My Commitment

 As a member of the Academy of Professional Celebrants (APC), I am committed to providing the highest quality funeral celebrant services.  The APC is a leading training and membership organisation for funeral celebrants, setting professional standards and providing ongoing support and development for its members.  My membership signifies my dedication to upholding these standards and offering compassionate, personalised and meaningful funeral ceremonies.

About the Academy of Professional Celebrants (APC)

The APC is dedicated to promoting excellence in funeral celebrancy. They offer comprehensive training programs, ensuring that members are equipped with the skills and knowledge necessary to create and conduct sensitive and appropriate funeral services.  The Academy's commitment to ongoing professional development means that members are kept up-to-date with best practices and are supported in their continuing growth as celebrants.

 What APC Membership Means for You:

• Professionalism: My membership in the APC demonstrates my commitment to professional conduct and ethical practices. I adhere to the APC's code of conduct, ensuring that I act with integrity, empathy and respect in all my dealings with bereaved families.
• Quality:  I have been trained to create and deliver personalized ceremonies that reflect the unique life and personality of the deceased and have over 25 years experience building upon that training.
• Support: Being part of the APC network provides me with access to ongoing support and resources, enabling me to continually improve my skills and offer the best possible service to families.
• Accountability: The APC provides a framework for accountability, ensuring that members are held to high standards. This gives you confidence in the service you will receive.

The Funeral Celebrant Accord defines the attributes and skills required of an excellent funeral celebrant and is intended to set the standards by which all celebrants offering funeral services should be measured.

The role of a funeral celebrant is to serve the bereaved and their community by creating and leading a personal, accurate and respectful funeral ceremony.

Their work should clearly reflect the life, values and beliefs of the person who has died, acknowledge and give time to their community of family and friends, and create an environment in which the grieving process can be held and supported.

An excellent funeral celebrant:

• 1. Is professional
• 2. Cares for their clients
• 3. Is calm and shows natural leadership
• 4. Writes personalized ceremonies
• 5. Cares about their self-development

By displaying the ‘I’ve adopted the Celebrancy Accord’ symbol, celebrants are confirming that they are willing to be measured against the attributes and skills defined in the Funeral Celebrant Accord detailed on their web page.

Use of the Accord symbol does not imply that the Funeral Celebrancy Council endorses either the individual or the standard of their work and the Funeral Celebrancy Council can not be held responsible for any individual failing to deliver best practice. 

This agreement outlines the most important expectations of an outstanding funeral celebrant and is intended to act as a benchmark by which all funeral celebrants can be measured. In adopting this charter a funeral celebrant is committing to the following minimum requirements:

• Act to the highest possible standard of professional and personal conduct at all times.
• Ensure you can be easily contacted and respond to all contact promptly.
• Be organised and work within the necessary timeframes.
• Dress appropriately and be well groomed.
• Develop and maintain good relationships with other professionals, such as funeral directors and cemetery/crematorium staff.
• Have a demeanour that blends empathy with leadership.
• Have sufficient IT skills to commit to producing professional written materials.
• Understand the law surrounding GDPR and the need for confidentiality.
• Possess Personal Liability and Indemnity Insurance.
• Work closely with clients to write and deliver a ceremony which accurately reflects the character and values of the person who has died.
• Whenever possible, meet with the client in person before writing the ceremony.
• Offer to meet with the client at a time and place that suits them best, whether that be at home, online, or somewhere else. Make sure the time slot is open-ended so that they don’t feel rushed.
• Show clear understanding of the difficult nature of bereavement and the overwhelming list of tasks that occur in the days after a death.
• Portray yourself as a calm and confident character who is capable of making others feel reassured.
• Be skilled at listening and gathering information with gentle and sensitive questions.
• Clearly demonstrate an approach which is flexible, non-judgemental, open and sensitive which allows the client to feel a sense of trust.
• Allow family and friends as much involvement as they would like in planning the funeral ceremony.
• Provide the client with a written draft of the ceremony in good time prior to the day itself, in order that they have chance to communicate any feedback or changes.
• Respect the personal beliefs of the person who has died and reflect these in the ceremony when requested, and not allow your own beliefs to be promoted instead.
• Support the client in choosing music, readings and other elements of the ceremony.
• Provide accurate information about the services you offer and the prices of such services.
• Be present to greet the client at the start of the funeral and be there to offer assistance at the end of it.

By displaying the ‘I’ve adopted the Celebrant Charter’ symbol, I confirm that I am willing to be measured against the attributes and skills defined in the Celebrant Charter detailed on this page.  More information can be found on the United Kingdom Society of Celebrants' website.