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About SAIF

About SAIF

SAIF was established in 1989 to support independent, mostly family owned funeral directors, concerned about the proliferation of larger conglomerates.

We currently have approximately 1000 members across 1,865 sites, as well as an additional 100 Associate members who supply products or services to the funeral profession.

SAIF’S ROLE FOR FUNERAL DIRECTORS:

    • To promote best practice and protect the interests of our members and their local communities.
    • To represent the views of our members at a national and local level, including at all levels in government.
    • To provide training and education programmes to ensure members meet the highest of standards through the Independent Funeral Directors College.
    • Find out about becoming a Funeral Director Member here

SAIF’S ROLE FOR FUNERAL CLIENTS:

    • Bereaved families can be assured of a compassionate, professional approach, underpinned by our industry leading Code of Practice
    • We have stringent conditions for membership, which includes demonstrating a sound trading history and suitable premises.
    • Members are inspected against the Code of Practice SAIF Care bereavement support and a Consumer Protection Scheme
    • Find a Funeral Director Member here

SAIF’S ROLE FOR SUPPLIERS TO THE FUNERAL PROFESSION:

    • To provide opportunities for Associate Members to promote their products and services to our independent funeral director members. Learn about Associate Membership here.
    • Find an Associate Member here
Find a saif member

SAIF Care

Most people expect to be very upset or distressed when someone close to them has died. What takes many people by surprise is how strong the emotions can be, how they can change very quickly, and how long they last.

Everyone grieves in a way that is unique to them and their relationship with the person who has died. Well-intentioned people may say to you, ‘Time is a great healer.’ Sometimes, however, it can seem that life is more difficult as the weeks and months go by.

We know that no-one can understand exactly what your loss feels like to you. But we do understand that it’s sometimes easier to talk to someone outside of your friends and family about grief and the impact of bereavement on your life and this is why we offer the SAIFCare Chat service.

SAIFCare Chat is supported by GriefChat, created by bereavement experts. Click on the SAIFCare Chat box below and you can chat directly to a specially trained bereavement counsellor.

GriefChat counsellors are experienced in supporting bereaved people and will listen to your story, explore how your grief is affecting you and help you to find any additional support you might need. SAIFCare Chat is a completely free service and is available Monday-Friday, 9am-9pm or by email out of these hours.

SAIF Care is a bereavement support package which includes a telephone bereavement careline and email support. It is available to clients of all SAIF Members who wish to access grief care and bereavement support.

Clients are able to access trained and qualified staff provided by Professional Help Ltd, Monday to Friday from 9.00 am until 9.00 pm.

VISIT THE SAIF CARE WEBSITE
WATCH A VIDEO FROM ATALOSS.ORG
SAIF MEMBER RESOURCES AVAILABLE HERE

Who's Who

National Executive Chief Executive
National President & Charity of the Year  SAIF Scotland
SAIF Business Centre Role of the Executive Committee

NATIONAL EXECUTIVE 2025/26

    • Chief Executive / Secretary – Terry Tennens F.SAIF
    • National President – Ross Hickton
    • 1st Vice President – Gary Staker
    • 2nd Vice President – Paul Sillett
    • SAIF Scotland President – Declan Maguire
    • Immediate Past National President – Declan Maguire
    • IFD College Chair: Sean Martin F.SAIF
    • Government Liaison: Paul Allcock F.SAIF
    • Professional Standards: Paul Sillett & George Roberts
    • SAIF Representative on SAIF Charter: David Garland-Thomas
    • SAIF Scotland Representative on SAIF Charter: Ross Anderson
    • SAIF Scotland Government Liaison – Joe Murren joseph.murren@saif.org.uk
    • SAIF Scotland Standards / Quality issues – qualitycomply@saifscotland.org
    • Treasurer: Nasir Shabbir

These are the committee members following the AGM on 5th April 2025.

