The Joseph Salmon Trust is a small charity whose aim is to offer financial assistance to people living in the Huddersfield area, whose child has died.

Why has it been set up?
Just over a year after Joseph died, Neil (Joseph’s father) began to think about ways in which other families in a similar situation might be helped. It came to light that, despite there being a number of counselling and research charities related to losing a child, there was nothing specifically to deal with the expenses that ‘saying goodbye’ to the child can incur.

Whom do we help?
The Trust aims to help parents bereaved of a child. Whilst as parents we try to plan ahead financially for all manner of eventualities, it is very rare that any parent makes financial provision for the death of a child. Our main focus is on assisting parents to pay for headstones and funeral expenses, with other financial issues being addressed on an individual basis.
“The impact on the family whose child has died is Immeasurable, the pain is intense and the life they knew is changed forever. The early days following the death of a child are difficult, with lots of organising to do as well as dealing with the overwhelming emotions of grief. At this time many expenses are incurred, work time is lost often with financial implications; to have to worry about financial matters is an added burden.

Any support with finances for funeral costs and eventually for a headstone would be a great benefit to families to help them meet the last needs of their child after their death.”

Sharman Secker, Manager of Child Development Centre,
Calderdale & Huddersfield Foundation Trust