Category Archives: Bereavement

Bereavement, Mental Health, Mental Health at Work, News

‘Mum on a mission’ boosts compassion at work after devastating loss

A mum who was told to ‘just crack on’ by bosses the day her former partner died is spearheading moves to improve bereavement support at work.

Emma Tomes, 42, has dubbed herself ‘a mum on a mission’ to drive the message home that empathy and compassion should be uppermost in employers’ minds when employees are hit by the loss of loved ones.

Emma’s former partner and dad to her son, then aged 12, died by suicide, aged 31, in 2010. She was called to Poole Hospital where he was taken before he died.

‘Take today off as holiday, just come in and crack on tomorrow’

When Emma, of Bournemouth, Dorset, contacted her then manager, they said she should take that day as holiday, to ‘just crack on’ by coming back to work the next day.

Emma said: “It’s all a blur but I do remember being badly affected by my manager’s words. In the midst of such enormous trauma, I was left reeling at how anyone could be so insensitive. They could have shown so much more care.

“I went back to work the next day as requested, as I couldn’t afford to lose my job and looking back, I didn’t feel resentment or anger at the time, it was all too much to take in, but since then I have channelled anger that has grown into a commitment to ensure other managers can do things right and say helpful things.

‘Go Get Some Resilience’ is not a helpful approach

“Later, at work I was also told I had too much emotional baggage and that I should just go get some resilience – this was when my mum was diagnosed with terminal cancer and my mother-in-law diagnosed with Alzheimer’s.

“Sadly, I know my experience isn’t that rare, even all these years later.

“Research by the Centre for Mental Health shows that one in six UK employees suffer depression and/or anxiety each year – both of which are a prevalent result of grief. Studies from The Health and Safety Executive have also revealed that some £35 billion is lost by UK companies due to employees’ emotional health problems.

“That’s why I am on a mission to support companies and organisations who care for their employees to not just find the right words at such a crucial period at the height of grief, but also to establish meaningful ways to genuinely be there for people.

“We all know that employees who feel supported and valued are more satisfied and productive at work and there is no more urgent time to be there for them than when they are grieving.”

Employers can learn to better support employees through loss

Emma’s experience drove her on to take voluntary redundancy from her job as a learning and development consultant and retrain as a coach to help people suffering from emotional health difficulties, often also caused by grief. Four years on, she is now leading a team of other freelance trainers, coaches, and counsellors as The Mental Health People.

She said: “Lots of people we work with have told us they have struggled at work after bereavement, HR teams have explained that loss can often be the catalyst for grievances and tribunals and managers themselves don’t feel confident or comfortable in knowing what to do when the worst happens.

“I have now collaborated with my team at The Mental Health people to provide a meaningful course for managers’ training that can really make a difference.

Mental Health Support: Good For Employees, Good for the Bottom Line

“We need managers to embrace compassion and support in a way that means their colleagues don’t have to suffer even more when they are already coping in what can already be extreme circumstances, we need the founders and directors to invest in their workforce and we need greater understanding of how debilitating grief can be.

“For those thinking more about their bottom line than their employees’ wellbeing, they should be assured that a study by Deloitte found that for every £1 invested in mental health support in the workplace, there is an average return of £5 in improved productivity and reduced absenteeism.”

You can find out more about Emma’s work at https://mentalhealthpeople.com/training-course/mental-health-training-for-managers

Need a wellbeing boost you can spark all by yourself?

Emma offers the following tips – ahead of Mental Health Awareness Week, which starts on Monday, May 13.