    • Craig Caldwell
    • Daniel Ginder
    • Simon Helliar–Moore
    • Becky Horton
    • Oliver Towner
    • Helen Wathall
    • Professional Standards: Leads, Paul Sillett & George Roberts
    • Membership: Lead, Gary Staker
    • Quality Assurance: Lead, Simon Helliar-Moore
    • Public Relations: Lead, Declan Maguire
    • Products & Services: Lead, Daniel Ginder
    • Mortuary Matters: Lead, Craig Caldwell 
    • Government Liaison: Lead, Paul Allcock F.SAIF
    • Education Committee: Lead, Craig Caldwell
    • Wellbeing Group: Lead, Jo Parker Tester
    • Environment Group: Lead, Oliver Towner
      • Women In Business: Helen Wathall MBE

      • Direct Cremation Taskgroup: Declan Maguire

      • The Importance of the funeral Taskgroup: Ross Hickton

Gary, Ross and Paul
Left to right: Gary, Ross and Paul

Ross Hickton is SAIF’s National President for 2025/26. He is Funeral Director & Managing Director at Hickton Family Funeral Directors in the Black Country, West Midlands.

Ross has chosen Prostate Cancer UK as his Charity of the Year

1 in 8 men get prostate cancer, and if you’re Black, your risk is double. Together, we’re supporting our dads, brothers, partners and friends – by raising awareness, funding lifesaving research, campaigning for change and providing helpful support and information.

Fund research to help create a world where no man dies from prostate cancer

Our research has driven some of the biggest breakthroughs in prostate cancer – from more accurate diagnoses thanks to multiparametric MRI, to the world’s first precision medicine for prostate cancer. But we have a lot of work still to do. Explore our past successes, our current research, and our clinical trial to deliver a screening programme for prostate cancer. 

Find out more on their website.

How can you help?

You can support Ross’s fundraising efforts by donating to Prostate Cancer on our Just Giving page. Click the link or scan the QR code.

We’ll be adding regular updates to this page so remember to visit again for other ideas of how you can support SAIF’s Charity of the Year.

Terry Tennens F.SAIF joined SAIF as Chief Executive in 2016.

Whether it’s commenting on changes in legislation, consulting with other like-minded organisations or providing a comment for the media – Terry is committed to ensuring the views of independent funeral directors are heard throughout the UK.

In 2023 AGM Terry received SAIF’s highest award of the Fellowship of the Society. 

SAIF Scotland represents the interests of our members north of the border – responding to changes in legislation and other issues that are specific to Scotland and the Scottish Government.

Contacts 2025/6

  • Scottish President – Declan Maguire
  • 1st Vice President – Ross Anderson
  • Immediate Past President – James Morris
  • Scottish Secretary, Treasurer & Membership – Gavin Henshelwood 0141 445 1124 / secretary@saifscotland.org

Meeting dates: Please contact Gavin Henshelwood for more details of meetings or to register your places.

    • Administration Manager – Claire Day
    • Digital Administrator: Angela Camp, SAIF Administrator: Kara Hanrahan, Membership Administrator (New Members) Maria Sherlock and Standards Administrator (Complaints and Quality Assurance) Sam Reynolds.
    • Telephone: 01279 726777 / 0345 2306777
    • Email via the Contact Form

ROLE OF THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

SAIF’s Executive Committee’s role is to act as the governing institution of the association with members expected to:

    • conduct his/her business interests in a manner which upholds the best standards of the society.
    • attend SAIF’s National events, whenever possible.
    • attend their regional meeting as the Executive Committee’s representative of that region.
    • provide input, advice, experience and resources to assist the Chief Executive and SBC staff in their day to day operations.
    • act as co-ordinators in their own region especially if there is no other key person in the region.
    • attend quarterly Executive Committee meetings

At each Annual General Meeting, there is usually an opportunity to join the committee, with varying numbers of places available.

All SAIF members are contacted prior to the AGM about the opportunity to stand for one of the places.

OBITUARIES

SAIF sadly reports the deaths of members and key figures from within the funeral profession in 2025. We pass on our condolences to family and friends of those listed here.

