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SAIF Members – join us for the AGM in Brighton on 10th March

SAIF’s Annual General Meeting will take place on Saturday 10th March at The Grand Hotel, Brighton from 9.30 am. Notice of the meeting may be read on the website.  Simply login to the Members’ area and then use this link.  SAIF’s Chief Executive Terry Tennens encourages all members to make the effort to attend the meeting, […]

SAIF Member features in BBC documentary ‘The Youngertakers’

Information from SAIFinsight: A young businessman and independent funeral director has taken a starring role in a new BBC documentary.  Luke Allum, from SAIF Member Luke Allum Funeral Directors in Sheppey, opened his business in September 2017 after working for another independent for a decade.  It was a chance meeting with TV producer Ben Mundy […]

GDPR webinar recording available to SAIF Members

A recording of February’s webinar with Louise Love of Golden Charter is now available for SAIF members to watch.  Louise covered questions which have arisen over the General Data Protection Regulation, which comes into force in May 2018. Members need to login to the Members’ area then use this link.

SAIF Members can now offer best in class bereavement care with SAIF Care

SAIF thanks Catherine Betley of Professional Help for this blog. The SAIF Care service opened to member subscriptions at the beginning of 2018 with a view to officially launching at the SAIF AGM on the 10th March. We’ve been absolutely delighted that so far almost 100 member businesses have joined the service and can now […]

SAIF AGM papers available online for members

Documents for SAIF’s Annual General Meeting are now available for members to read.  Simply login to the Members’ area then select: Membership information Then select AGMs & SGMs The new papers include important information on rule and article changes plus the meeting’s agenda.  

Deaths involving malnutrition are increasing. What’s the cause?

A recent report from The Office of National Statistics (ONS) showed that the number of people dying in hospital with a diagnosis of malnutrition has increased.  One leading charity described the figures as ‘shocking’, but what’s behind the rise? Death due to malnutrition is very uncommon. In 2016 there were 90 deaths given an underlying […]

SAIF Associate Member introduces the environmentally friendly wreath

SAIF Associate Member Secure Haven Urns and Keepsakes Ltd has introduced the Limbo Green Memory Wreath, a new concept that turns the traditional floral tribute into an organic form of remembrances.  The Green Memory Wreath is made up of potted living plants, which are chosen by the family.  The posts are slipped off the wreath […]

Do you need professional training in funeral directing skills?

Do you need professional training in a wide range of funeral related skills? The Independent Funeral Directors’ (IFD) College runs courses for all staff involved in the funeral profession throughout the country. Units include: Health & Safety for Funeral Staff Foundation Funeral Practitioner Funeral Operative Funeral Administrator Learners who successfully gain a pre-determined combination of […]

SAIF Full Member in Erdington

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

SAIF Associate Member in Washington, Tyne & Wear

SAIF has received an application from a prospective associate company in Washington, Tyne & Wear Please log onto the members area and visit the ‘membership pending’ page to see further details.

Help for SAIF Members facing problems with GPs

SAIF has often been contacted by members who have problems with GPs refusing to travel to verify and certify death. Often this also impacts nursing homes, who will only allow the closest funeral directors to remove the deceased, in order to reduce problems with the GP surgery, even if a different funeral director has been […]

SAIF Full Member in Bournemouth

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

SAIF Full Member in Salisbury

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

SAIF Full Member in Golborne

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

SAIF Full Member in Lee, London

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

SAIF Full Member in Lockerbie, Dumfriesshire

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

Funeral Planning Authority will present at SAIF’s AGM on 9th March

SAIF’s Chief Executive Terry Tennens encourages SAIF Members to join us on Friday 9th March to hear a presentation from Graham McAusland of the Funeral Planning Authority.  Graham’s talk on “Regulation of Funeral Plan Marketing” should prove interesting and useful for all funeral professionals.  This will be the first presentation of SAIF’s AGM Banquet Weekend, […]

Free training on GDPR for SAIF Members today at 2pm

SAIF Members are able to join our webinar this afternoon at 2pm on GDPR.  Louise Love of Golden Charter will be answering outstanding questions from the January webinar and responding to any FAQ.  Email SAIF to book your place now.

Notice of SAIF’s AGM on 10th March

SAIF’s Annual General Meeting will take place on Saturday 10th March at The Grand Hotel, Brighton from 9.30 am. Notice of the meeting may be read here.  Simply login to the Members’ area and then use this link.

