Planning for you...and your family

Everyone has different needs when it comes to funeral planning, so we make sure the plans we offer are as flexible as possible. As an independently owned funeral director, we’ll take the time to understand your wishes and tailor a plan to suit you.

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Funeral costs are rising
A funeral plan is an easy way to arrange the funeral you want in advance. A plan allows you to specify your wishes and pay for the funeral director’s services included in your plan. As customers often tell us, that can bring peace of mind to you and your family.
portrait of a family

At Penrose Funerals we work in partnership with Golden Charter to provide you with a simple way to plan ahead. As one of the UK’s largest funeral plan providers1, Golden Charter has helped 900,000 people make funeral provisions2 so we’re completely confident in offering their plans to you. A plan from Golden Charter also includes an allowance towards third party costs. These are essential, non-funeral director services such as the cremation or burial fees, plus the minister or officiant’s fee to perform the service.

Everyone has different needs when it comes to funeral planning, so we make sure the plans we offer are as flexible as possible. When you get in touch, we’ll be happy to discuss your funeral requirements and tailor a plan to suit you. Rest assured a plan from Golden Charter is available to all UK residents regardless of age or state of health.

A plan to suit your needs

As an independently owned funeral director, we’ll take the time to understand your wishes and tailor a plan to suit you. We can discuss these at our premises or in your home, at a time that is convenient for you. If you’d prefer to discuss this over the phone or via email, we can assist with this too. You can tell us about any preferences you have in mind – the type of funeral you would like to have, hymns, music or any other personal touches – and we’ll make sure your plan takes these into account.

What’s included in a pre-paid funeral plan?

Our funeral director’s services will be covered in your funeral plan, which means our fees will be fixed at today’s prices. These services typically include:

  • Professional services and making arrangements for the funeral
  • Transportation of the deceased from the place of death to our premises, chapel of rest or other suitable location
  • Care of the deceased and preparations for family viewing if requested
  • Advice on the certification and registration of death and related documentation
  • Provision of funeral vehicles
  • Advice on bereavement counselling
  • Coffin or casket requested

Although a pre-paid funeral plan can cover all of the services above, there are some additional third party costs to consider. These are the costs for essential, non-funeral director services required to carry out a cremation or burial which need to be paid at the time of the funeral. These costs are outside our control. Depending on the plan type chosen, a Golden Charter funeral plan can include a contribution towards some third party costs. They may include:

  • Crematorium fee
  • Minister or officiant’s fee
  • Cemetery fee: the opening of a new or existing grave for burial or interment of cremated remains

Other third party costs that may be associated with a funeral include:

  • Purchase of grave or lair
  • Hire of church or other venue
  • Fees for organist or soloist
  • Memorial, such as a headstone, entry in a book of remembrance, or the planting of a tree
  • Catering, floral tributes and newspaper announcements

There will only be more to pay at the time of the funeral if the third party costs exceed the allowance when you buy your plan, or if the costs increase by more than the growth of your plan. Even if prices rise in the future, once your plan is paid for, you’ll have the reassurance of knowing there’ll be nothing more to pay for our services included in the plan – guaranteed.

Payment options to suit you

With a Golden Charter funeral plan, you can pay for your plan in several ways. Spread the cost or make a one-off payment – simply choose the one that’s right for you. You will find the various payment options detailed clearly below on this page or you can speak to us and we will provide you with the information you need to make an informed decision.

The retail price of your funeral plan is representative of the equivalent cost of a funeral today plus an arrangement fee of £285 which is retained by Golden Charter to help cover the costs of setting up your plan.

Your payments are held within the Golden Charter Trust. With £1.2 billion under management3, the Trust is operated by a Board of Trustees, completely independent of Golden Charter. Their role is to hold your payments and ensure that the funeral director services in your plan can be paid for at the time they are required – however far into the future that may be. For more information on how your payments are protected, please visit goldencharter.co.uk/faqs

Looking after you as a customer

As a Golden Charter plan holder, you’ll receive personalised plan documents, which include a summary of your plan, our details, your plan holder certificate and a personal membership card for you to carry in your purse or wallet. You can add a nominated representative to your plan if you wish to do so. Your nominated representative will receive a letter which will provide details of your plan and our details, as your chosen funeral director. They will have no authority to make changes to your plan.

You’ll also receive a statement from Golden Charter every three years which will be sent via your preferred contact method.