2025

    •  28th September 2025: We are deeply saddened to hear of the passing of our friend and colleague, Ian Milne of Milne Funeral Services, County Armagh and County Down, Northern Ireland. 
    • 11th September 2025: It is with great sadness that we report the passing of Craig MacAffer of AJ & C MacAffer Funeral Directors, Islay.
    • 7th January 2025: It is with great sadness that we report the passing of Arthur Jardine, 4th generation of Jardine Funeral Directors, Dumfries.
    • 1st January 2025: It is with great sadness that we report the passing of Derek Noble of Nobles Funeral Service, Hartlepool. 

saif wellbeing hub

Welcome to the SAIF Wellbeing hub, where you can find a wide range of resources for managing your physical and mental health.

We’re adding resources all of the time, so please keep checking back. If there’s something extra you’d like to see here, please let us know. Use our Contact Form.

Check out the new SAIF Wellbeing podcast series. Host and SAIF Member, Katie Stevenson, chats with members about what helps them improve their wellbeing.

What do we mean by wellbeing?

According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), wellbeing is “a positive state experienced by individuals and societies…It encompasses quality of life and the ability of people and societies to contribute to the world with a sense of meaning and purpose.”

Purpose of the SAIF Wellbeing Hub

    • To provide access to SAIF resources and other online sources in one place.

    • To encourage people to be proactive about their own ‘wellness’; a kickstart to the new you!

    • A place for Members to share and support each other.
    • To provide guidance, support and practical help with achieving an improved work/life balance.

Help is right here

  • Mind’s website defines our mental state as “Good mental health means being generally able to think, feel and react in the ways that you need and want to live your life. But if you go through a period of poor mental health you might find the ways you’re frequently thinking, feeling or reacting become difficult, or even impossible, to cope with. This can feel just as bad as a physical illness, or even worse.”

The website gives these statistics:

      • 1 in 4 people will experience a mental health problem of some kind each year in England.
      • 1 in 6 people report experiencing a common mental health problem (like anxiety and depression) in any given week in England.
    •  

So, you’re not alone, if you need help from time to time or more regularly.

  • SAIF Support –  a professional staff counselling service for SAIF Members. Login required to Members’ area.
  • 5 Steps to mental wellbeing with Mind Charity
  • 5 Steps to mental wellbeing with NHS
  • NHS Mental health
  • Podcasts / Webinars
  • Lifeline (Northern Ireland) – Tel. 0808 808 8000

  • Directory of various mental health services in Northern Ireland

    Support tailored to the funeral profession:

Neuro diversity

Sarah Hunnable, ADHD Coach, presented at SAIF’s Education Day 2025. 

  • Find out more about Sarah here.
  • View her PowerPoint slides here.

 

The NHS states that “Whatever your age, there’s strong scientific evidence that being physically active can help you lead a healthier and happier life. (Exercise) can reduce your risk of major illnesses, such as coronary heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes and cancer and lower your risk of early death by up to 30%.

Research shows that physical activity can also boost self-esteem, mood, sleep quality and energy, as well as reducing your risk of stress, clinical depression, dementia and Alzheimer’s disease.

What are you waiting for?

The World Health Organisation states that a healthy diet is essential for good health and nutrition. It protects you against many chronic noncommunicable diseases, such as heart disease, diabetes and cancer.

Eating a variety of foods and consuming less salt, sugars and saturated and industrially-produced trans-fats, are essential for healthy diet.

The Cambridge Dictionary defines this as ‘the amount of time you spend doing your job compared with the amount of time you spend with your family and doing things you enjoy.’

Getting the work/life balance right is important. If we have more time to relax and enjoy time with family and friends, we’re less likely to feel stress and anxiety.

Money worries can cause worry and stress, reducing our well-being. Whether you need help with debts, are struggling with cost of living pressures or would like to start saving, here are some helpful links:

 

Everyone has their own way of dealing with their grief when losing a loved one. Grief can be overwhelming, but there is lots of support available.