  1. Step away from the keyboard and switch off that smartphone: Find a healthy balance with technology. Set boundaries around screen time, especially social media, and use apps that promote relaxation and mental clarity, like meditation or gratitude journals.
  2. Unleash your crafty imagination Explore art therapy as a means of self-expression. Engage in painting, sketching, or collage-making to process emotions and rediscover creative passions.
  3. Tantalise your tastebuds: Experiment with cooking or baking new dishes that excite your palate. Use cooking as a form of self-care and enjoy the therapeutic benefits of preparing nutritious meals.
  4. Step into new friendships: Foster connections with like-minded people through virtual meetups or local community groups. Share experiences, support each other, and build meaningful relationships.
  5. Find time to reflect through journalling: Dedicate time to journaling as a tool for self-reflection. Write about your thoughts, feelings, and aspirations to gain clarity and cultivate self-awareness.
  6. Delve into podcasts: Listen to podcasts that cover topics like health, self-care, and personal growth. Engaging with empowering content can uplift your spirits and inspire positive change.
  7. Go outdoors: Plan outdoor activities such as hiking, biking, or gardening. Spending time in nature has profound benefits for mental health, promoting relaxation and reducing stress.
  8. Laugh your socks off: Embrace laughter therapy through comedy shows, funny movies, or laughter yoga. Laughter is a natural mood lifter and can strengthen emotional resilience. Will Ferrell, Sarah Millican, and the much-missed Robin Williams can be your new best friends.

For more information, please contact Emma: Emma@mentalhealthpeople.com or call her on 07969 579108

Bereavement, Business, Business News, Charity News, Wales News

2wish Cymru revealed as chosen charity for Wales Business Awards 2024

Bereavement support charity 2wish Cymru has been announced as the chosen charity for this year’s Wales Business Awards.

2wish Cymru was founded by its CEO Rhian Mannings in 2012 in memory of her son George and husband Paul. The charity provides immediate and ongoing support to families, individuals and professionals that have been affected by the sudden and traumatic death of a child or young adult aged 25 and under.

2wish Cymru aims to ensure that every emergency department in Wales has a suitable bereavement suite for families, that memory boxes are available for families at each hospital and that immediate bereavement support is available for suddenly bereaved families. The charity offers counselling, complementary therapy and play therapy to those it supports.

2wish Cymru primarily operates in Wales but has recently expanded its service into England.

Chambers Wales South East, South West and Mid will be raising awareness of the charity’s work and fundraising for 2wish Cymru during the Wales Business Awards ceremony in May.

The event, which celebrates the best of Welsh business, takes place on 16 May at The Vale Resort, with broadcaster Andrea Byrne returning as host. Businesses have until 29 February to enter the awards.

Rhian Mannings, CEO of 2wish Cymru, said: “When a family loses a child or young adult suddenly, the effects are devastating for all who knew and loved them. Our charity’s mission is to ensure that all those affected receive the bereavement support they deserve; it’s essential that bereaved families know that they are not alone in what can be an extremely distressing and isolating time.

“We are very grateful to have been selected as the charity for this year’s Wales Business Awards. We are excited to meet the finalists, winners and businesses in attendance at the ceremony to share our message, create connections and highlight opportunities to get involved with our work.”

Paul Butterworth, CEO of Chambers Wales South East, South West and Mid, said: “We are delighted to be supporting 2wish Cymru as our chosen charity for the Wales Business Awards this year. We are looking forward to encouraging the Welsh business community to get involved with our fundraising efforts during the ceremony, in addition to shining a spotlight on 2wish Cymru’s incredibly important work here in Wales.”

For further information on 2wish Cymru, visit https://www.2wish.org.uk/.

For further information on the Wales Business Awards, including how to enter, visit https://cw-seswm.com/events/awards-2024-enter/

Bereavement, Energy

Octopus Energy teams up with Settld to enhance bereavement support

Bereavement service Settld has today announced that it is working with Octopus Energy to unlock a new service streamlining account administration for those handling the affairs of an Octopus Energy customer who has died.

Octopus Energy, already noted for its excellent customer service during the bereavement process will now be able to notify all other relevant service providers nationwide of a death, through one simple form.

The announcement comes less than a week after Settld’s award-winning service was featured on BBC1’s daily flagship consumer programme Rip Off Britain.

In addition, OE has trained its Operations team to use Settld’s portal, designed to fast-track OE customers and ensure the energy company delivers outstanding bereavement customer service.

