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SAIF welcomes Royal London’s Cost Index

2018 Funeral Cost Index shows independent funeral directors offer best value for money Royal London’s National Funeral Cost Index 2018 is a ‘commendable document’ which shines a light on the prices bereaved people are likely to face in saying goodbye to a loved one, the UK’s voice of independent funeral directors has said. The figures […]

Updated publication on managing risks of infection for funeral directors

The Health & Safety Executive (HSE) have updated their advice for those who work with the deceased. The updated publication is called ‘Managing risks when handling the deceased’ and includes a section on funeral premises. Appendix 1 gives a table outlining the application of precautions to key infections. To read the document, either: Download directly […]

New online guide on managing sick pay

Her Majesty’s Revenue & Customs (HMRC) have designed a new online guide for employers that’s interactive, easy to use and available when you are. It’s suitable for new employers and those wanting to refresh their knowledge, the guide covers: periods of incapacity for work (PIW) waiting days qualifying conditions linking periods how much to pay […]

Funeral plans: talk to a funeral director

We watched with interest ITV Tonight’s documentary on the pre-paid funeral plan market, broadcast on Thursday, October 11. The programme highlighted a number of incidences of unacceptable practice by some companies offering funeral plans. At SAIF, we were pleased but unsurprised to see that our preferred funeral plan provider Golden Charter was not mentioned. Golden […]

The Funeral Poverty Question?

SAIF thanks Paul Allcock, Past President for his monthly blog. I constantly struggle with the term Funeral Poverty! What does this mean? Why is it given this title? Why do we also hear so much about funeral poverty? It is quite common for people to need a new boiler costing £2-3000, but I’ve never heard […]

World Mental Health Day marked with a new Minister for Suicide Prevention

The Prime Minister also announced today that health minister Jackie Doyle-Price will become the UK’s first Minister for Suicide Prevention. In addition, Theresa May revealed new government funding – up to £1.8 million – will help ensure that The Samaritans’ helpline will remain free for the next four years.  This will help the charity to continue […]

Prospective Members in Staffordshire and Cheshire

SAIF has received applications from prospective members in Burton on Trent, Staffordshire and Heaviley, Stockport. Please log onto the members area and visit the ‘membership pending’ page to see further details.

SAIF Members – do you face difficulties with conflict in families?

SAIF is delighted that legal expert Dr Heather Conway will be presenting at our Education Day in Leicester on 31st October. Dr Conway will address how funeral directors can deal with the increasing problem of family disputes. There will also be the chance to hear from Ann Chalmers of Child Bereavement UK and Alan Jeffery of Wesley […]

SAIF’s National President supports Great Ormond Street Hospital

National President Alun Tucker has chosen his charity as the Great Ormond Street Hospital (GOSH).  Jamie and Jade West from West & Coe Ltd have pledged to raise £100,000 for GOSH after the hospital and staff saved their daughter’s life. They have set up a website where you can keep up to date with their […]

Have you renewed your IFD College annual Membership?

Don’t forget to return your completed form to the IFD College Administrator asap if you wish to continue membership of the Independent Funeral Directors College from 1st November 2018. You should have received the form in the post but if you don’t have it, contact Corinne here or call the office on 02179 726777. Remember that […]

Polstead Press announces backing for SAIFSupport

Polstead Press Ltd has announced its backing for SAIF Support, the free support service for SAIF members. The scheme provides advice and guidance for funeral directors and their staff who look after families during the most difficult time of their life, but often neglect their own mental wellbeing. Chris Hutchinson, Managing Director of Polstead Press, […]

Paid leave for bereaved parents to become law

A guaranteed right to bereavement leave and pay for parents who lose a child is expected to come into force in 2010, according to ministers. The legislation, which has already been through the Commons, recently won the support of the Lords. The new rights will give an entitlement to employed parents to take at least […]

Funeral Directors Have Feelings Too

SAIF thanks Inez Capps of Kinton & Daughter Funeral Services Ltd for this month’s blog: My day started at 4am, the phone rings, I wake automatically, look at my phone “unknown number” I go into work mode, lamp goes on, my pen and pad already ready to go: I answer…15 minutes later I am getting ready […]

What’s SAIF Next Generation all about?

SAIF Next Generation was launched in 2017 to provide a forum for emerging leaders of member firms. Its membership is always growing and it needs the support of our members. What Is SAIF Next Generation? The NextGen group has created several platforms for all its members to have a supporting body of likeminded business people who […]

SAIF Acquisitions: Keeping independents independent

SAIF has announced an exciting new professional brokerage service called SAIF Acquisitions, which is aimed at helping independent funeral directors sell their business to other independent funeral directors. SAIF members who are interested in purchasing an independent funeral business will be able to register with SAIF Acquisitions and become an ‘approved buyer’, protected by non-disclosure […]

SAIF welcomes new member F Woodruff in Bristol

New member F Woodruff Funeral Services is an independent funeral director that has been serving the Bristol & South Gloucestershire region for more than 40 years. It has five offices dotted across the area to help families through their darkest hours. It is a family business with former Bristol and England rugby star Austin Sheppard […]

New member application in Plumstead, London

SAIF has received an application from a prospective member in Plumstead, London Please log onto the members area and visit the ‘membership pending’ page to see further details.