    • SAIF Care: a free bereavement support service including a telephone bereavement careline and email support. Telephone: 0800 917 7224. For all families who have arranged a funeral with a SAIF Member.
    • SAIF Associate Members/ partner organisations
    • Ataloss: helps bereaved people find the support they need.
    • Child Bereavement: provides access to support and information when a child is grieving or a child dies.
    • Cruse Bereavement: supports people after the death of someone close.
    • Suicide Bereavement: Support After Suicide Partnership supports those bereaved or affected by suicide.

SAIF Members please login first then use this link to access members’ only information and offers.

    • SAIF Support flyer – for all staff of SAIF Funeral Director Members
    •  (Further information to follow)

We are regularly adding new webinars and podcasts, so please check back again.

    • Mental and physical fitness for funeral directors – with Katie Stevenson
      • Katie is a qualified fitness trainer and mental health and exercise coach. She is also a funeral director with Paul Stevenson Funeral Directors in Ayrshire. Learn how fitness and well-being can play an essential role in helping funeral professionals to manage stress, anxieties, health and injuries.
      • Watch the webinar recording here on YouTube.
    • Taking care of the mental health of clients, staff and yourself.
      • Joanna Williams of Professional Help talked to members about caring for the mental health of your clients, staff and yourself. Joanna outlined the services provided by Professional Help free of charge as part of your SAIF membership – SAIF Support and SAIF Care – and shared some observations about the problems and pressures members and bereaved families are experiencing and how Professional Help staff are helping.
      • Watch the webinar recording 
      • PowerPoint slides
      • Helpful documents:
    • Looking after yourself as an individual and a funeral director

Complaints

We only have one chance to get a funeral right. But on the occasion when things do go wrong, it’s important that funeral director clients have a trustworthy course of redress. 

Any complaint made against a SAIF member is taken extremely seriously, both by the member and by the Society.

Thankfully, bereaved people who use the services of SAIF members benefit from added consumer protection under the Society’s comprehensive alternative dispute resolution scheme. 

The SAIF Consumer Protection Scheme provides a robust set of procedures to bring complaints against funeral directors to a satisfactory outcome for both parties. 

The Scheme has been designed to complement SAIF members’ own complaints processes, as outlined in the SAIF Code of Practice, and the SAIF Professional Standards Committee’s complaints review system. 

All SAIF funeral directors are automatically included in this scheme and can display a window sticker on their premises to reassure clients that they care about standards. 

Here’s a brief overview of who can make a complaint and the types of complaints we investigate.

 

SAIF's Complaints Procedure

There are two steps within the complaints process:

1. Member

This is where the member’s own complaints process is instigated and works with the client to resolve the complaint.

Complainants should not submit a complaint to SAIF until they have provided the member with an opportunity to get this right.

2. SAIF’s Professional Standards Committee

SAIF’s Professional Standards Committee (our Alternative Dispute Resolution officials) are not renumerated, nor receive bonuses based on the outcome of the complaint. They can be a member of the National & Scottish Executive Committee, or a funeral director referred to the Standards Committee by the Executive Committee.

If the client is unhappy with the funeral director’s response, they can proceed to SAIF’s Professional Standards Committee, where the complaint will be investigated.

The complaints form can be downloaded here.

      • The form along with accompanying paperwork, should be either emailed to standards@saif.org.uk or posted for the attention of the Professional Standards Committee, SAIF Business Centre, 3 Bullfields, Sawbridgeworth, CM21 9DB.
    •  

SAIF’s full complaints procedure may be found here.

      • There is no charge to refer the complaint to SAIF.
      • SAIF can only accept complaints that are in English, and any response will be provided in English.
      • This complaints procedure is related to SAIF members based in England, Wales, Scotland & Northern Ireland.

All such referrals should be made within 12 months following receipt of the response from the funeral director.

If you have any queries regarding the process, please either email standards@saif.org.uk or telephone 0345 230 6777.

Schedule 5 Information for ADR Bodies

The Alternative Dispute Resolution for Consumer Disputes (Competent Authorities and Information) Regulations 2015, require SAIF provide the competent authority (Chartered Trading Standards Institute) with our Schedule 5 (annual) Report and to display this on our website within a month of the anniversary of approval as an ADR body.

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