News & Views

Many funeral directors are reporting an increase in families asking for direct cremations. It's important that people know exactly what they include and don't. This helpful blog explains.

Very welcome news from the Government on the Funeral Expenses Payment. Speeding up the claim process is a positive step in the right direction and will be appreciated by families.

Dr Jason Shannon has been appointed to the role of Lead Medical Examiner for Wales. Dr Shannon will oversee the Wales Medical Examiner Service that will scrutinise all deaths across a local area that do not fall under a Coroner’s jurisdiction.

Living funerals are becoming a thing. If you're an independent funeral director and have been asked to organise one, please let us know.

Independent funeral directors do amazing things for their community. Just like SAIF member Binder & Sons, Independent Family Funeral Directors in Harold Hill which is offering its shopfront as a safe space for young people should they find themselves in need of a refuge.

Have you seen FuneralAdvice.org yet? Great to see SAIF Past President and independent funeral director Gemma O'Driscoll of GE O'Driscoll and Daughters Independent Funeral Directors talking about why we've set up this helpful new website.

Calling all SAIF members! Please do support our annual charity challenge which this year is in aid of Breast Cancer Care, SAIF President Jim Auld's chosen charity. Our intrepid fundraisers will be taking part in the July 13/14 Peak District Challenge 2019, in which 3,000 people cover a combined 100,000km in 24 hours. https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/saifpeak2019

Congratulations to W Sherry & Sons for raising such a fantastic amount of money for the Shooting Star Children’s Hospices. It's brilliant to see strong partnerships between our profession and the third sector. https://www.funeralservicetimes.co.uk/news/charity/2019/06/20/w-sherry-and-sons-raise-3000-for-local-hospice/

Great session on how regulation of the funeral profession could affect independent businesses by our Chief Executive, Terry Tennens, at the Cremation & Burial Communication & Education 2019 conference today. We've blogged about the points he covered here. https://saif.org.uk/2019/07/saif-chief-executive-offers-insights-on-future-of-profession

Our Chief Executive Terry Tennens will be talking about regulation of the funeral profession tomorrow at the Cremation & Burial Communication & Education conference in Southampton. http://cbce.org.uk/2019/papers-speakers#Terry

The technical issue at the SAIF Business Centre has now been resolved. Thank you for your patience.

Please be advised that due to a technical issue, emails that are sent to and from the SAIF Business Centre may not be received. We apologise for any inconvenience caused and hope to have the issue resolved within the next 24 hours.

Dozens of independent funeral directors are participating in the Competition and Markets Authority funeral market investigation to help the authority gain a clear picture of this important sector.

We know that SAIF members offer great value and quality. To help the public understand this, it's important to put your prices online.

Some excellent points made at the Commons' Work and Pensions Committee meeting this week by SAIF Government Liaison Officer and Past President Paul Allcock on the inadequacy of the social fund payment and the need for the Department for Work and Pensions - DWP to fund simple funeral options for those without the means to pay for this important service. https://parliamentlive.tv/Event/Index/a4419521-2e7f-46ef-9ec0-220c02c52d5e

We've launched funeraladvice.org, a new website aimed at helping consumers to better understand the funeral process and find organisations offering bereavement support. Take a look and if you're a funeral director please put a link to the site on your website.

SAIF Chief Executive Terry Tennens and SAIF President Jim Auld give their reflections on the National Funeral Exhibition 2019.

Joanna Williams, of Professional Help, talks to Ross Hickton of TEW Hickton Ltd about the benefits of the SAIF Care free bereavement counselling service.

SAIF President Jim Auld and Chief Executive Terry Tennens will be on the SAIF stand (No. 435) at this weekend's National Funeral Exhibition. They're looking forward to talking to visitors about our work representing the nation's independent funeral firms.

Building on the success of 2017's show, the SAIF team is looking forward to meeting visitors at this weekend's National Funeral Exhibition 7th - 9th June 2019. Come and join us on stand 435 for a cuppa and chat about all things funeral-related. 🤝☕️🙂