Greg Jackson, Founder of Octopus Energy said: “Octopus Energy alone sees tens of thousands of bereavements per year among our customers. These are terribly difficult times for loved ones and the trauma of dealing with utilities, banks, insurers and more can often be very distressing.

“Settld simplifies so much of that – and does so with world class processes – and empathy. That is why we are delighted to offer this additional service to our customers, to make life easier and less stressful for those dealing with the death of a loved one.”

Using Settld’s service can save customers up to 10 hours spent contacting individual companies following a death, and weeks or months more trying to resolve accounts satisfactorily.

Settld’s secure online form takes just 15 minutes to complete and notifies all service providers of a death, from banks and insurers to energy firms, mobile providers, subscription services, social media platforms and others.

In addition to registering the death with service providers, Settld’s free online service helps users close, transfer or amend accounts and obtain date of death balances for probate. A range of other services, from probate and estate admin to asset search and house clearing, is available through partners.

Vicky Wilson, co-founder and CEO of Settld, said: “Octopus Energy is one of the most progressive and empathetic companies in the UK. It’s little surprise that they are putting bereaved people first, when it comes to customer care.

“We hope many more companies follow Octopus Energy’s lead, and we are always ready to help businesses improve their bereaved customer journey.”

Settld – at www.settld.care – consistently receives 5-star reviews from its customers, who appreciate the benefits of the one-stop shop, automated service, coupled with a highly-trained customer service team on hand to assist when necessary.

Earlier this month, Settld, headquartered in Sunderland, was ranked in the top 25 of the 100 best startups in Britain and CEO Vicky Wilson was named as one of the most inspirational founders by the longest-running index of new businesses, startups.co.uk.

Awards, Bereavement, Business, Business News, News

Bereavement Service Settld ranked in the top 25 of 100 best startups in Britain

Co-founder of nationwide bereavement service also named as one of the “most exceptional” new business founders in the UK, by Startups 100 Index judges 

Nationwide bereavement service, Settld, has been ranked in the top 25 of Britain’s 100 best startups for 2024.

The company’s CEO, Vicky Wilson, who founded Settld following the death of her grandmother, has also been named as one of the UK’s most exceptional new business founders by Startups 100, the longest running new business index.

Settld’s award-winning service, which is free for members of the public, simplifies end-of-life admin for bereaved families and service providers.

 

Startups 100 Guest Judge, Iain Wallis, Head of Startups at FieldHouse Associates, said: “At perhaps the most emotional time for many, dealing with a loved one’s accounts only adds to the pain, so Settld appears an elegant solution and Vicky had a compelling reason to start.

“The fact that it is free for bereaved people puts the user first. I hope the model is able to scale through additional services that reflect the same levels of compassion.”

 

Launched in February 2021, Settld enables users to notify multiple companies of a death in one go – including more than 1,200 service providers, from banks and insurers to energy firms, mobile providers, subscription services, social media platforms and others.

The service turns a stressful and time-consuming process which can often take up to 10 hours, into a 15-minute online task.

 

Vicky Wilson

Vicky Wilson, co-founder and CEO of Settld, said: “We are thrilled to have been named as one of the top 100 new businesses in Britain, and to have reached the top 25 is a testament to the hard work, dedication and compassion of our brilliant team.

“Settld’s mission is to simplify end-of-life admin and to be a strong voice for bereaved consumers everywhere. Recognition by the judges gives us renewed ambition to make things even easier for families dealing with the death of a loved one.

“We are amongst outstanding companies in the Startups 100 Index. Our congratulations to every entrepreneur and business making a difference.”

 

In addition to registering a death with service providers, Settld’s free online service helps users close, transfer or amend accounts and obtain date of death balances for probate. A range of other services, from probate and estate admin, to asset search and property sale, is available through partners.

Settld’s B2B service also improves operational efficiency for a growing number of large enterprise customers, who benefit from access to Settld’s bespoke online portal and vulnerability consulting workshops.

