The fact that people are continuing to think of others, despite their own grief, is remarkable and shows the strength we have as communities working together in times of need.”
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On the Isle of Wight, people gave an average of £35 per donation via the online memorial feature which also allows friends and family to set up a personal tribute page, to light virtual candles, share memories, stories, photos and videos of loved ones.
Isle of Wight charities which people donated to included: Mountbatten (£7,812); Hampshire and Isle of Wight Air Ambulance (£6,578); Isle of Wight NHS Trust Charitable Funds (£1,060); Aspire Ryde (£1,059); Wessex Cancer Trust (£846); Friends of St Mary’s Hospital (£251) and the Isle of Wight Donkey Sanctuary (£184).
