Sheffield is on course to run out of Muslim burial space within the next two years. Without urgent intervention, families will not be able to fulfil a core religious and community need. The South Yorkshire Muslim Bereavement Trust therefore publicly sets out the following clear intentions:

1.   Secure agreement with Sheffield City Council to acquire land under their ownership, in order to develop new burial provision for Muslim communities, to meet both immediate demand and long‑term population needs.

2.   Create new partnership models with Sheffield City Council to deliver high‑quality, culturally competent burial provision, including dedicated Muslim cemeteries and designated sections within new multi-faith sites.

3.   Reduce financial pressure on families by improving the overall affordability of burials.

4.   Provide genuinely flexible access with availability in the evenings, on weekends and on public holidays.

5.   Ensure every aspect of provision respects religious obligations and reflects the expectations of local Muslim communities.

6.   Build a sustainable, dignified system for future generations, protecting long‑term burial capacity for the city.

Sheffield City Council is undertaking a Bereavement Services Review. SYMBT urges the Council to act decisively and address the following priorities:

1.    Secure and guarantee new Muslim burial capacity before existing space runs out.

2.    Protect burial choice by keeping both lined and earthen Muslim graves.

3.    Enable true same‑day burials by extending burial hours to 10pm and the Green Form deadline to 5pm.

4.    Upgrade cemetery infrastructure by improving roads, paths and lighting to allow safe evening burials and visits.

5.    Reduce burial costs by making faith‑specific charges competitive and at least in line with neighbouring authorities.

6.    Resolve flooding issues and ensure all future burial plots are safe from flood risk.

7.    Support trained community volunteers to assist with administration, documentation checks, grave preparation and grounds maintenance.

8.    Provide essential operational support by making diggers and grounds staff available when requested.

9.    Strengthen registrar responsiveness through timely and efficient documentation.

THIS STATEMENT IS SUPPORTED BY: