News

16 August 2026

Funeral Planning Wishes – Have your say in planning an affordable, meaningful funeral

CELEBRATING LIFE YOUR WAY Your final celebration is about what matters to you. Words, music and actions can be far […]

16 August 2026

Ten steps to an affordable funeral

A death can bring with it a broad range of emotions. Our feelings toward the person who has died can […]

5 December 2025

Our Award-Shortlisted Research – and the Change It’s Driving in Council Funerals

A year on from our Down to Earth team’s landmark research on council funerals, we look at the important progress it has driven, and why government still needs to introduce minimum standards.

31 October 2025

Fix the Funeral Expenses Payment: Down to Earth launches new campaign

Government support for funeral costs should make things easier for bereaved people, not harder. Its restrictive rules need to change.

3 June 2025

A milestone in holding the funeral industry accountable

I normally think of milestones as positive things – especially when I’m on a long hike and I pass the 10 mile mark! But this month’s milestone at Down to Earth feels more bittersweet.

8 March 2025

A Day of Reflection: Remembering lives lost, funerals and resilience during Covid

2025 marks five years since the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic and on Sunday 9 March, people across the UK will come together for a Day of Reflection.

20 January 2025

QSA’s response to the SunLife Cost of Dying 2025 Report

Funeral costs are on the rise again, in many cases outstripping inflation, according to the latest SunLife Cost of Dying report. In 2024, many people who experienced ‘notable financial concerns’ when paying for a funeral went into debt to cover the costs, taking out an average of £3,109 on loans and

15 January 2025

Down to Earth brings funeral poverty to the Scottish Human Rights agenda

A major assessment of access to human rights in the Scottish Highlands & Islands has included a focus on funeral poverty, following efforts from the QSA Down to Earth team and their partners.

13 November 2024

Down to Earth responds to the Fuller Inquiry

For 15 years QSA has sought to respond to the injustice of funeral poverty. Alongside providing extensive digital resources and direct support through a UK-wide funeral cost advice service, our Down to Earth project is also committed to policy and influencing work. This has included providing detail