What do we cover in Our Funeral Celebrant training?

Both our Wedding Celebrant Training programme and our Funeral Celebrant Training programme are recommended by the Association of Independent Celebrants. It is an honour to be one of just four training providers that they recommend.

Our training is delivered one-to-one, using Google Meet or Zoom, to allow the training to be delivered to students not only all around the UK, but recently to students in Europe and the US.

The training was designed to be adaptive to allow students to learn in the best way for their individual needs. Having written the course and also delivering it, Dinah Liversidge (Founder) can be flexible in the methods of delivery.

Course Details

Instructor

Dinah Liversidge

Level

Beginner

Duration

22-26 Hours

Investment

Weekly 1-1 online £1,120

Face to Face £1,600

Book an Informed Decision Call

Course Content

Session One – The Role of an Independent Funeral Celebrant

In this foundational session, you will gain a clear understanding of what it means to be an Independent Funeral Celebrant and what sets this role apart from other officiants.

We will explore where the celebrant fits within the overall funeral proceedings, ensuring you understand your responsibilities and contributions.

You’ll also learn about the key skills required for this profession and how they can be assessed and developed over time.

Additionally, we’ll discuss the emotional challenges of the role and provide strategies for maintaining your mental well-being while supporting grieving families.

Session Two – Working with the Bereaved

This session focuses on the delicate and essential process of working with the bereaved.

You’ll be guided through the first meeting with a grieving family, learning how to approach these conversations with empathy and professionalism.

We will also take you step by step through the entire process—from the initial enquiry to delivering a meaningful service—ensuring you feel prepared to provide compassionate and structured support.

Session Three – Outlines and Where to Begin

Developing a well-structured ceremony is at the heart of a funeral celebrant’s role.

This session will help you create a ceremony framework, ensuring a clear beginning, middle, and end.

You will also gain insight into what to expect when officiating at both crematorium and graveside services, equipping you with the confidence to navigate these different settings effectively.

Session Four – Writing Bespoke Funeral Ceremonies

Writing a heartfelt and unique funeral ceremony requires skill and creativity. In this session, we’ll share ten essential tips for crafting personalised celebrations of life.

You’ll also have the opportunity to begin drafting your first ceremony, receiving expert guidance on how to structure and refine your writing to ensure it truly honours the deceased and resonates with their loved ones.

Session Five – It’s All in the Questions

Asking the right questions is crucial to uncovering the stories and memories that shape a meaningful funeral service.

This session will explore how to conduct thoughtful and effective conversations with the bereaved, providing you with key questions designed to elicit deep and personal responses.

By mastering these techniques, you’ll be able to craft ceremonies that truly reflect the life and legacy of the individual being honoured.

Session Six – Marketing Your Funeral Celebrant Business

Building a sustainable and successful celebrant business requires strategic marketing and community engagement.

This session will guide you through the essentials of raising your profile, establishing credibility, and connecting with families in need of your services.

We’ll explore the concept of the marketing funnel, as well as techniques for growing your business independently, without solely relying on Funeral Directors for referrals.

Bonus Session – Role Play Exercise

In this interactive session, you will take part in a role-playing exercise where you will conduct an interview with your tutor, acting as a client.

This practical exercise allows you to apply the questioning techniques covered in previous sessions, create a ceremony outline, and develop a full funeral script.

Personalised feedback will be provided, helping you refine your skills and gain confidence in the process.

Additional Training Included – Child Protection: An Introduction (NSPCC)

As part of your funeral celebrant training, we include NSPCC’s CPD-certified “Child Protection: An Introduction” online course to ensure you are equipped with essential safeguarding knowledge. Funerals can be emotionally complex for children and young people, and as a celebrant, you may find yourself supporting grieving families where children are present. Understanding how to recognise, respond to, and report concerns appropriately is a vital skill, ensuring that you handle sensitive situations with care and professionalism. By completing this training, you will gain confidence in addressing safeguarding concerns and supporting families in a way that prioritises the well-being of all involved.

This comprehensive training consists of four modules designed to help professionals recognise, respond to, report, and record concerns about a child’s welfare.

The course is suitable for anyone working independently or within an organisation who may come into contact with children, young people, and their families. It includes:

Introduction (30 min) – Understanding child protection fundamentals.
Module 1: Recognise Possible Abuse (50 min) – Identifying signs of neglect, emotional, physical, and sexual abuse.
Module 2: Respond Appropriately (40 min) – How to act when a concern arises.
Module 3: Report Your Concerns (30 min) – Ensuring the right people and authorities are informed.
Module 4: Record Your Observations (20 min) – Documenting concerns accurately for safeguarding purposes.
Conclusion (10 min) – Key takeaways and next steps.

This training is delivered online and can be accessed at any time over a one-year period. Upon completion, you will receive a personalised certificate of achievement, reinforcing your commitment to safeguarding and professional excellence in your role as a funeral celebrant.

What’s Included

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Your Very Own Printed Workbook

We send our professionally printed workbooks to you a week before we start so you can have a visual aid as we learn together.

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24 Hours of One-to-One Training

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3 Hour CPD Certified Child Protection Online Training with NSPCC

We include this training to ensure our funeral celebrants are equipped to handle sensitive situations involving children with confidence and care.

Audio, Video, Outline & Full Transcripts of Each Session

We believe in being as inclusive as possible for all learners. This is why we provide recordings of our sessions in a selection of formats to help you go back to them in a way that works for you.

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Online assessments for individual feedback and support

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Lifetime access to our resources + your session recordings

Why choose this training?

Our six-week Life Celebrations and Funerals celebrant training programme also consists of six, one-hour training sessions.

These are scheduled for the same day and time each week over a six-week period. Between these sessions, students are expected to complete assignments.

In total, over the six-week period, students should anticipate spending a total of between 22 and 26 hours to complete the training and the required research and assignments.

As Individual as You Are