Settld streamlines and digitises bereavement processes for service providers, by offering software as a service (SaaS) specifically designed for bereaved and vulnerable customers, which can achieve up to 50% reduction in cost to serve, along with significantly reduced call volumes.

 

The Sunderland-headquartered business consistently gets 5-star reviews from customers, who appreciate the one-stop shop nature of Settld’s automated service and the expert advice of a highly trained team.

 

Bereavement, News

Bereavement workshops launched by expert duo to strengthen support for vulnerable and bereaved customers

Settld and Three Hands Insight join forces to offer tailor-made guidance for hundreds of service providers nationwide

Two leading UK organisations have teamed up to offer new workshops and practical guidance for hundreds of UK service providers, designed to improve vulnerability and bereavement customer care across every industry sector.

Delivered by Settld, the multi award-winning bereavement notification service, and social insight agency Three Hands, the aim is to help companies across the UK provide a more compassionate and consistent response to their customers.

The bespoke workshops offer evidence-based guidance and advice, along with best practice examples to help organisations review and enhance their internal and external processes and customer journeys.

Service providers are under increasing pressure from regulators, the Financial Conduct Authority and the recommendations of the UK Commission on Bereavement to improve care of the vulnerable and bereaved.

Leeds Building Society and leading wealth management and investment firm Quilter have already benefited from the insight and change programme.

Laura Bell at Leeds Building Society said: “At Leeds Building Society our teams are committed to offering the highest standards of customer service. Dealing with a bereavement requires sensitivity and empathy, and while we receive strong positive feedback from our customers, we are continuously looking for ways to further improve the service we offer.

“We are pleased to have been able to facilitate these workshops for colleagues. The teams involved have commented that they now feel more confident when supporting members who are dealing with bereavement.”

Anthony Scammell, Adviser and Client Services Director at Quilter, said: “We are thrilled to have been one of the first businesses to take part in a 2-day in-person workshop, with a cross-functional team of Quilter’s staff.

“While we had strong processes in place, we’ve introduced further improvements thanks to the insights we gained, including from ‘lived experts’ in bereavement. If every service provider did likewise, grieving families, and the professionals supporting them, would have a lot less to worry about.”

The new package brings together Three Hands’ Immersive Innovation workshops with Settld’s process mapping and data insights gained from dealing with service providers on behalf of thousands of grieving customers.

Vicky Wilson, founder and CEO of Settld, said: “We know from dealing with bereaved individuals every day of the week at Settld, that many still feel let down when they contact service providers about a death.

“We’re here to change that. Bereavement is a time when organisations can make a real difference in helping their customers. With this package, we support companies in driving the best in class support, at a time when it matters the most.”

The combined skills and experience of the new partnership will enable service providers to apply a 360° approach to their vulnerability and bereavement customer support – improving everything from marketing communications to customer service agent transcripts, IT systems and processes.

Jan Levy, Managing Director at Three Hands Insight, said: “At Three Hands, our immersive innovation and insight workshops have proved hugely successful in helping our clients to understand the realities of life for vulnerable and underserved customers, and find solutions that create a better customer experience. Learning directly from ‘lived experts’ is core to our approach.

“Dealing with bereaved customers requires a very ‘human’ approach combined with efficient systems, and we believe we can help service providers – big and small – to solve the problems many face. This will help companies to transform insights into practical next steps.”

As a flexible consultancy package, companies will be able to select as little or as much assistance from the workshops as they need. The workshops are offered in person or online, and include facilitated ‘voice of the customer’ participation from recently bereaved people.

Further details of the ‘Supporting Vulnerable and Bereaved Customers: A Practical Guide for Service Providers’ workshops are available by contacting contact@settld.care

Bereavement, News, Wellbeing at Work

Cheryl Baker: “Why I’m Supporting George’s Law”

“I COULD HAVE BEEN ONE OF THE STATISTICS, EMPLOYERS NEED TO DO THE RIGHT THING”, SAYS TV LEGEND

TV presenter Cheryl Baker has thrown her support behind a campaign aiming to get employers to improve policies around baby loss.