Impact of the Autumn 2017 Budget for SAIF Members

Important updates from the Autumn 2017 Budget: National Living Wage increase from April 2018 for employees aged 25 and over by 4%, from £7.50 to £7.83. 1% rise in company car tax diesel supplement: if you have any diesel cars in your company fleet, you may need to budget for a higher Class 1A NI […]

Book your places for SAIF’s AGM Banquet Weekend 9th to 11th March

SAIF’s AGM Banquet Weekend will take place at the Grand Hotel, Brighton from 9th to 11th March, with a huge range of activities including the usual Saturday morning AGM, informative business seminars and fun informal events. Find out how to book your accommodation and activities Read the minutes from the 2017 AGM here. (You’ll need to […]

GDPR question and answer session for SAIF Members on 14th February

Recognising the huge impact which the GDPR will have on our members, we are holding another session on the GDPR.  SAIF is delighted that Louise Love of Golden Charter will host this session on 14th February at 2pm.  Louise will be dealing with any outstanding issues from January’s webinar and responding to other questions which […]

HMRC help with payroll changes

Her Majesty’s Revenue Collection (HMRC) is running a series of webinars to provide an overview of changes affecting payroll for the tax year 2018 to 2019. Find out the dates of the webinars here.  The webinars are free, interactive and you can ask questions on the    

Lone working information for SAIF Members

SAIF has provided a help sheet to guide members on safety for lone workers.  The information provides help on identifying those particularly at risk, hazards to watch out for and useful precautions to take.  Members may login to the Members’ area and use this link to download the form.

SAIF’s new president for 2018-19

It is with regret that for personal reasons, 1st Vice President Gary Staker has chosen not to stand as SAIF’s National President at the forthcoming Annual General Meeting in March.  However, the SAIF National Executive Committee have announced that Alun Tucker FSAIF has been nominated as its choice to be National President for 2018-19. Well […]

SAIF Members be prepared for increased tribunal claims in 2018

In 2017 the Supreme Court decided the tribunal fee regime was unlawful. Since 26 July 2017 employees no longer have to pay a fee to bring a tribunal claim. Claims fell around 79% once fees were introduced so you need to be aware that the impact of this decision is that claims are likely to […]

New SAIF probationary membership grade

SAIF now has a new category ‘Probation Membership’, which is open for funeral directors who have less than the requisite 12 months trading or funeral directing experience.  A company is able to hold the Probationary Membership grade for 12 months.  The purpose of the grade is to allow a new funeral director to benefit from guidance from […]

Book your places for SAIF’s AGM at Brighton from 9th to 11th March

SAIF’s AGM Banquet Weekend will take place at the Grand Hotel, Brighton from 9th to 11th March, with a huge range of activities including the usual Saturday morning AGM, informative business seminars and fun informal events. Find out how to book your accommodation and activities Read the minutes from the 2017 AGM here. (You’ll need to […]

SAIF members can now offer bereavement counselling to their clients

SAIF Care is a bereavement counselling service which SAIF members can offer to clients who are struggling to cope with the death of a loved one.  The service provides free and confidential help for family members or close friends who feel they need extra support. The service includes a telephone helpline, email advice, online chat facility and […]

How can funeral directors support people bereaved by suicide?

By Sarah Bates, Executive Lead of the Support after Suicide Partnership The Support after Suicide Partnership is the UK’s hub for over 35 organisations who support people affected by suicide. We do this through research, advocacy, signposting and innovative practice. We believe that everyone bereaved or affected by suicide should be offered timely and appropriate […]

SAIF Full Member in Dorridge, West Midlands

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

SAIF Full Member in Gwynedd

SAIF has received an application from a funeral director with branches in Bangor & Porthmadog, Gwynedd Please log onto the members area and visit the ‘membership pending’ page to see further details.

