The Natural Death Centre

How can we help you?

If you are looking for help, support, advice or guidance planning a funeral, either for yourself or for someone close to you, the Natural Death Centre Charity is here for you.

We believe that death lies at the heart of our humanity, that within it are great opportunities for both personal and social growth, and that, if we so wish, we should be encouraged and helped to face it on our own terms, without the interception or mediation of others.

Please look through the pages of this website, or call our Helpline if you would like to speak to somebody who will give you as much time as you need.

Independent funeral advice

Since our inception in 1991, the NDC has sought to inform, empower and inspire the public in all matters relating to death and dying, and in particular to increase awareness of funeral choices outside of the mainstream.

Despite our long running links with environmentally friendly funerals, we are not a green pressure group, but primarily a movement for social change. We have played a central part in demystifying the traditional funeral, encouraging thousands of families in having the kind of funerals they wanted, and helping create opportunity for new rituals to emerge.

Natural Burial Grounds

We helped create the expanding network of woodland burial sites and we run the Association of Natural Burial Grounds which has set a standard for the industry, protecting the consumer as well as representing the operators of such sites on a national strategic level. To find your nearest natural burial ground please click here to see our directory list.

Information

We are, and will continue to be an informed and reflective presence on issues such as euthanasia, assisted suicide, childhood bereavement, changing funeral practices, dying at home, pain relief, religious and non-religious expressions of grief.

The Natural Death Handbook

The fourth edition of the Natural Death Handbook is still available for anyone seeking advice on caring for someone who is dying or who wants to find out more about choices in funerals.

Packed with timeless information which has helped to change the way we look at death, this ground breaking book continues to inspire and empower families across the world.

If you can’t wait for the new, revised and updated fifth edition, due for publication this Spring, buy the 2003 version, edited by Stephanie Weinrich and Josefine Speyer here for £15.50 including P&P.

A 'Living Will'

An Advance Healthcare Directive or Living Will, plus an Advance Funeral Wishes form, can be ordered securely online via our bookshop or over the phone, or by cheque (£7 payable to NDC). An emailable PDF version costs only £5.

Newsletters and events

To receive our newsletter and invitations to events, please see our friends page

Donations

The Natural Death Centre Charity’s help and advice is only possible with your support. As a non profit charity, we rely on gifts from people like you to do our work. Won’t you please consider a tax-deductible donation to ensure we can help the next family who call on us? Donate now

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