As seen in
The Times
We are now also featured in The Times newspaper - giving advice on how to cut funeral costs.
Read the article below here. There's a paywall, sorry, but here is what we were quoted:
"Gitte Rasmussen, who runs the not-for-profit organisation Coffin Club Brighton, advises people on how to arrange a DIY funeral for less. She said making arrangements in advance can cut costs by up to half. ... Families could consider transporting loved ones to ceremonies in their own car, although the coffin would need to be carefully secured. “You can fit a coffin into a Ford Galaxy without seats, or a good estate car without back seats has been done too,” Rasmussen said."
(Gitte Monis - formerly known as Rasmussen!)
BBC Radio 4 - Moneybox
Gitte joined Money Box Live to discuss funeral costs on radio 4 on Wednesday 11 October at 3 pm!
Click the image below to listen to the episode!
Talks
We have given talks at various in-person events:
Sunday Assembly Brighton, January 2023
Dying Matters awareness week, Brighton Interfaith event, June 2023
Catalyst Club, Shoreham-by-Sea, 20 June 2023
If you’d like us to come give a free talk, get in touch!
Press release for March launch of Spring 2023 Course
Coffin Club Brighton - The Ultimate Guide to Planning Your Own Funeral.
Coffin Club Brighton is a not-for-profit organisation focussing on education around funeral options. The fun and friendly course on how to do funerals better from informed choices, and how to make a plan for your own funeral, runs over two Saturday mornings, twice yearly - launching 11 March 2023.
A lot of people don’t know they can have more than 20 minutes up the crem and they’re amazed to find out what their choices are. Even Miriam Margolyes was so impressed that she became a patron of the nationwide network of Coffin Clubs, who have been featured in national and local media, including radio, TV and newspapers. Miriam said:
“Everyone who is going to die should attend Coffin Club”
Funeral planning to die for comes to Brighton & Hove in March 2023. Jess May and Gitte Monis, funeral celebrants with a wealth of experience in creating personalised and meaningful modern funerals, have teamed up to share their passion for supporting people that want to plan a personal and original funeral that doesn’t cost the earth.
It is all about giving people all the information and support to make the right choice for them, when it comes to their funeral. Instead of being led up the garden path to a choice of package A, B or C, we want everyone to know about all the different options there are - including not having to choose a traditional funeral plan or package at all, such as having a family-led funeral.
Gitte, one of the founders, says,
“In my work as a funeral celebrant, I too often come across families and friends that just don’t know what the person that died wanted, or how to go about organising their wishes. Sometimes there are conflicting opinions and feelings that make the time after someone died much worse than it has to be - or you are just too emotionally exhausted to think creatively or ask questions. Coffin Club is about making all the decisions ahead of time so that you get what you want and your people know what you want, too.”
Jess continues,
“We have huge celebrations for weddings, make plans for birth, but find it hard to face that one certainty in life – our death! We want to change all that by getting everyone talking about what has, traditionally, been a taboo subject - in the safe and friendly space at Coffin Club Brighton.”
By offering this two-part course as well as creating a community of support, participation and knowledge within the wider community, Coffin Club Brighton hopes to change the face of funerals in Brighton and Hove. With specialists from all corners of the funeral world speaking in the sessions, no (grave)stone will be left unturned.
Anyone curious and wanting to plan their own funeral, someone else’s or just get all the knowledge are warmly welcome. We will share all the options available to people for their end of life celebration and how to plan it. From what happens to your body when you die to decorating your own coffin!
Mission
Coffin Club Brighton aims to raise awareness of end of life choices, limit funeral poverty and change the face of end-life-celebrations in Brighton and Hove.
If you’d like to take part in Coffin Club please get in touch with Jess and Gitte at Coffin Club Brighton.
Contact Information
Community Name
Coffin Club Brighton
Contacts
Gitte Monis 07977496693
Jess May 07891522531
Online
www.facebook.com/coffinclubbrighton
www.instagram.com/coffinclubbrighton
coffinclubbrighton@gmail.com
Key Information
Event
Coffin Club Brighton Spring Course - Launch Event
Date
11th March and 25th March
Times
10am – 1pm
Where
The Modern Funeral (event space), 19 Station Road, Brighton, BN1 6SF
Cost
Pay what you can (Suggested donation £30-40 for entire 2-part course, but we want to make sure everyone can access this information, so just get in touch if you cannot afford to donate).
Price includes course, speakers, materials, tea/coffee & cake, lifetime membership access to social events + access to separate creative workshops and additional events.
Target Audience
Individuals and local organisations interested in end of life choices, limiting funeral poverty and changing the face of end-life-celebrations in the UK.
May be used in press release materials.
Coffin Club Brighton Logo
Gitte talking about fitting funerals at Sunday Assembly in January, in Brighton, where Coffin Club Brighton gave a talk
Gitte talking about how Coffin Club Brighton works at Sunday Assembly in January, in Brighton, where Coffin Club Brighton gave a talk.
Gitte talking about how Coffin Club Brighton works at Sunday Assembly in January, in Brighton, where Coffin Club Brighton gave a talk.
Jess talking about how alternatives to conventional funerals at Sunday Assembly in January, in Brighton, where Coffin Club Brighton gave a talk.
Jess asking the audience about their funeral wishes at Sunday Assembly in January, in Brighton, where Coffin Club Brighton gave a talk.
Jess drumming up some excitement for looking at the bright side of death and funerals at Sunday Assembly in January, in Brighton, where Coffin Club Brighton gave a talk.
Gitte talking at Sunday Assembly in January, in Brighton, where Coffin Club Brighton gave a talk.
Jess and Gitte quoted by on social media by Sunday Assembly.
The theme of Sunday Assembly in January, in Brighton, where Coffin Club Brighton gave a talk
Scandinavian style sustainable untreated wood coffin for natural burial - made by Feet First.
A patch of re-wilding project in Denmark, suitable for a natural burial ground
A celebration of life amongst the plant beds in a Community Garden with fire pits and personal tributes.
Jess and a Coffin Clubber holding the sign for the first taster talk for Coffin Club Brighton.
Jess and a Coffin Clubber smiling and holding the sign for the first taster talk for Coffin Club Brighton.
Jess and a Coffin Clubber smiling for the camera and holding the sign for the first taster talk for Coffin Club Brighton.