Changes to funeral expenses payments – update for SAIF Members

SAIF has learnt this update from the Department of Work & Pensions (DWP) regarding funeral expenses payments.  The amount of the payment does not change but from 2nd April 2018: Claimants will be enabled to receive contributions from charities, relatives or friends without them being deducted from the overall sum payable toward funeral costs. In future, […]

World Cancer Day 2018 is 4th February

World Cancer Day is a truly global event which takes place every year on 4th February. It aims to save millions of preventable deaths each year by raising awareness and education about the disease, pressing governments and individuals across the world to take action. Currently, 8.8 million people die from cancer worldwide every year, out of […]

Brahms Electric Vehicles is creating hearses for the future

Brahms Electric Vehicles is the UK’s first and only electric hearse manufacturer and is a new Associate Member of SAIF. Brahms is keen to work with SAIF funeral directors to deliver a gentle and modern funeral transport for the bereaved.  Steve Cousins, Brahms Director says, “We began making hybrid hearses in 2011.  Since 2013 we […]

Warning to SAIF Members: avoid Captain Joe’s scam

SAIF highlighted several times during 2017 the email about the captain of a fishing vessel whose wife had passed away on holiday in Texas.  Apparently the fictional sea captain is still at sea and still looking for a funeral company to care for his poor wife.  Our advice is to not waste your time with Captain Joe or […]

SAIF AGM Banquet Weekend – book accommodation and activities now

We’re really looking forward to SAIF’s 2018 AGM and Banquet Weekend at The Grant Hotel in Brighton from 9th to 11th March.  Remember that you need to book: your accommodation directly with the hotel.  Please ring 01273 224 300 (option 1), quoting SAIF160318, the event name and date all activities and dining with SAIF, either: online […]

Reduce sickness days with Wellbeing days – advice from SAIF HR Resource Centre

This information is sourced from: Tips & Advice Personnel Research suggests that over 39 million working days were lost to sickness absence in the last year. To prevent them, some experts are suggesting employers introduce “wellbeing days”. Is this a good idea? Findings. According to a survey conducted by Citation, 39 million working days were […]

Items for sale by SAIF Members

Are you a SAIF funeral director and have a vehicle or equipment that you wish to sell?  You are able to promote your items here free of charge to other SAIF Members for one month.  If you are interested in selling any items, please email a short description and a photo. To view what’s currently for sale, login […]

HMRC Help with tax returns for small businesses

Her Majesty’s Revenue Collection (HMRC) has a variety of useful online support if you need help with your tax return. HMRC’s YouTube channel has a range of short videos on ‘Self Assessment’ covering topics such as: Expenses if you’re self-employed Paying your Self Assessment tax bill Viewing your calculation For more information dip into the ‘business […]

SAIF Associate Member (Belfast & St Helens)

SAIF has received an application from an associate with offices in Belfast & St Helens. Please log onto the members area and visit the ‘membership pending’ page to see further details.

SAIF Full Member in Denham, Buckinghamshire

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

Foundation for Infant Loss Training is holding a bereavement photography session

The Foundation for Infant Loss Training has been working with bereaved families for over a decade. In 2017 they were acknowledged at The Good Funeral Guide Awards (finalist for Lifetime Achievement) for Their work in infant loss.  They will be holding a one day bereavement photography course in Birmingham on 8th March, which includes how to deliver […]

Important update for SAIF Members – Changes to electronic transmission of cremation forms

We recently updated SAIF Members about the Cremation (England and Wales) (Amendment) Regulations 2017 from the Ministry of Justice which will come into force on 6th April 2018. A major change will address the electronic transmission of cremation forms.  Any form in Schedule 1 can be signed electronically and ‘electronic signature’ will have the meaning […]

GDPR Webinar for SAIF Members on 10th January

SAIF Members are welcome to attend this online seminar on 10th January from 2pm to 3pm which will cover: Key changes to data protection Golden Charter’s commitment to GDPR  The FD as a data controller The FD as a data processor Support and tools from Golden Charter Questions The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) is the […]

SAIF Full Member (Branches in Suffolk & Norfolk)

SAIF has received an application from a funeral director with branches in Suffolk & Norfolk. Please log onto the members area and visit the ‘membership pending’ page to see further details.

Scam warning: fake Google Adwords

SAIF was contacted by a Member warning about a company pretending to call from Google Adwords threatening that the funeral company’s position would be reduced if they didn’t make a payment of almost £180.

SAIF Members’ webinar on GDPR on 10th January: extra places available

SAIF Members are welcome to attend this online seminar on 10th January from 2pm to 3pm which will cover: Key changes to data protection Golden Charter’s commitment to GDPR  The FD as a data controller The FD as a data processor Support and tools from Golden Charter Questions The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) is the […]

HR advice for SAIF Members on Auto-Enrolment Pension Scheme

Happy New Year to SAIF Members from all of us at SAIF Business Centre. At the beginning of the year, you may be preparing your budget.  One importance change to factor in is an increase in the minimum amount of employer contributions paid into your auto-enrolment pension scheme. Ensure that if your company is paying […]