We’re keeping up to date with the latest government guidance on funerals. Despite the latest government changes to restrictions in response to the pandemic, the way we conduct funerals has not changed. This page has the latest information and advice on arranging and attending a funeral.
Last updated Monday 1st March 2021
If someone has died
Contact your local funeral home and we'll bring them into our care as soon as possible. We look after all loved ones in our care in a respectful and dignified way with the highest level of care and cleanliness.
Arranging a funeral
All funeral arrangements can be made over the phone, and we can send any forms or documents needed for the funeral in the post or by email.
If you’d prefer to visit one of our funeral homes you must have a pre-arranged appointment, as we can only allow two clients in the funeral home at any one time. This applies to funeral arrangements and visits to the chapel of rest. All clients visiting a funeral home together must be from the same household or support bubble.
To comply with latest government advice, we also ask that face coverings are worn when entering a funeral home, unless there's a valid reason for not wearing one. More details about face coverings and exemptions can be found on the government website.
Before you visit a funeral home, we'll ask you if:
How we’re keeping you safe:
We’ve put safety measures in place in our funeral homes to keep you and our colleagues safe. We’ll make sure that:
We can advise you on all the latest funeral guidelines.
Yes, you can. You can arrange a funeral over the phone or visit one of our funeral homes if you prefer. If you want to visit a funeral home you’ll need to make an appointment first. To make an appointment, contact your local funeral director.
Our colleagues will help you say your best goodbye by helping you arrange a fitting funeral. Whether it’s something personal or practical, we can help make it happen.
In England, the government has advised 30 people can attend a funeral. This guidance could change if a local area faces tighter restrictions.
As every venue may have different rules on how many are allowed at a funeral service, your local funeral director will be able to let you know how many attendees your chosen funeral venue allows.
In Wales, there's no set limit on how many people can attend a funeral. Crematoriums and places of worship each have an individual capacity depending on the size and layout of the building.
The legal requirement is that all reasonable measures are taken to ensure a distance of two metres is kept between those attending. This means a distance of two metres between members of different households, rather than between each individual person in the same household. Your local funeral director will be able to let you know how many attendees your chosen funeral venue allows.
In Scotland, the government has advised 20 people can attend a funeral and services are no longer limited to close family. The number may be lower if the venue is smaller and safe social distancing cannot be observed for 20 people. This guidance could change if a local area faces tighter restrictions.
Your local funeral director will know how many people can attend in your area. Or you can go to your own government’s advice for England, Scotland and Wales.
Post-funeral gatherings or wakes are still allowed in some areas in the UK. See the current rules in England, Wales and Scotland below.
In England, wakes and post-funeral gatherings are still allowed in groups of no more than 6 people.
In Wales and Scotland, wakes and post-funeral gatherings are not permitted at this time.
Attendees from different households will need to follow social distancing and other general guidelines on both indoor and outdoor gatherings.
Yes. If you’re attending a funeral at an indoor venue, please wear a face covering.
So long as the number of people attending doesn’t exceed the number outlined by the government, it is up to you who goes to the funeral. Your funeral director will be let you know how many people can attend where you are.
Advice is still that anyone from the higher risk groups, for example over 70s, pregnant, or immunocompromised, should not attend.
Unless you live in the same household or are in a support bubble, we're asking mourners to make sure they are always 2 metres apart from each other.
Your local funeral home will be able to provide you with the most up to date guidance for your local area. Find your local funeral home here.
To maintain our levels of care to clients and colleagues, unfortunately there are a number of changes that we have to make to our service and we can no longer offer the following:
Please also note that:
Yes, you can have a funeral in a church, but there are limits on how many people can attend. Your local funeral director will be able to advise you.
As guidance can change quickly, check the Church of England and Church of Scotland websites for the most up-to-date information.
Your local funeral director will be able to advise on the options available for specific rituals and customs. Rest assured we’ll do everything we can to help you to say goodbye.
We’re well prepared to take care of people who have died with coronavirus in line with the official guidance. We have the necessary equipment, systems, processes and trained personnel to do this. We have specific ways of working prepared for anyone who dies in either an NHS facility or within the community, adapted from the PHE and HSE guidance.
There are no restrictions that prevent someone who has died from coronavirus having a funeral, whether that’s for a cremation or a burial. We’re following government guidelines closely and should the advice change we’ll provide updates on this page.
When arranging a funeral, we’ll work closely with the crematorium of your choice to understand if any live streaming or recording facilities are available for you to then share with wider family and friends (via a private web link) who are unable to attend in person.
We've put measures in place to meet social distancing rules whilst using our vehicles. This is to protect you, your family and our colleagues as much as possible. Our cars have been adapted and fitted with screens separating the driver and passenger areas.