The Bucks Fizz star, who is an ambassador for the charity Abigail’s Footsteps, is urging businesses to enact George’s Law, which provides those who lose a child with the right to statutory leave.

Cheryl, who recently told how nearly losing one of her own children inspires her work in this area, showed her support by meeting up with the solicitor behind the crusade.

After meeting Keeley Lengthorn at the Bexleyheath Office of Taylor Rose MW Solicitors, Cheryl, 69, said: “I’m supporting George’s Law and would urge employers to do the right thing by backing it too. It’s so important that those who suffer the loss of a child get the support and care they need.”

Cheryl, is vice president of Medway-based charity, Abigail’s Footsteps, which was founded by patrons David and Jo Ward whose daughter Abigail was stillborn at 41 weeks gestation.

Earlier this month Cheryl explained why the issue was so important to her.

“When I gave birth to my twin daughters one of them wasn’t breathing,” she explained. “Had there not been a special care baby unit there she may not have survived. It just touched me. I could have been David and Jo. I could have been one of the statistics.”

Cheryl’s show of support is the latest boost in an ongoing campaign which Keeley Lengthorn is embarking on.

She began her crusade to enact  law change after she lost her son George in March 2022, and has been travelling the country giving talks on why change is needed.

Speaking earlier this month, to mark Baby Loss Awareness Week, Keeley said the campaign for George’s Law had taken on new life, even if proposed legislation in the House of Commons has not come to fruition.

She said: ‘George’s Law has stalled in parliament but with many firms now voluntarily adopting their own policies for statutory leave in the case of baby-loss, there is progress being made with further efforts to drive it up the legislative agenda. And I plan to push even harder in the coming weeks and months to make the law a reality.’

Keeley has been tirelessly travelling the UK giving talks on why change is needed

Lengthorn, a partner at southeast firm Taylor Rose MW, wants parents who lose a baby under 24 weeks to have statutory entitlement to three days’ paid leave from work. She has said before that miscarriage is not an illness but for employment purposes it is considered as ‘sick leave’ if parents take time off.

Lengthorn spoke at the inaugural Family Law Conference in Manchester last month and shared her story of enduring the loss of a child.

‘It was a privilege to speak at this event and to share the story behind George’s Law,’ she added. ‘Many people told me how overwhelmed they were to learn about the campaign.

‘Now I really hope those in attendance will now support us moving forward to bring George’s Law to fruition.’

Keeley has also helped to devise a new online training programme with company “Briefed” which employers can use to learn more about how to support staff experiencing baby loss.

 

Bereavement, Law, News, Yorkshire

New CAPA Contract Helps Leading Law Firm Extend Inquest Services Offering

A leading Yorkshire law firm that specialises in representing bereaved families at inquests has secured a contract to enable them to expand the types of inquests that they can deal with (including deaths involving police contact and within the prison service) in addition to taking on civil claims against public authorities including the police and local authorities. 

Ison Harrison has secured the LAA CAPA contract (Claims Against Public Authorities) enabling the firm to represent people in situations where they feel they have been mistreated by a public authority such as the police or local authority. Ison Harrison is one of only a handful of firms in the region and 71 nationwide to hold a CAPA contract.

The securing of the contract has widened the scope of the publicly funded work the firm can do in helping victims gain access to justice and has led to significant growth within the team. The PI, Inquest and Civil Liberties team has an experienced and specialist human rights and inquest team that collectively has over 80 years experience in this area.

Prior to securing the contract, the firm was only able to offer public funding for cases involving medical negligence and deaths both in inpatient mental health care and when they were under the care of the community mental health team. CAPA accreditation allows Ison Harrison to offer a comprehensive service to clients requiring legal representation for inquests and actions against public authorities.

