Have you ever thought what happens if you can’t pay for a funeral? Just how much does it cost and who do you go to for help? Teresa, Rick and Thomas share their struggles with funeral poverty and the charity Down To Earth offer help and advice on where to turn.

Main presenter: Lindesay Mace

Editing and production: Helen Clapp

Music and sound design: Michael Edwards http://www.michaeledwards.tv/

Organisations mentioned in the podcast and helpful links:

Down to Earth: https://www.quakersocialaction.org.uk/we-can-help/helping-funerals/down-earth

News on the CMA interim report: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/cma-proposes-major-funerals-probe-after-identifying-serious-concerns

Funeral directors signed up to the Fair Funerals pledge: http://fairfuneralscampaign.org.uk/map

Social fund funeral expenses payment: https://www.gov.uk/funeral-payments

Bereavement support payment: https://www.gov.uk/bereavement-support-payment

Grant search: www.turn2us.org.uk

Money Advice Service on funeral plans https://www.moneyadviceservice.org.uk/en/articles/funeral-plans

Sun Life report: https://www.sunlife.co.uk/siteassets/documents/cost-of-dying/cost-of-dying-report-2018.pdf

Royal London report referenced in podcast: https://www.royallondon.com/siteassets/site-docs/funeral-plans/royal-london-national-funeral-cost-index-2017.pdf

https://www.royallondon.com/siteassets/site-docs/media-centre/national-funeral-costs-index-2018.pdf

Funeral director comparison website (this site can give an indication of which funeral directors may be less/more expensive, but please note that prices given may not be completely accurate and it would be best to contact the funeral director for an exact quote): https://beyond.life/

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Sharon and Ruth have worked all their lives but when illness and disability strike they both turn to the benefit system for help. As the government prepares to move disabled claimants onto Universal Credit, we bring you two more stories of people struggling to get the help they need.

Main presenter: Helen Clapp

Editing and production: Helen Clapp

Music and sound design: Michael Edwards http://www.michaeledwards.tv/

Organisations and Reports mentioned in the podcast:

Zacchaeus 2000 (Z2K) http://z2k.org

Statement on Visit to the United Kingdom, by Professor Philip Alston, United Nations Special Rapporteur on extreme poverty and human rights https://www.ohchr.org/Documents/Issues/Poverty/EOM_GB_16Nov2018.pdf

Welfare conditionality project http://www.welfareconditionality.ac.uk/

If you’ve been affected by any of the issues mentioned in this episode, get help and information here:

St Paul’s Money Advice Centre: http://www.sph.org/get-involved/teams/money-advice-team

Islington People’s Rights: http://www.ipradvice.org.uk/

Crosslight: https://www.crosslightadvice.org/

Zacchaeus 2000 (Z2K): http://z2k.org/

Citizens Advice: https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/

Cardinal Hume Centre https://www.cardinalhumecentre.org.uk/

Advice Services Alliance http://asauk.org.uk/

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podcast@iceandfire.co.uk

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One in four families are single parent households and one in three in London. In the final episode of this series, four Mums share their stories of life as a single parent and we ask what's it really like raising a child alone?

Main presenter: Christine Bacon

Editing and production: Helen Clapp

Music and sound design: Michael Edwards http://www.michaeledwards.tv/

Organisations mentioned in the podcast:

Gingerbread https://www.gingerbread.org.uk/

ABTA Lifeline Charitable Trust http://www.abtalifeline.org.uk/

Other useful links:

Family Lives https://www.familylives.org.uk/advice/your-family/single-parents/advice-on-becoming-a-single-parent/

Single Parent Action Network http://www.singleparents.org.uk/

Follow ice&fire on Twitter / FB / Instagram

@iceandfireuk

iceandfire.co.uk

podcast@iceandfire.co.uk

Sponsored by Trust For London: www.trustforlondon.org.uk/

Please rate us and leave a review!