We advise that passengers do not travel if:
Our colleagues will be maintaining social distancing with passengers.
The number of passengers allowed to travel in a limousine is limited to a maximum of 4 if they’re from the same household (including support bubbles).
Passengers from different households will not be able to share a limousine, unless they are in a support bubble.
All passengers must wear a face covering, which fully covers the nose and mouth, when travelling in the vehicle. Passengers must provide their own face covering.
If you'd like more information on what to expect when travelling in one of our vehicles, speak to your local funeral director. They'll be able to answer any questions you may have about our vehicles.
You'll need to register the death before the funeral can take place. The person who registers the death usually needs to visit the local registrar to do this, however you can now do this over the phone or online.
If you’re self-isolating or unable to register the death with the registrar directly, we can do this on your behalf.
Although restrictions have eased and more people are now able to go to a funeral, we still have to follow social distancing guidelines. For those who still cannot attend the funeral, we have some creative ideas to help everyone say their own goodbye.
So that we can protect our clients and colleagues, we’re restricting the number of people visiting our funeral homes at any one time to a maximum of 2, and that they’re from the same household or support bubble. We may ask you to wait outside if there are already 2 people in the funeral home.
We’re likely to ask you a couple of questions, for example, to understand if you fall into a high-risk group. We’ll make sure a suitable distance between us to comply with guidance on social distancing.
If you’re visiting one of our funeral homes, you must wear a face covering to your appointment, unless there is a valid reason you are unable to wear one. More details about face coverings and exemptions can be found on the government website.
Unfortunately, it may not be possible for all our funeral homes to remain open if colleagues are themselves self-isolating or are unwell. If your local funeral home has had to close temporarily, call our team on 0800 088 4872.
You can continue to visit loved ones in our care, but we do ask that only immediate family or close friends do this. Please call us to make an appointment to visit, this is so we can make sure we limit the number of visitors to the funeral home at any one time.
Visitors must be from the same household or support bubble.
If your loved one’s death was coronavirus related, unfortunately we’re unable to let you visit, to prevent further onward infection and to keep you safe.
We have hand washing facilities and hand sanitiser available and we’re taking every precaution in our funeral homes to make sure that we continue to have high standards of hygiene.
If you want to buy a Co-op funeral plan at one of our funeral homes, contact your local funeral director to make an appointment before you visit. You can visit the funeral home with one other person, but you must be from the same household or support bubble.
You can also buy a funeral plan online or over the phone. Call your chosen Co-op funeral director, or call our Central Care Team on 0800 088 4883.
Funerals should take place as soon as possible, rather than be delayed indefinitely.
You may want to think about holding a celebration of life or a memorial service at a later date when restrictions have been lifted and we’ll give you all the help you need with this.
We know a funeral can often be an unexpected cost. If during the funeral arrangement, you feel like the funeral is costing more than you’re comfortable with, tell your funeral director and they will help you find ways to keep the cost down.
If you’d prefer to pay in instalments, you may be eligible to apply for a funeral loan through our partner Funeral Safe. You can find details on loan amounts and repayments, eligibility and details on how to apply here.
To find out how much a funeral may cost, use our funeral cost calculator or speak to your local funeral director.
Alternatively, you may be able to get help with funeral costs from the government.
We're proud to serve our communities, and our colleagues in our funeral homes are finding unique and beautiful ways to honour the ones we've lost. From arranging for our hearse to visit the people and places that meant so much, to helping you arrange a fitting memorial service when we're allowed to meet again.
It's also why we're working with our charity partners Mind, SAMH and Inspire, who can provide the bereaved with information and practical support.
Saying goodbye is never easy, but we're working hard to do everything we can to make it as loving and caring as possible.
Changes we’ve had to make to our funeral services to comply with government controls could impact our ability to fulfil the services included in any Co-op funeral plans redeemed at this time.
We’re currently providing partial refunds on funeral plans where the services can’t be met, your funeral director will talk you through anything that cannot be fulfilled and arrange a refund for these services.
If you already have a Co-op funeral plan and are struggling to pay for your plan, please contact us and we can discuss all available options with you.
If you’ve cancelled a plan, the refund generally takes up to 4 weeks to process. If you have waited longer than the agreed 4 weeks please email our customer care team at funeralplans@coop.co.uk they will be able to provide help with any queries.
Speak with your local funeral director if you have any questions about arranging or attending a funeral. Each local area will probably do things a little differently but your funeral director will be able to advise on this.
We’re here to help support and guide you through. If you have any questions please don’t hesitate to get in touch with us by calling 0800 088 4872