Ison Harrison is currently representing a 16-year-old girl after she was arrested for allegedly making a homophobic remark to a female police officer. The girl was released from custody and faced no further action after her mother informed West Yorkshire Police that she was autistic. The girl also has physical disabilities, which meant she should not have been physically handled in a certain way during her arrest.  A video uploaded to TikTok by her mother showed the incident with the autistic teenager being detained by seven officers outside her home in Leeds.

Leading the firm’s PI, Inquests and Civil Liberties team is director Gareth Naylor. With over 22 years experience, Gareth specialises in high value and complex cases. He is a proud member of the  INQUEST Lawyers Group. Hugely experienced in dealing with all types of claims such as road traffic accidents, accidents at work and occupier’s and public liability claims, Gareth has also dealt with more unusual and complex personal injury claims involving sexual assault, product liability and an accident aboard a vessel, which was heard by the Admiralty Division of the High Court.

Gareth represents bereaved families at inquests, including those with a jury. He recently represented the families of Matthew Harter Dale and Deseree Fitzpatrick, both of whom were vulnerable adults and died whilst under the care of The Priory.

Alongside Gareth in the team is Gemma Vine, associate and specialist inquest solicitor with vast experience of representing bereaved families at inquests, specifically those involving veterans and deaths involving mental health and multi-agencies. Gemma also has experience in pursuing complaints against the police. She has over a decade of experience in CAPA cases including representing the family of Kesia Leatherbarrow, whose death in 2013 was one of three that resulted in a change to the law relating to PACE (Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984), whereby 17-year-olds were previously treated as adults and not children. This led to the creation of Kesia’s Law, an amendment made to the Criminal Justice & Courts Bill which closed a historic legal anomaly. 

Ruth Bundey, one of the most experienced inquest lawyers in the UK, began working on inquests in the nineties when young prisoners were inappropriately housed in Leeds Adult Prison, leading to a spate of deaths. She has represented families involved in the Hillsborough Disaster and continues to work alongside the sister of Christopher Alder who died on the floor of Hull Police Station in 1998, where there have been further revelations over the years after it was discovered that his body was still in the mortuary years after his purported burial. These cases were dealt with when the firm previously held a contract for such work, thanks to valued colleague, now sadly deceased, Simon Purchas. Ruth is currently involved in a variety of deaths in psychiatric establishments. 

Ison Harrison’s CAPA contracts team is completed by Graham Roberts, a personal injury specialist in abuse claims, Megan Spurr, trainee solicitor and Natalie Marrison, an experienced senior solicitor has also recently joined the firm as a result of the contract award. Natalie has a wealth of experience in abuse, serious injury and clinical negligence and will further enhance the team with her knowledge and experience.  

Gareth Naylor said: “The team has put a tremendous amount of work into securing this contract which is the icing on the cake in what is shaping up to be our most successful year in our history. 

“Previously we have only been able to secure public funding for inquests that involved medical negligence and when the death involved mental health services. Now we can secure public funding for a wide range of victims of injustice. We have developed a very strong team of experienced lawyers who can assist such victims. We offer representation second to none in this complex and niche area of law which is fantastic for our employee-owned business which continues to grow as we open our 18th office in Doncaster.

“Public authorities, including the police, have a duty of care to the public, but when it is felt that this has been breached it can be a daunting prospect to seek a form of justice and many people will feel intimidated. 

“In such cases, it is very easy for public authorities to employ delay tactics and to make the issue overly complex so that people eventually feel helpless and give up. However, Ison Harrison believes everyone has a right to justice and the securing of this CAPA contract is a significant step forward in our quest to provide the most comprehensive range of specialist legal services throughout Yorkshire.” 

Ison Harrison was founded in 1978. With an annual turnover of over £20 million, the firm has become a well-known regional practice offering the broadest range of legal services to thousands of people and businesses. The firm became a 100% employee-owned business in early 2022 after the three shareholder directors agreed to sell the business to an Employee Ownership Trust.

