Mansfield District Council’s crematorium and four district cemeteries have achieved a gold standard award from the Institute of Cemetery and Crematorium Management (ICCM) for their caring approach to helping the bereaved.

The council is a member of the Charter For The Bereaved, which was set up by the ICCM to develop and improve bereavement services.

Following an annual assessment by the ICCM, Mansfield received the charter’s highest award. The charter aims to improve levels of service and raise awareness of issues surrounding bereavement and the rights of the bereaved in relation to burial, cremation and funerals.

A total of 107 teams across the UK were considered for the accreditation and Mansfield’s cemeteries in Mansfield, Mansfield Woodhouse, Warsop and Pleasley Hill were among 54 to achieve the gold standard.

The crematorium, which is run jointly by Mansfield, Ashfield and Newark and Sherwood district councils, was among 62 across the country to be awarded gold.

Portfolio holder for the environment at Mansfield District Council Coun Andrew Tristram said: “It is gratifying to know that our bereavement services are ranked so highly and offer people the best possible support at a very difficult and vulnerable time.”

Pictured are the Mansfield crematorium and district cemeteries teams.