ANBG application form
Full or provisional applicant membership may be applied for.
Prospective provisional applicant members may apply to join prior to having a site, but must provide the information required to convert to full membership within a year of their site opening.
Membership costs £50 per annum (with cheques payable to 'The Natural Death Centre') although full members are also encouraged to pay 1% of the ground's gross income to the Natural Death Centre, a project of the registered charity The Nicholas Albery Foundation (no. 1091396).
I/we hereby agree to be bound by the Association's Code of Practice from time to time in force, and with regard to this, and in support of my/our application for Full / Provisional Applicant* membership, make the following declarations: (* please delete as appropriate)
1. I/We have taken all reasonable steps for the conservation of local wildlife and archaeological sites and plan to manage the project according to sound and consistent ecological principles. (Written evidence must be provided to the Association that the views of local or national bona fide wildlife and archaeological organisations have been sought and that plans have been modified as necessary to take account of any objections.) The following documents are enclosed in support of this:
2. I am /we are the unencumbered freehold owner(s) of the land. The following documents are enclosed in support of this:
3. My/our plan for the site when it reaches its capacity is: (Please attach copies of all documentation relating to the long-term security offered to clients, e.g. planned transfer of the site to a wildlife charity)
4. I/we hereby authorise the Association to contact the following for confirmation of my/our financial standing and probity:
5. I/we agree to accept for burial bodies whether wrapped in a shroud or placed in a cardboard or wooden coffin or alternative container or wrapping, provided that these are environmentally acceptable, and further agree to sell coffins and shrouds to clients or to provide information as to suppliers from whom these may be obtained.
6. I/we agree to keep a permanent record of exactly where each grave is. A copy of the burial ground register entry will be made available to the client and the register will be open for public inspection.
7. I/we will not require that the services of a funeral director be used. Those using the Natural Burial Ground will be informed that they may organise the funeral themselves, including conducting any service. They may do a token amount of digging or dig a single-depth grave, subject to any equipment, training, safety or regulatory constraints, and they may help with filling the grave.
8. I/we will ensure that our charges are fair and reasonable and I/we shall provide fully itemised price lists for potential clients on request, and will also reveal the prices on the telephone, or by other means of transmission, on request.
9. I/we will provide a copy of the Association's Code of Practice to clients using our services and will have copies available on request for others.
10. I/we agree to provide each client using the site with a feedback form, either the site's own form or the Association's form, asking for the client's comments on the service provided and for any suggested improvement, with a request that the feedback form be sent direct to the Association. This feedback form is to include the address and phone number of the Association and to note that any complaints can be sent to the Association.
11. I/we accept that in the event of a complaint from a client that is not dealt with to the Association's satisfaction within three months of the complaint being made, the Natural Burial Ground's membership shall cease without refund. A serious complaint may result in immediate suspension of membership whilst the complaint is investigated.
12. I/we confirm that if taking money for funerals in advance I/we agree to abide by the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Regulation of Funeral Plan Contracts).
13. I/we understand that before membership is granted or renewed, the Association may require further evidence on the above or any other relevant matters.
(Signed) ................................................................................................................................................
Date ..................... Applicant's full name ................................................................................................
Site name ..............................................................................................................................................
Correspondence address ......................................................................................................................
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Site address (if different) .......................................................................................................................
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Telephone(s) ............................................ E-mail ..................................................................................
Please return completed form and any brochures etc to:
ANBG, 12a Blackstock Mews, Blackstock Rd, London N4 2BT (tel 0871 288 2098, fax 020 7354 3831; e-mail: contact@naturaldeath.org.uk).
