Online giving scheme launched by Shropshire funeral directors

CJ Williams, based at Dawley Bank, in Telford, have been in business for over 150 years, and the company has been run by five generations of the Williams family.

And now, the family has launched an innovative new scheme to help create a simple and convenient way to leave tributes and make charitable donations.

Director Louise Williams said: “We wanted to make giving in memory of a loved one easy and secure, and the Online Giving initiative has already proved to be extremely successful in the first few weeks since it launched.

“Over £80 million is given in memory each year in the UK, and as most donations are personal gifts, a large percentage of this money would qualify for Gift Aid. But donations are almost all made by cheque, so only a tiny fraction is ever claimed.

“The online service simplifies the process and means the gift can be increased through the Gift Aid process, which directly benefits the charities the bereaved family has chosen.”

To donate, family and friends click on the memory giving link on the CJ Williams website – www.williamsfunerals.com – and search for the page dedicated to their loved one to make a donation and leave a message.

“The messages are available at any time for the family to read, and six weeks after the funeral, they will receive a list of the messages left and the donations given, which is a wonderful way to remember the person they have lost.”

But Louise said CJ Williams were not only using the online service to receive donations – they were also committed to the more traditional methods such as a collection box at the funeral.

“We believe it’s crucial to hold on to the traditional values of funerals, but we also want to embrace new ways that appeal to many of today’s Internet generation.”