Funeral Service Times August 2017 April 2019

DISPATCHES Funeral director raises £3,500 for Mind Dorset Paul Allcock, SAIF public relations office and past SAIF president In this column, Paul looks at the ways the trade is en- suring it is up to standard amid the CMA investigation Following the announcement by the Commercial Markets Authority that they will be carrying out an investigation into funeral services and crematoria, there has been a noticeable move by almost all associated organisations to carry out their own internal reviews. Within SAIF much work has already been done to improve the code of practice and for members to clearly show pricing on websites as well as in their premises to ensure the public are well informed. This is being done in conjunction with us ensuring our views are heard regarding improving standards across the whole sector through regular inspections. I am aware that NAFD are also working hard to improve standards and I was particularly pleased to recently attend the launch of a new inspection process by FBCA for crematoria. From a personal perspective as a funeral director, I also find myself reviewing my own company practices and facilities. Where I identify anything that I feel can be improved upon, I am then actively putting things in place to achieve this, and I’m certain many of my fellow funeral directors are doing likewise. So it is becoming more evident as each day passes that even without the CMA enforcing change, that change is happening for the better, and this can only be good for both the industry and the consumer. At this stage, however, I have one concern that many respondents to the CMA have shared and that is that cemeteries are not included in the investigation. Undoubtedly the biggest variation in costs is seen within this sector. Some local parish council cemeteries charge similar amounts or even less than the Church of England fees for burial in a churchyard. Whilst others, together with privately owned cemeteries and local authorities charge many thousands of pounds for what on the face of it is an equivalent facility. This can mean that is very much a postcode lottery as to how much it will cost a client to be buried in their local cemetery. So I hope that in due course cemeteries are included in any future investigation, but in the meantime I am pleased to see that improvements are being made right across the funeral sector, pre-empting what the CMA are likely to enforce. www.funeralservicetimes.co.uk Douch Family Funeral Directors held a series of fundraising events for the charity’s Dorset arm A funeral director has raised £3,500 for mental health charity Mind’s Dorset arm. Douch Family Funeral Directors raised the money at a series of fundraising events last year, including an ascent of Mount Snowdon, Halloween fancy dress night and a cheese and wine evening. Funeral directors, Nick Douch and Emma Regan presented the cheque to Dee Swinton and Alexis Stevens from Dorset Mind. The mental health charity has been supporting local people in Dorset with mental health challenges for over 70 years. Although an affiliate of the national Mind, the charity’s Dorset arm generates its own income which means that all donations remain within the county. Nick Douch, managing director of the funeral group, said: “Dorset Mind was our charity of the year for 2018 and our staff really got behind the fundraising. We have also made use of the charity’s services by putting our staff through mental health awareness training that also covered trauma and peer support. “It was hugely beneficial and useful and means our staff know what signs to look out for and what to do. We’d encourage all businesses to consider training their workforces. We have already begun raising money for this year’s charity, Dementia Friends.” Dee Swinton, Dorset Mind’s income generation and marketing manager, added: “We’re extremely grateful to Douch Family Funeral Directors and the staff in all their branches for their efforts – we’ve had a brilliant time working with them over the course of the year.” APRIL 2019 5

Funeral Service Times August 2017 April 2019 | Page 5