Ison Harrison currently holds 13 Law Society accreditations including Conveyancing Quality, Clinical Negligence, Children Law, Family Law, Immigration & Asylum, and SRA Higher Courts Rights – civil and criminal.

To find out more about our specialist Inquest and personal injury services, please call 0113 284 5000, email pi@isonharrison.co.uk  or visit www.isonharrison.co.uk 

Bereavement, News

Bereaved North East families to be offered step-by-step guidance as Registrars partner with Settld

Northumberland County Council and award-winning bereavement admin service collaborate to provide enhanced assistance for grieving families dealing with the death of a loved one 

Bereaved families in the North East of England are to be offered pioneering step-by-step guidance and assistance to deal with the heavy admin burden following a death.

A new partnership has been announced today between Northumberland County Council Registrars, and end-of-life admin service Settld.

The deal will provide end-to-end help for anyone dealing with the death of a loved one, from the point of that death being officially registered by the Registrar.

Award-winning admin service Settld, headquartered in Sunderland, will provide a range of services including a detailed checklist for those handling a death, and support in closing, transferring or changing financial, digital and household accounts.

 

Councillor Gordon Stewart, Portfolio Holder for Community Services at Northumberland County Council said: “Sadly, we all experience the grief of losing a loved one at some point in our lives. The best thing we can do as a local authority is to quietly offer practical help and support.

“By linking with Settld we are able to provide sound advice to get our residents through the darkest of days – freeing them to grieve and remember their loved ones in their own way.”

 

Now when someone registers a death in Northumberland, they will receive a pack with helpful guidance on what they might need to do. Settld will then provide hands-on help with the difficult admin – from sorting out probate to accessing local grief support.

More than 26,870 deaths are registered in the North East of England every year.

Settld notifies more than 950 service providers, from banks and insurers to energy firms, mobile providers, subscription services, social media platforms and more.

In addition to registering the death with service providers, Settld’s free online service helps users close, transfer or amend accounts and obtain date of death balances for probate.

 

Vicky Wilson, Settld CEO

Vicky Wilson, co-founder and CEO of Settld, said: “We are delighted to have the backing of regional Registrars, to further support families when they need it the most.

“Settld is here to help the bereaved, and that now means additional help and advice from the point of a death being registered until all the admin is sorted.”

 

The new co-operation has also been welcomed by other North East organisations.

 

Dawn McNally, Chief Executive of Age UK North Tyneside, also a Settld partner, said: “Our team work with Settld whenever one of our customers has been bereaved, and is in need of help. We are so pleased to hear that all North East families will receive the same support from now on.”

 

Settld – at www.settld.care – consistently receives 5-star reviews from its customers.

Bereavement, Finance and Banking, News, Wellbeing News

Starling Bank launches new partnership with Settld to support end of life admin for bereaved individuals

  • Starling tie-up with award-winning bereavement service Settld
  • Mr, Mrs and Ms account prefixes scrapped to avoid emotional upset

 

Starling Bank has taken swift action to make life simpler for bereaved individuals, following recommendations made in a key nationwide bereavement report.

The digital bank has unveiled a new strategic partnership with end-of-life admin service Settld, which will streamline account administration for those handling the affairs of a Starling bank customer who has died.

Starling customers’ bereaved next of kin will be able to notify a death to the bank and all other relevant service providers, in one go, using Settld’s award-winning online service.

In addition, Starling is brushing aside the need for bereaved individuals to use prefixes such as, Mr, Mrs, Ms etc when notifying the company.

After the death of a loved one, these details can often cause one half of a grieving couple unnecessary upset- given the change in their relationship status.

 

Charity Wood, Head of Customer Service at Starling Bank, said: “As a digital bank we pride ourselves on making life easier for our customers, and we are focusing renewed attention on those who are bereaved and vulnerable.

“Through our new partnership with Settld, Starling Bank now offers an even  better bereavement customer service and sympathy. We want our customers to know that we are here to help and that we care.”