As your funeral director, we’ll hold full details of your funeral plan. When the time comes, one phone call is all it takes to activate your plan and get the arrangements underway.

Ready to take the next step? Get in touch today

As well as the comfort of having a plan in place, you’ll have the peace of mind that comes with being able to help save your family from worry and expense in the future. So why not take the next step?

Penrose Funerals Ltd is an appointed representative of Golden Charter Limited trading as Golden Charter Funeral Plans which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FRN:965279).

Based on a Golden Charter analysis and independent research of the funeral plan market size as at January 2023.

Correct at March 2023.

Confirmed by Golden Charter Trust’s audited accounts at 31 March 2022.

Pre-paid plans
Choose how you would like to pay for your plan

Spread the cost or make a one-off payment. We offer a number of ways to pay for your funeral plan – simply choose the one that’s right for you.

Single Payment Option
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You can make a one-off, single payment for immediate cover.

12 monthly payment option
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If you would prefer to spread the cost, you can pay over 12 monthly payments by Direct Debit at no extra charge. You will be covered once all payments are made.

Instalment payment option
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For a lower monthly payment, you can also choose to spread the cost of your plan between two and 15 years (two and 10 years for Independent Basic Plan).

This option includes the added benefit of our Golden Charter Pledge, which ensures that if you die at any time after you have made 12 payments, the benefit of your plan will be provided, with no further sums to be paid.

Arrangement fee
Contact Penrose Funerals

As well as covering the delivery of your funeral as per the terms and conditions of your plan, your plan price includes a one-off £249 arrangement fee which Golden Charter retains as a contribution towards setting up your funeral plan.

It’s a wonderful way to put your mind at rest while you’re alive and when you’ve gone it’s a lovely way to show your family that you loved and cared about them. Now it’s all sorted I can get on with my life

coffin with bouquet of flowers

Frequently asked questions

Will there be any additional costs at the time of the funeral?

Golden Charter guarantees the funeral director’s costs and makes contributions to third party arrangements specified in your Funeral Plan. There are no additional hidden extras or additional administration charges for your family to deal with when the time comes. However, be aware that third party costs such as crematorium fees, cemetery fees and minister’s costs can increase beyond the plan and require additional payment at the time of the funeral.

Can I cancel the plan?

For all payment methods, if you cancel within 30 days we will refund the payment you have made.

If you choose to make payment in full or pay by 12 monthly payments and you cancel after 30 days you will receive a refund of payments made less a cancellation fee of £249.

Other payment methods have similar conditions, these are detailed in the brochure that we can provide for you should you wish to know more.

Testimonials

To Everyone at Penrose,

We just wanted to thank you so much for organising Sylvia L’s Funeral.

We are so grateful for all you have done for us,

 

Regards

Marie Noble and family - June 2021

To all at Penrose,

A thank you to say how much we appreciated your services. Your care and compassion toward our family will not be forgotten.

Debbie, Jackie and Shelley - March 2023

To all the staff at Penrose Funeral Services,

Thank you all so much for being so helpful and kind at a very difficult time. Keep up the excellent, friendly service.

Kind regards

Sonia and family - May 2018

To all at Penrose

Thank you so much for making a terrible day more bearable, you all acted with the utmost respect and support from beginning to end.

Keep up the good work,

Nicola and Kevin - July 2020

I cannot begin to tell you how impressed I am with your care, your thoughtfulness and the profound dignity with which you conducted the service. You have been impeccably professional from start to finish… Thank you

Steve Meeks - July 2018

To all the team at Penrose,

Thankyou so much for the dignified way that you conducted my husband’s funeral. It was all I could have wished for under difficult circumstances.

Also for the kind and caring attitude you all had towards myself and my family,

Thank you once again,

Frances Curtis - January 2021

We just wanted to say thank you for the care you gave my late father, Albert Wells. You were all truly amazing at a very difficult time, you showed my wonderful dad great respect all times. You also made all aspects of organising my father’s funeral easy and fuss free.

Thank you all so much

Michelle, Maureen, Paul and family - May 2022

Dear Penrose,

Many thanks for looking after John whilst he was in your care. Also thank you for all your help and support you gave us to give John a good send off on his final journey.

Such professional, caring and compassionate people.

A huge big thank you from all of us

Gillian, Sarah, Richard and families - May 2019
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