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.

Founded 21 years ago, 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.

Photos's taken at 'Death Fest' at the Southbank Centre 27-29th January 2012

Independent funeral advice

In the 21 years since we were founded by the late Nicholas Albery and Josefine Speyer along with Christianne Heal 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.

Our work is only possible through the generous support of people like you. Please consider making a donation to ensure we can help the next family who call on us.

If you like what we do but can't afford to donate, please support us through one of our social network platforms. Like us on Facebook, follow us on Twitter, view our photos on Flickr and connect with us on Linkedin

The Natural Death Society

Do you believe that death is a natural part of life?

Do you feel we should all be empowered in the process of dying and of organising a funeral?

Why don’t you join The Natural Death Society?

The new Natural Death Society has been set up by the NDC to bring together people who share the same belief in our human right to approach death with the same freedom that we live our lives.

Open to everyone to join, the Society has been created to spread the word about choice and to promote improvement, both in the process of dying and in the arrangements for funerals, to challenge society’s acceptance that we cannot care for our dead ourselves,and to take away the fear of the discussion of death and dying.

By joining the Society, individuals will be supporting the continuing work of The Natural Death Centre, the Charity that pioneered the natural death movement across the world, and will also receive the following:

• A complimentary copy of the fifth edition of The Natural Death Handbook, due for publication June 2012 (Three book box set, RRP £24.00)

• A Natural Death Centre Information Pack, including invaluable documents and guidance for those contemplating their own death or that of someone close to them.

• Access to the NDC Friends Forum.

• Discounted tickets for educational events and workshops run by the Natural DeathCentre.

• Regular newsletters and updates on subjects of interest.

• A membership certificate and lapel pin.

• Optional inclusion on a public list of Friends of The Natural Death Centre, including
like-minded individuals, and professionals involved in assisting with end of life care and making funeral arrangements.

Subscription

It costs just £20.00 as an initial subscription, and then £2.00 a month thereafter (minimum12 months) to become part of this unique new community of people, united with the same desire - a better way of death.

All money received from subscriptions will be used to further the work of the Natural DeathCentre, funding our telephone Helpline, and helping us to reach people in need of our help and advice.

(If you are a UK Taxpayer and complete a Gift Aid declaration, your subscription will go 20%further! click here for gift aid form)

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 late Spring, buy the 2003 version, edited by Stephanie Weinrich and Josefine Speyer here for £15.50 including P&P.

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.

Take part in our survey

We, the NDC, support the campaign to re legalise outdoor funeral pyres here in the UK. We feel there are strong historical precedences for this in our ancestral past, and we believe it would work environmentally, socially and spiritually, regardless of religious belief or ethnic background.

Our full arguments in favour of this are available here on the website, and in the forthcoming fifth edition of The Natural Death Handbook, but in short do you agree with us?

Advanced Decision

Advance Decision (formerly called 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.

You can also watch videos of people talking about their own experiences of end of life care and living with a terminal illness on the living with dying section of the healthtalkonline website.

Newsletters and events

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