Join SAIF at our meetings in Chelmsford or Tunbridge Wells

As a funeral director, your focus is to support your clients in their hour of need. SAIF is here to help support your business through a constantly changing business environment.  Join our regional meetings to gain information and updates on: Funeral profession regulation changes Gaining a competitive edge by offering SAIF Care, our best in […]

SAIF Members – we need your completed GDPR form

If you haven’t already done so, can you please return your completed SAIF GDPR form as soon as possible. We need the form to remain compliant with GDPR regulations and to ensure we can keep you updated with news from SAIF. You’re able to select which type of communications you receive. Simply login to the […]

New Associate Member in Monmouth

SAIF has received an application from a prospective associate member in Monmouth Please log onto the members area and visit the ‘membership pending’ page to see further details.

National Repatriation celebrates third anniversary with charitable donation

National Repatriation is celebrating its third year by devoting a percentage of every service it delivers to Great Ormond Street Hospital (GOSH).  Tom Hathaway, of National Repatriation, said: “National Repatriation (NR) began in August 2015 when I decided to move on from the Independent Funeral Director that I had worked for since 2012. As an […]

The Big Body Storage Question!

SAIF thanks Member Paul Allcock for his monthly blog: Over the past 18 months there have been many questions and indeed criticisms surrounding the quality of the service provided by funeral directors.  The latest being a feature in the Daily Mail amongst others which was as the result of a report by Dignity with the […]

Funeral director training opportunities in October from the IFD College

The Independent Funeral Directors’ (IFD) College provides training tailored to suit anyone working in the industry, from a part time driver to a full funeral director. It is also suitable for those who have just entered the profession or funeral directors who have many years’ experience.  The IFD College receives its accreditation from One Awards who also provide the external […]

New SAIF Webinar recordings available

The following SAIF Webinar recordings are available for members to watch. To access the website, simply login to the Members’ area then use this link to access Previous Webinars. If you have problems with this, please contact SAIF Business Centre on 0345 230 6777. For each webinar, there is a webinar recording plus the PowerPoint slides used […]

Independents offer best value – Funeral Cost Index

Royal London’s National Funeral Cost Index 2018 is a commendable document which shines a light on the prices bereaved people are likely to pay in saying goodbye to a loved one. The figures show that funeral directors have clearly acted in the public interest and have reduced their fees in recent years. The report also […]

Professional training for funeral staff in Sawbridgeworth, Herts on 25th September 2018

Do you have staff members who would benefit from training in a wide range of funeral related skills?  The Independent Funeral Directors’ (IFD) College is running two courses in Sawbridgeworth, Hertfordshire: 25th September: 09.30 – 12.30 Health and Safety for Funeral Professionals  25th September 13.00 – 16.00 Foundation Funeral Practitioner  The IFD College allows students to train at […]

Join SAIF at a regional meeting near you in September

With many people returning to work from holiday breaks and children returning to classrooms, SAIF is once again out on the road. This September we’ll be visiting: 18th September – Margate 25th September – Chelmsford, plus a free Dementia Friends training session 26th September – Tunbridge Wells Click the links to find out more and […]

Renewal of Membership of the IFD College

Members of the Independent Funeral Directors College are obliged to provide evidence of 12 hours of Continuing Professional Development (CPD) to continue their membership from 1st November 2018 and a letter has been put in the post to all current Members.   Details of CPD for this year should be provided by 30th September 2018 for continued […]

How deadly was this year’s heatwave?

This report is from the Office of National Statistics: Weeks of relentless warm weather have triggered reports of a spike in heat-related deaths, with some claiming the heatwave has now cost hundreds of lives. As Nick Stripe explains, those claims are not supported by the published data – but a summer spike in heat-related deaths […]

Last chance for early bird tickets at SAIF’s Education Day

The final date for reduced price tickets for SAIF’s Education Day is 31st August. Book your tickets here. Our annual Education Day will once again be packed with updates on the latest information funeral professionals need to know, plus the opportunity to visit exhibitors and a celebration of  students at the Independent Funeral Directors College. We have […]

SAIF Associate Application in Ipswich, Suffolk

SAIF has received an application from a prospective associate member in Ipswich, Suffolk. Please log onto the members area and visit the ‘membership pending’ page to see further details.

SAIF Full Member in Barry, Vale of Glamorgan

SAIF has received an application from a full member in Barry, Vale of Glamorgan Please log onto the members area and visit the ‘membership pending’ page to see further details.

Going green with eco-funerals

Article source: SAIFInsight Magazine July 2018 Coffin manufacturer LifeArt believes that Britain could significantly reduce the amount of air pollution caused by cremations if funeral directors switched from using traditional MDF or particleboard coffins to those made with more environmentally friendly materials.  LifeArt, which manufactures coffins with ‘enviroboard’ at its factory in Gloucestershire, commissioned research […]

How do you help a family bereaved by suicide?

