The Training Programme

Before you can be accepted onto this programme, you must undertake a pre-training writing assessment. As long as this assessment meets the required standard, you will be offered the opportunity to begin the training programme.

Training is in 2 stages, distance learning training, followed by residential training. Once embarked on, the training programme must be completed within 6 months.

Stage 1: Distance Learning Training
The distance-learning element of the course provides a great deal of background knowledge including an overview of: grief theory, bereavement awareness, funerals in the UK, communicating with bereaved families, business skills and other essential information!

You must allow plenty of time to complete this stage of the training and for assessment to take place before stage 2. You will of course, be working at your own pace during this stage so it is not possible to estimate how long it will take you to complete. But please remember that we must receive your work from stage 1 at least 4 weeks before the residential training begins, for assessment and all the necessary administration to take place.

Stage 2: Residential Training
The training is challenging and immensely practical! You will visit a local crematorium and deliver a tribute as well as attending a local cemetery as a part of the tuition on conducting burials. Video playback is used in delivery coaching sessions and you will get considerable practice in interviewing techniques and writing funeral scripts. A large amount of reference resource is also available throughout the week. You will meet different funeral directors and gain an insight into working alongside them. We will also advise you how to promote your services.

The residential training has a reputation for being hard work, intensive but thoroughly enjoyable and extremely rewarding!

Tutors:
Anne Barber, Professor Tony Walter, Marilyn Watts & John Valentine

By the end of the training programme you will have learnt:

How to set up a self-employed business, promote and administer your business.
To explain the funerals that you conduct to others and understand the funeral industry in the UK
How to put together the essential structure of a funeral for a burial or a cremation, including the appropriate inclusion of both secular and religious content and appropriate music and poetry.
To know what constitutes a good funeral and be aware of potential pitfalls.
How to sensitively interview bereaved clients to obtain relevant information and effectively translate the information into a well written, accurate funeral ceremony script.
How to deliver the funeral ceremony with confidence and sensitivity.
How to make the best use of space available at funerals and use movement to best effect
How to create appropriate scattering of ashes and memorial ceremonies
How to present families with a beautifully presented script to keep

Fees:
Click here for details of fees

It is an important decision to train as a funeral celebrant, please call us to learn more about the training programme and discuss your interest.