 

In a comprehensive report, published in October 2022 , the UK Commission on Bereavement said treatment of bereaved individuals and families must improve.

The Commission also said organisations across the UK should make end-of-life admin, or “sadmin”, simpler and recommended one-stop shops like Settld.

Using Settld’s service will save customers up to 10 hours spent contacting individual companies following a death, and weeks or months more trying to resolve accounts satisfactorily.

Settld notifies all service providers, from banks and insurers to energy firms, mobile providers, subscription services, social media platforms and others.

In addition to registering the death with service providers, Settld’s free online service helps users close, transfer or amend accounts and obtain date of death balances for probate.

 

Vicky Wilson, co-founder and CEO of Settld, said: “Working across the financial services sector, we see how Starling Bank stands out when it comes to approaching bereavement customer care.

“We’ve been extremely impressed with their attention to detail on this topic, and it’s great to see them taking the lead in responding to the UK Bereavement Commission’s report.

“Using Settld, bereaved families face significantly less effort and stress when it comes to informing Starling Bank and all companies of a death – giving bereaved people time to focus on what really matters. We hope other companies follow suit.”

 

Settld – at www.settld.care – consistently receives 5-star reviews from its customers, who appreciate the benefits of the one-stop shop,  automated service.

Starling Bank is an award-winning, fully-licensed and regulated bank built to give people a fairer, smarter and more human alternative to the banks of the past.

 

Bereavement, News

Portsmouth Water pledges to make life simpler for bereaved and vulnerable customers

Portsmouth Water is making life simpler for bereaved and vulnerable customers by signing a key deal with end-of-life admin service Settld.

The utility company has today unveiled a new strategic partnership with the award-winning nationwide bereavement service.

Settld will streamline end-of-life account administration for those handling the affairs of a Portsmouth Water customer who has died.

The partnership has also initiated a new support service for the water company’s vulnerable customers.

Bereaved individuals who use Settld’s form to notify Portsmouth Water, and who continue living in the same property as the account holder who died, can discreetly report their need for additional support on a short or long term basis.

The partnership with Settld follows recent guidance to all companies from the water regulator, OFWAT, which urged water companies to place a higher priority on bereaved and vulnerable customers.

It also encouraged companies to make it easier for relatives to close or amend the accounts of a loved one who has died.

Earlier this month, the UK Commission on Bereavement also recommended one-stop shops, like Settld, to make life easier for bereaved families.

 

Bob Taylor, CEO for Portsmouth Water, said: “As a company which prides itself on customer service, we are committed to making sure that our bereaved and vulnerable customers receive the very best care.

“We chose to work with Settld because we believe they offer the best level of service to the bereaved and have been highly impressed by the dedication of their team.

“We want to make it as easy as possible for grieving and vulnerable customers to deal with all necessary admin in one safe and secure place, following a death. Working with Settld, we are delighted to provide that service”.

 

Vicky Wilson, co-founder and CEO of Settld, said: “We are thrilled to be partnering with Portsmouth Water enabling us to help thousands more vulnerable and bereaved customers who might have to deal with the death of a loved one in future.

“Using Settld, everyone benefits: bereaved families face significantly less effort and stress when it comes to informing all companies of a death – giving them time to focus on what really matters.

“And, in addition, Portsmouth Water’s customer service agents face an easier time in attending to the needs of their bereaved and vulnerable customers.”

Launched in February 2021, Settld enables members of the public to notify all service providers across the UK of a death, from banks and insurers to energy firms, mobile providers, subscription services, social media platforms and others.

In addition to registering the death with service providers, Settld’s free online service helps users close, transfer or amend accounts and obtain date of death balances for probate.

The vast majority of communication with service providers is handled by Settld and tracked in a free online dashboard which can be accessed at any time.

Settld – at www.settld.care – consistently receives 5-star reviews from its customers, who appreciate the benefits of the one-stop shop,  automated service.

Portsmouth Water supplies more than 730,000 customers across South East Hampshire and West Sussex.