SAIF welcomes new President Declan Maguire
Declan Maguire is SAIF’s National President for 2024/25. Dec is a director at Anderson Maguire Funeral Service in Glasgow and has been a long standing member of SAIF’s Executive Committee. His chosen charity of the year is My Name’5 Dobbie which fundraises for research into a cure for Motor Neuron Disease.
Moving human remains from GB to NI
SAIF has been advised by His Majesty’s Revenue & Customs (HMRC) with an update on customs requirements when moving human remains from Great Britain to Northern Ireland. SAIF Members may login to the Members’ area then use this link to read the information.
AGM Weekend
SAIF wishes all attendees safe travels and an enjoyable weekend. Members who aren’t attending the AGM may download the AGM Booklet from the Members’ area here.
Statement: Legacy Independent Funeral Directors
SAIF is deeply distressed about reports of arrests at a funeral directors in Hull following a police investigation. We understand that many members of the public will be concerned about these developments too. Our advice to bereaved families who are currently in the process of instructing a funeral director is to check that the business […]
Medical Examiner system implementation hit by possible delay
SAIF is unsurprised to learn that the implementation of the already-delayed statutory Medical Examiner system for England and Wales will not happen during the first half of April. According to an update from the Ministry of Justice (MoJ)’s Burial, Cremation and Funeral Sector Policy Team, the Department for Health and Social Care (DHSC), which is […]
Prospective new Associate member in Wales
SAIF has received an application from a prospective Associate Member based in Caerphilly, WalesPlease log onto the members area and visit the ‘membership pending’ page to see further details.
Prospective new member in Merseyside
SAIF has received an application from a prospective Funeral Director based in Liverpool, MerseysidePlease log onto the members area and visit the ‘membership pending’ page to see further details.
Official code of practice for funeral directors approved by Scottish parliament
The first major step in the regulation of the funeral profession in Scotland has been taken with the approval of a statutory code of practice. The Scottish Government’s Funeral Director Code of Practice was rubber stamped by the Holyrood parliament on 31st January and businesses have a one-year grace period from 1st March in which […]
Prospective new Associate member in East Sussex
SAIF has received an application from a prospective Associate Member based in Crowborough, East Sussex.Please log onto the members area and visit the ‘membership pending’ page to see further details.
Prospective new member in Shropshire
SAIF has received an application from a prospective Funeral Director based in Newport, ShropshirePlease log onto the members area and visit the ‘membership pending’ page to see further details.
Prospective new Associate Member in Staffordshire
SAIF has received an application from a prospective Associate Member based in Lichfield, StaffordshirePlease log onto the members area and visit the ‘membership pending’ page to see further details.
A marked improvement: corporate price gouging tamed by CMA Order
SAIF is pleased to see that the large corporates and chains, whose above-inflation price rises sparked an official probe into the funeral sector, are finally attempting to get their fees under control. This is, of course, thanks to the imposition of strict regulation and not due to boardrooms suddenly discovering a moral compass. Today’s (09.02.24) […]
Prospective new member in East Sussex
SAIF has received an application from a prospective Funeral Director based in Crowborough, East SussexPlease log onto the members area and visit the ‘membership pending’ page to see further details.
Prospective new member in Essex
SAIF has received an application from a prospective Funeral Director based in Abridge, EssexPlease log onto the members area and visit the ‘membership pending’ page to see further details.
SunLife’s Cost of Dying report – a deeper analysis…
Like rain on your wedding day: over 50s life insurance and the cost of funerals If singer Alanis Morrissette were to write a song about irony today, she’d surely mention the yearly report on the ‘extortionate’ price of death by a company whose funeral financing products can end up costing more than they pay out. […]
Prospective new member in Cornwall
SAIF has received an application from a prospective Funeral Director based in Hayle, CornwallPlease log onto the members area and visit the ‘membership pending’ page to see further details.
Third year anniversary sees successful Diamond Partnership expansion
SAIF is pleased to see the Diamond Partnership, our industry leading initiative with Westerleigh and Distinct Cremations, enter its third year. The scheme has become a vital part of the modern independent funeral director’s service offering at a time when venture capital-backed corporations are attempting to commodify funerals with direct cremation. To mark the Partnership’s […]
Prospective new member in Sunderland
SAIF has received an application from a prospective Funeral Director based in Sunderland, North EastPlease log onto the members area and visit the ‘membership pending’ page to see further details.