SAIF thanks Sarah Bates, the Executive Lead of the Support after Suicide Partnership (SASP) for this month’s external blog. At SASP we are working with SAIF so that, together, we can support those who come through the door of a Funeral Directors’ after a suicide. We would also like to support Funeral Directors who work […]

SAIF Full Member Application in Evesham

SAIF has received an application from a full member in Evesham Please log onto the members area and visit the ‘membership pending’ page to see further details.

Good luck to SAIF Members at the Good Funeral Awards

Great to see so many SAIF members being nominated in this year’s Good FuneralAwards 2018, including: LifeArt Coffins Coles Funeral Directors DJ Bewleys Funeral Directors Guy Elliott Tributes Ltd Wessex Funeral Services Rounce Funeral Services Rosedale Funeral Home Button & Family Funeral Services Rowland Brothers Holmes and Family Full Circle Funerals Scattering Ashes Best wishes […]

Have you completed SAIF’s GDPR form yet?

If you haven’t already done so, can you please return your completed SAIF GDPR form as soon as possible. We need the form to remain compliant with GDPR regulations and to ensure we can keep you updated with news from SAIF. You’re able to select which type of communications you receive. Simply login to the […]

Learn something new at SAIF’s Education Day on 31st October

SAIF’s annual Education Day will once again be packed with updates on the latest information funeral professionals need to know, plus the opportunity to visit exhibitors and a celebration of  students at the Independent Funeral Directors College. We have a wide range of speakers this year, including: Ann Chalmers of Child Bereavement UK presenting on ‘Addressing Children’s […]

SAIF welcomes new member Hillier Funeral Services in Swindon

Hillier Funeral Services has opened its third premises in Swindon. The fourth-generation firm, which has been providing care and attention to the community since 1923, has transformed a former garage in Highworth.  The opening was featured in the Swindon Advertiser where Funeral Arranger Becky Hillier explained: “It was very difficult to find a property to […]

Book now for Manchester’s 7th International Bereavement Conference on 26th September

There will be 15 speakers at this year’s conference, including: Dr Sharon McDonnell: ‘The Impact of Suicide: Preliminary Findings for The National Suicide Bereavement Survey’ Sharon is the Managing Director of Suicide Bereavement UK and Honorary Research Fellow at the University of Manchester.  She is currently leading the UK suicide bereavement online survey, which is […]

Need professional training for your funeral staff? IFD College training in Sawbridgeworth, Herts on 25th September

Do you have staff members who would benefit from training in a wide range of funeral related skills?  The Independent Funeral Directors’ (IFD) College is running two courses in Sawbridgeworth, Hertfordshire: 25th September: 09.30 – 12.30 Health and Safety for Funeral Professionals  25th September 13.00 – 16.00 Foundation Funeral Practitioner  The IFD College allows students to train at […]

Raising SAIF’s profile with our new communications consultant

SAIF is working with Communications Consultant Mark Binnersley to help raise our profile in the funeral profession and represent the views of independent funeral directors across national, regional and broadcast media.  Mark joined us in July 2018 and already we have contributed to discussions around funeral costs, the funeral price war and the development of […]

SAIF welcomes new member Herbert Murray in Sale, Cheshire

Herbert Murray Funeral Directors was opened in March 2018 by Robbie Murray and Steph Douglas, who met while working for a larger company. They both felt that by becoming an independent funeral home they would be able to provide a more personal service. Robbie and Steph firmly believe in being at the heart of the […]

HSBC Scam

One of our members have informed the SAIF Business Centre of the following scam: “A man with a Scottish accent phoned asking for our sort code and account number to pay off an account. He couldn’t give us our reference number as he was far too busy. He said he would supply it after the […]

What are your thoughts on children attending funerals?

In this month’s blog, SAIF’s Paul Allcock explores the issue of how to involve children in a funeral. I am frequently asked if a child should be allowed to see the deceased in the chapel of rest or attend the funeral. In my personal opinion, children, along with any other family member should be involved as […]

RoadPeace annual ceremony of remembrance – 11th August at the National Memorial Arboretum

Every year on the second Saturday of August, during National Road Victim month, a ceremony of remembrance is held at RoadPeace Wood at the National Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire.  The next annual Ceremony of Remembrance at the RoadPeace Wood will be on: Saturday 11th August 2018, from 2 PM. All are invited to attend this annual ceremony where we gather […]

SAIF New Full Member Applicant in Milton Keynes

SAIF has received an application from a funeral director in Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire Please log onto the members area and visit the ‘membership pending’ page to see further details.

Are you offering SAIF Care Bereavement Services to your clients yet?

The SAIF Care Bereavement service began in in January this year, with a formal launch at our AGM in March. Since then we have been delighted to welcome well in excess of 125 SAIF member businesses to the service. Through this network of over 260 funeral director branches offering the service, we are able to offer […]