Funeral Service Times August 2017 October 2018 | Page 16

16 SOAPBOX: AOIC
To be, or not to be, a member of a
professional trade association?
That is the question looked at by Philip Spicksley, the executive
chair of the Association of Independent Celebrants (AOIC), in his
latest column
I
t is always good to speak to other
celebrants within the industry and
so pleasing that such a large number
of professionals are choosing to
join a reputable trade body. There
are a variety of different associations,
federations and groups out there, each
with their own aims, objectives and views
about what a ‘good celebrant’ should
comply with.
However, there are many more
independent celebrants who do not think
that it is necessary to belong such an
organisation at all – and of course this is a
personal choice, we are all individuals and
self-employed. There are times when all
celebrants need support, and this is when
a good trade body or association comes
into its own.
For example, many of us have had
to deal with a family at war with each
OCTOBER 2018
other. We spot such issues often at
funerals, where one side of the family
sits on one side of the chapel, with the
remaining members sitting opposite. In
my experience, the most common cause
of family arguments appears to be when
two siblings cannot agree on the format of
a service. Perhaps a brother or sister have
been absent for a number of years before
the death of a parent, leaving another
sibling as the main carer. They return in
the latter stages of their parent’s life and
problems can then arise.
In my role as president and now
executive chair of the Association of
Independent Celebrants (AOIC), I have
dealt with a number of complaints from
families, on behalf of members. And the
problems always seem to be the same:
“The celebrant has not included what I
wanted.”
When enquiries are made into the
conduct of the member, the same result
always seems to appear - the complaint
has been made by a sibling or member
of the family who is not the client of the
funeral director and therefore not the
client of the celebrant. The celebrant can
only work to the instructions of the ‘client’
and while we will always try to please
all, it is sometimes not possible. Only by
belonging to a reputable trade body will
celebrants have someone to fight their
corner and support their good name and
future business.
On a different subject regarding trade
memberships, fees sometimes come
into question. Fees for membership vary
widely but I am a firm believer that, at the
end of the day you get what you pay for.
Some charge for public liability insurance
while some will include professional
indemnity too, others don’t. Some offer
support lines and, like the AOIC, some
employ members of staff to be at the end
of a phone to carry out administration and
be at the beck and call of the member.
The AOIC even provides professional
support and advice through Saif Assist
for members who may need professional
personal advice during a particularly
stressful time. Like the AOIC, some are
associate or provider members to the
NAFD and SAIF, thus gaining the support
of the professional trade bodies in the
funeral industry. At the end of the day,
everyone, at some time needs support in
one way or another.
Yes, we can all get help in an informal
way, for example by conversing on social
media with suggestions and tips. But that
will not help you when something goes
wrong and someone tries to make a ‘no
win - no pay’ claim against you. It is at
that point that any celebrant will need
professional help, support and more
importantly professional indemnity.
Finally, I would like all funeral directors
to consider how they can make the
celebrant industry more professional. I
would like all of you who are reading this
article to give this some thought – as next
month I will be returning to the subject
and looking at the responsibilities of the
funeral director.
For more on the AOIC go to www.
independentcelebrants.com
www.funeralservicetimes.co.uk