Prospective new member in Lothian
SAIF has received an application from a prospective Funeral Director based in Edinburgh, Lothian with branches in Edinburgh and MusselburghPlease log onto the members area and visit the ‘membership pending’ page to see further details.
SunLife Cost of Dying report highlights need for families to discuss funerals
It’s unsurprising to see that the price of funerals continued to rise in 2023, as reported in SunLife’s annual Cost of Dying report. Against a backdrop of soaring inflation, the costs associated with running premises and vehicles, as well as importing items such as flowers and coffins all mounted up last year. Consequently funeral directors […]
Prospective new member in Devon
SAIF has received an application from a prospective Funeral Director based in Plymouth, DevonPlease log onto the members area and visit the ‘membership pending’ page to see further details.
What has SAIF done for me in 2023? Quite a lot, actually.
It’s that time of year when many of us reflect on the past 12 months. Have we done everything we set out to do? What are the learnings? And how have we helped others? The team at SAIF Business Centre has been giving thought to these questions and we’re feeling very positive about both what […]
Are people really turning off funerals? We don’t think so

Christian thinktank Theos’ latest report on funeral trends asks important questions about our final act in life. And the findings paint a picture as complex as bereavement itself. Typically sensationalist, media reports about the study titled Love, Grief, and Hope: Emotional responses to death and dying in the UK have been quick to position the […]
SAIF’s charity – double your donation
Charities across the world celebrated Giving Tuesday on 28th November. For Honeypot, SAIF’s Charity of the Year, Giving Tuesday continues to Tuesday 5th December. Any donation you make until then will be doubled. Honeypot supports young carers, who juggle up to 50 hours of care per week alongside school life and other responsibilities. Can you help? […]
Prospective new member in East Yorkshire
SAIF has received an application from a prospective Funeral Director based in Pocklington, YorkPlease log onto the members area and visit the ‘membership pending’ page to see further details.
Prospective new member in Swansea
SAIF has received an application from a prospective Funeral Director based in Morriston, SwanseaPlease log onto the members area and visit the ‘membership pending’ page to see further details.
Parochial fees 2024
The Church of England’s fee structure for 2024 may be found here.
Technical difficulties at SAIF 15/11/23
The SAIF Business Centre apologises for any inconvenience to Members as we try to resolve some technical issues this morning.
Ministry of Justice updates: Law Commission, Parliamentary business and Medical Examiner System
The Ministry of Justice has provided updates on a number of important areas of work as part of its burial, cremation and funeral sector policy activity. Members may be aware that SAIF works closely with the Ministry not only as the independent funeral directors’ trade association but also through its membership of the Burials and […]
SAIF Member learning opportunity – CPD in your own time
SAIF Members may now download a recording of the recent webinar on direct cremation. The session focused on the future of Direct Cremation and how independent funeral directors should respond. Building on SAIF’s successful Direct Cremation Toolkit, which is being adopted by members across the country, the discussion enabled funeral business owners to hone their approach […]
SAIF Wales Christmas Dinner – last chance to book.
Places must be booked by 10th November: Any questions? Contact the Events team at SAIF on 0345 230 6777 or email events@saif.org.uk
Need an update on funeral related DWP payments?
SAIF Member Webinar: 21st November 3-4 pm Join our webinar with SAIF’s UK Government Liaison, Paul Allcock, to hear the latest news from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP). Paul will meet with representatives of the DWP’s Policy Group Poverty, Families and Disadvantage Directorate. They will cover: SAIF Members register for the webinar here.
SAIF Wales Christmas Dinner – bought your tickets yet?
Not booked yet? Read the menu here to select your options. Make your booking here. Please book your places by 10th November.
Direct cremation webinar for SAIF Members
7th November – 3 pm What is the future of direct cremation? And how should independent funeral directors respond or modify their businesses in a changing world? The answers to these questions and more will be provided in this special webinar focusing on unattended funerals. Building on SAIF’s successful Direct Cremation Toolkit, which is being […]
Booking open for SAIF Wales Christmas Dinner
A warm invitation to SAIF members, associates and friends to the SAIF Wales Christmas Dinner 2024. Join SAIF’s National President Mark Horton and your SAIF colleagues for an evening of festive food, fun and friendship. We’re holding the event at the Diplomat Hotel in Llanelli and hope you’re able to come along on Friday 24th […]