Neville Funerals marks 150th year with wider community work

Neville Funerals has closed its 150th anniversary year with expanded community work, additional fundraising and ongoing investment in bereavement support across Bedfordshire, Hertfordshire and Buckinghamshire.

Part of the Neville Trust, the company set a target at the start of 2025 for staff to complete at least 150 days of volunteering to mark the milestone. The group reached that figure in October and raised the goal to 200 days for the year.

Staff supported local charities and community organisations through activities including football fundraisers, scout group assistance, reading with children, gardening at care homes and hospices, and administrative and technical help for smaller initiatives. Employees also knitted more than 150 baby hats for special care units.

Alongside individual choices, the business supported Neville Trust’s designated charities – Dementia UK, Schoolreaders, Mind and Keech Hospice – and raised further funds for Cancer Research UK through the sale of a recipe book compiled for the anniversary year. The group said it expects its overall charitable contributions for 2025 to be significant.

The year also marked the tenth anniversary of Talking Elephants, the firm’s volunteer-led bereavement support groups. The free sessions, which run in local venues, have worked with hundreds of people and are intended to offer ongoing support beyond the day of the funeral. 

As a result, Neville Funerals received Community Business of the Year at the Community Interest Luton Awards 2025 for its work on the programme.

Director Vicky Trumper said: “2025 has been an incredible year for our team’s charity support. We’ve been delighted to see everyone’s enthusiasm and the wonderful work each team member has done across our local community.

“This anniversary year has reminded us not just of our history, but of our purpose. We are incredibly proud of the work our teams have done — not just in caring for the bereaved with professionalism and empathy, but in actively supporting the wider community.”

She added: “From volunteering and fundraising to the continued success of Talking Elephants, this year has been about making a tangible difference. And that’s a legacy we intend to build on.”

The firm said the anniversary year underscores its aim to combine long-established practice with continued investment in bereavement care and community support.