The Celebrant Accord
Slide 1
Slide 1

The Funeral Celebrant Accord

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 personalised ceremonies
5. Cares about their self-development
Celebrant Accord
Celebrant Accord

1. Is professional

  • They are easy to contact, friendly, approachable, and communicate well with fellow professionals. They are prompt, reliable, efficient and organised. They are able to remain open and empathetic, at the same time as recognising the professional stance necessary to lead the funeral appropriately.
  • They have good computer and IT skills that support effective communication and produce professional looking scripts that can be offered as keepsakes.
  • They are GDPR aware and compliant; work confidentially, and have Personal Liability Insurance and Indemnity Insurance.
  • They are well groomed and appropriately dressed.

2. Cares for their clients

  • They offer to visit clients at home, and give as much time as is needed for the interview and to create the funeral ceremony.
  • They are inclusive, flexible and non-judgmental.
  • They engender trust through openness, sensitivity and confidentiality.
  • They are willing to involve family and friends in creating the funeral, and offer to send the script for approval before the funeral.
  • They meet and greet their clients at the venue, and are available immediately after the funeral ceremony.
  • They understand that a successful funeral is one that serves and supports the bereaved and reflect the life, values and beliefs of the person who has died.

3. Is calm and shows natural leadership

  • They have a calm and reassuring presence, providing gentle leadership without seeking to be the centre of attention.
  • They are a clear, confident and engaging speaker with a range of pace and intonation.
  • They are responsive to what is happening in the room and the environment, and are able to think on their feet and adapt where necessary.

4. Writes personalised ceremonies

  • Every ceremony is unique, and created following a detailed and extensive interview with the relevant family and community of the person who has died, whenever possible.
  • Every ceremony draws out and encourages the family’s own tastes in culture and literature, using the celebrants own knowledge and resources as appropriate.
  • Every ceremony is meaningful, inspiring and well structured, with a script that accurately reflects the life, values and beliefs of the person who has died.
  • Every ceremony includes language and ritual that is appropriate to the family they serve.

5. Cares about their self-development

  • They are on a continuing path of personal and professional development to keep informing and improving the profound and varied demands of celebrancy work.

Testimonials

  • Dougie conducted my Mum's funeral service last week. I found him to be a very genuine, pleasant, witty and compassionate man and he did all he could to ensure my Mum got the send off she so deserved.

    A very patient and friendly guy.

    I highly recommend Dougie.

    Karine McGowan

  • We just wanted to take a minute to again thank you for everything you have done for us. You gave an amazing tribute to our dad it sounded as if he was telling his life story himself.

    Every person there commented on how absolutely fitting the tribute was.

    You are a very talented man.

    You will never know how much we appreciate what you did.

  • Just wanted to thank you sooo much for the beautiful service yesterday...it meant so much and Mum would have said " he's fabulous" so i'm saying it for her.

    You were amazing support and Mum would have wanted to adopt you for that!

    Thanks for sharing in the dance out!! Soo Mum who always said...'why not' i just felt we need to dance for her.

    Thank you again Dougie

    Vikki

  • Dougie delivered an outstanding service for my dads funeral last week, and uncles the month before..

    We had so many texts and Facebook messages saying what a great job Dougie did, complete natural at what he does.

    We gave him the jokes and stories that my dad did and he delivered them in a way as if he knew my dad his full life great send off and had people smiling at the grave side

    Highly recommend.

    Dougie thanks very much from my family.

    Robert Storrie

  • I just wanted to send a short email to say thank for helping us lay Craig to rest yesterday.

    It was such a sad, difficult day for us all, but the service was warm and touching.

    Thank you again, and keep safe.

    Kim McLachlan

  • We first met Douglas when we were arranging my uncles funeral he helped us so much and delivered such a fitting tribute to my uncle I thought this man was excellent at what he does.

    Sadly very soon after my uncle we were organising my father's funeral and I knew Douglas was the only person I could trust to give my dad the tribute he deserved. My dad was only 59 however he was a legend and Douglas delivered a service that was truly fitting to the legend my dad was. I consider Douglas to be a bit of a legend too.

    I hope not to have to use Douglas's services again anytime soon but would highly recommend to anyone who sadly finds themselves needing to have a funeral service to allow him to help you.

    Thank you once again for everything you have done.

    Leigh Gemmell

  • Dougie recently delivered the tribute at my Father’s funeral.  He did an immense job and in some ways made a difficult day easier for family & close friends as he delivered such a great tribute.

    The engagement from Dougie from the start was great as well.

    I would highly recommend Dougie and wouldn’t hesitate to trust him again (no offence Dougie but hopefully not anytime soon!)

    Elaine Wood

  • I just wanted to thank you for today.

    It was a beautiful service and I think my mum would have found it fitting.

    I’ve spoken to those who attended the service and friends and family who watched on the webcast, all were very complementary.

    I thank you and i’m so very grateful for all you have done.

    Louise

  • I'd just like to pass on a heartfelt thank you from all the family for the service you delivered on Friday.  You managed to reflect at a really difficult time how much my mum meant to us all. 

    I really appreciated the time you took before Friday to make sure that you had all the information you needed.  On the day, you were so calm and organised and the little touches of humor when you spoke helped everyone as well. 

    My dad in particular was very comforted by the whole service - he's said that he felt her life was done justice by the send off.  I think that's all that anyone can ask.

    Sheena

  • Thank you so much Dougie You did a fantastic job delivering the service at my brother’s funeral.

    It was very genuine and a great comfort to all the family .Would definitely recommend you to anyone looking for a celebrant.

    Once again thank you so much it was a great comfort to us.

    Joyce Bowie

  • I would just like to express our thanks from the Graham family for the lovely service that you conducted today at Woodside Crematorium for Andy.

    At these very difficult times you helped us pay tribute to Andy as best we could and included everything that we requested.

    Here is a virtual handshake from us all.

    Pauline Berry

  • Thank you so much for the service you performed today. We could not have asked for more.

    Your words were perfect and all the family appreciated how personal it was.

    You helped us with saying our final goodbyes and we cannot thank you enough.

    Charlene Lai

  • Thanks again Dougie for the service you gave today, on behalf of myself and my family.

    Thank you for everything you have done over the last week.

    Francis McKenna

  • Thank you for a fantastic service for Ally.

    Absolutely wonderful fitting tribute to him.

    Thank you ever so much.

    Les

  • Douglas spoke for my mums funeral on the 13th April The service was perfect Dougie spoke as if he knew my wee mum talking about her life when she was young.

    The words and songs were lovely, thanks again Dougie what a lovely service you gave will always remember the day.

    Donna McMillan

    Dh Celebrancy Council Logo
    Dh Logo Strip
    Dh Icf Logo
    Douglas Harvey Celebrant
    07340 565 039

    Email Me