January 2018

Welcome to the Institute update

A very warm welcome to our newest members:

Libby Curley, Rebecca White, Carley Naden, Elaine Ford, Jenny Edwards and Colin Dunn.

Council Update

By now you should have all received a letter as a separate update but if you haven’t please contact Barbara and she will put one in the post to you.

GDPR

Following on from the conference weekend in October a lot of work has already been undertaken by Barbara on how the General Data Protection Regulations, which come into force in May 2018, will affect Institute Members in their own individual businesses. There are five main principles being applied to any data that is gathered – that it is fair and lawful, it is collected with purpose, it remains adequate and accurate, and storage is maintained in line with GDPR regulations.

Those of you who have had sight of the new regulations will realise that this is a very large piece of work in understanding how it will affect the Institute and its members. As celebrants you will be the data processors and any permissions needed for you to make contact with families will be done via the Funeral Director, who will be the data controller; the FD will need to gain permission from the family to pass their details to you. Thereafter the work carried out by the celebrant fits within the contract held between the Funeral Director and the family.

However, permission will be required to enable the celebrant to pass the family’s contact information to Barbara so that she can request feedback via the feedback form. This is already done by way of a verbal agreement however so that it fits within the remit of the GDPR, a signature will now be required from families as written consent will need to be given. Some members may have a problem with this, I know I do, asking for a signature during what can sometimes be a very sensitive meeting so Council is looking at ways to make this as easy as possible. Further guidance regarding this aspect of our work will follow shortly, along with guidance regarding storage etc.

One thing to remember though is that GDPR only applies to the ‘still living’ so any information you collect regarding the deceased will not be subject to the new regulations.

Seminar and A.G.M. Dates 2018

At the Council meeting in early December dates were set for a Spring seminar day and an Autumn seminar day/AGM. Following on from a successful seminar day at Greenacres Burial Park in Beaconsfield earlier this year, it was decided to run a similar event in a northern location. The aim is to hold these days in different parts of the country to allow easier access for all members. Further details will follow in due course but please note the first one will be held in Doncaster on Saturday 28th April.

You will be aware that the decision has been taken to only run a full conference weekend every other year but as an AGM is required to be held every year this will be run in conjunction with a seminar day. In 2017 a successful day/AGM was held at The Beeches in Bourneville and we will be returning there on Saturday 13th October 2018.

As ever your views on the content of these days is really important therefore if you have any topics that you would like to be discussed please contact Barbara.

Facebook

The Facebook page continues to be a marvellous tool for gathering information and supporting each other through difficult and tricky situations. A recent post raised the issue of wearing our gold badge. The responses overwhelmingly showed that the majority of members values it and wear it with pride. However, can I gently remind everyone that wearing our distinctive gold badge is in fact a clause within the code of conduct for Institute members.

While we take a moment to think about those who are poorly and/or looking after family members at this time, I hope that everyone found some time to relax and enjoy the Christmas break with family and friends, and as we look forward to 2018 I would like to wish everyone a very happy, healthy and prosperous new year.

Karen Hopkins
Chair

Admin

IoCF Out and About

In November the IoCF was represented at the SAIF Education Day in Leicester and at the Independent Celebrants Meeting hosted by CCL at the National Memorial Arboretum in September.

Dying Matters Awareness Week Launch

Dying Matters Awareness Week runs from May 14-20 and as usual they are holding a launch event to help people to get local events off to a flying start. The launch event – Dying Matters in Your Community – takes place on Tuesday 6 February in central London at Woburn House Conference Centre.

A range of speakers will set the scene, provide ideas and inspiration and offer practical advice on how to create and deliver a successful Dying Matters event in your community. There will be a chance to see the range of resources available, talk to others and share ideas, as well as pick up suggestions and materials from the exhibition space.

Further information and ticket sales, £96 inc VAT, can be found online at www.dyingmatters.org/

Parochial Fees

As of the 1st January 2018 the Church of England is raising parochial fees for a funeral service in church, whether taking place before or after burial or cremation, from £182 to £190.

Forthcoming Courses:

Level 4 Advanced Practice Voice and Delivery Skills for Funeral Celebrants – 14th August 2018

Level 4 Advanced Practice Bereavement Interviews – 16th August 2018

Level 4 Advanced Practice Tribute Writing Techniques – 21st August 2018

Level 4 Advanced Practice Child and Baby Funerals – 22 August 2018

You do not have to take the full qualification for the above Level 4 courses; you can attend the course and receive all the coaching, resources and training information. For the qualification you will be required to complete distance learning after the one day session and submit for assessment within 6 weeks. This work is at Level 4 standard and you will receive full certification for each separate course from the awarding body.

For further details please visit www.civilceremonies.co.uk

Diary Dates

6 February - Dying Matters Launch Event, London

22-25 February - Life, Death (and the Rest) – talks etc, Arnos Vale Cemetery, Bristol

9-11 March - SAIF AGM and Banquet Weekend, rand Hotel Brighton

20-22 March - Skeletons, Stories and Social Bodies Conference, University of Southampton

4-7 April - Remember Me: The Changing Face of Memorialisation, University of Hull

28 April - IoCF Seminar Day, Doncaster

14-20 May - Dying Matters Awareness Week, Regional

17-20 May - NAFD Conference and AGM, Radisson BluHotel, Durham

8-9 June - CDAS Conference 2018_ The Politics of Death, University of Bath

13 October - IoCF AGM and Seminar Day, The Beeches, Birmingham

And finally ...

Congratulations to all those members who have reached another milestone in their work:

Chris Knight, Steve Jewell, Kate Baker, Bill Wilde, Gill Warwick, Chris Bruffell, Elaine Skinner, Chris Mills, Faith Oxford, Amanda Bode, Lindis Pattison-Tadman, Chris Price, Sue Holden, Karen Hopkins, May Andrews, Vikki McKeegan, Joy Atkinson and Di Lightowler.

Thank you for reading

CONTACT US

Institute of Civil Funerals, 186a Station Road, Burton Latimer, Kettering, Northamptonshire NN15 5NT

Tel: 01480 861 411

Email: barbara@iocf.org.uk

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