News & Events

Mountain Celebrations will be launching it’s franchise options on the 1st of August 2020.
Please get in touch for more details.

The UK government has released guidance  for people who work in or from vehicles, which may be useful to funeral directors, suppliers to the profession in all parts of the United Kingdom.

It has been prepared by the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) with input from firms, unions, industry bodies and the devolved administrations in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, and in consultation with Public Health England (PHE) and the Health and Safety Executive (HSE). 

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More than 4,000 names have already been added to the virtual memorial for all those in the United Kingdom, of all faiths and none, lost as a result of COVID-19 - and the number is growing every day.

The project is backed by HRH The Prince of Wales and is free to participate in. Please share the details with your client families and local communities. There are already plans in place for a physical memorial in St Paul's Cathedral too.

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A coalition of support is building around the NAFD’s proposal for a Funeral Crisis Loan,  which is continuing to put pressure on the Government to introduce the loan to help bereaved people during the COVID-19 crisis.

This has included a letters and tweets campaign by NAFD members ask local MPs for support and a letter signed by 10 co-signatories published in the Telegraph along with an article exploring the proposal.

In response to the letter campaign, additional MPs also came forward to offer their support, or to raise the issue with the Secretary of State or the Chancellor - including a senior member of the Cabinet.

Ultimately, the coalition is in the hands of the Government as to whether the proposal will proceed – or whether the Government will instead choose to strengthen and improve the operation of the existing Social Fund funeral expenses payment, something the NAFD also continues to press for at present.

We'd like to thank all those members who have written letters to their MPs (if you'd still like to do so, you can find the details here).  

Members will be aware that the CMA is considering imposing heavy handed financial regulation on funeral firms, including strict price caps and enforced local authority tendering schemes.

The NAFD is concerned that the risk of unintended consequences could be aggravated by the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the sector. The NAFD is undertaking some detailed analysis on the economic impact the pandemic is having on the sector, which will be used to inform our response to the CMA. In order to ensure this work is as comprehensive as possible we need your help.

Members will shortly be contacted by National Office to ask that they take part in a short survey to assist this work. It is really important that members take the time to complete this survey. Without your help, we won’t be able to ensure the CMA has all the information it needs to make the right decision for the sector.

All contributions will be used anonymously

An update regarding the UK's testing and tracing systems 
SAIF continues to address questions of concern about the potential impact of the NHS test and trace system, known as Test and Protect in Scotland, on funeral businesses. Please rest assured that we are pursuing this matter urgently and discussed the issue on your behalf during this week's Cabinet Office meeting (Thursday, 4th June) and are seeking clarification about the possibility of an exemption for funeral directors, who have had contact with Covid-19 cases whilst wearing PPE, from the requirement to self-isolate. The Department of Health & Social Care (DHSC) holds the responsibility for the testing and tracing system, and we have asked the Deceased Management Advisory Group (DMAG) to invite the DHSC to discuss it with us next week.

Please note that funeral directors are not alone in their concerns, with care homes and other members of the care and emergency service sectors raising questions too. We understand that the NHS test and trace system is still in its development phase and as soon as we have further information we will release guidance for members.

Official guidance on procuring body bags
The Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government (MHCLG) has issued the following guidance with regard to PVC body bags.

Some body bags are made from plastic-based, highly halogenated materials such as Poly-Vinyl Chloride (PVC). Combustion of PVC and other highly halogenated materials can cause dioxin formation during the cremation process. Dioxins are harmful to human health and the environment.

As a preventative measure to avoid potential dioxin emissions, the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (Defra) would like to highlight the following:

• Public Health England (PHE) guidance states that if body bags are used for cremation, they must not contain any PVC or any highly chlorinated material.
• In addition, body bags made of other materials containing a high level of halogens (chlorine, fluorine, bromine and iodine) should not be procured where practically possible.
• There are alternatives to PVC body bags available, made using materials which are not highly chlorinated or halogenated. Please note this DHSC specification for body bags.

PHE guidance on the use of body bags for deceased persons who are suspected or confirmed to have died from Covid-19 can be found here. Additionally, questions or concerns can be emailed to: Control.Pollution@defra.gov.uk.

Funeral costs support available to care workers affected by Covid-19.
The Care Workers' Charity has set up a special Covid-19 Emergency Fund to help care workers who are forced to take time off due to the coronavirus pandemic and need financial help with matters such as funeral costs and self-isolation living expenses. 

Applicants must work in a role that is involved in or supports the provision of adult, elderly or disability care. These may include residential social care, domiciliary/home care, supported living care. If a care worker is responsible for paying for the funeral costs of a next of kin (partner, parent, sibling, child, or other on a case-by-case basis), the charity is offering up to £2,000 grants/per applicant (whilst funds last). If the care worker has passed on, the next of kin or employer may apply on behalf of the family.

Further information about this support is available here and may be of interest to families in your care.

SAIF Business Centre
National Society of Allied and Independent Funeral Directors (SAIF)
www.saif.org.uk

Celebrants across the UK are now included in the official list of key workers, which has been drawn up as the nation battles the coronavirus crisis.

The move follows a lobby made by one of the country’s leading sector organisations.

Concerned that Church of England ministers may be under severe pressure in the coming weeks and months, the Association of Independent Celebrants, (AOIC) made its case for professional Celebrants to be added to the list. It is also a fact that some relatives of the deceased may wish to have Celebrants conduct proceedings, which could have been prevented by their exclusion from the list.

With the above in mind, the AOIC’s Executive Chair Philip Spicksley, took up the issue on behalf of Celebrants. Following discussions between Phil and the Chief Executive of SAIF, Terry Tennens, the matter was discussed at the most recent meeting of The Death Management Advisory Group (DMAG).

“As a result of that, I am both pleased and relieved to see that Celebrants have now been recognised as key workers. In these totally unprecedented times, we must all pull together to offer what help and support we can to each other,” said Phil.

As reported, the Government’s list of people deemed ‘key workers’ was revealed as schools and colleges were ordered to close – it is only the children of such workers, aged and including 17, with vulnerable children to the age of 25, who can continue to attend education providers. 

Whilst the list included ‘religious staff’ and ‘those responsible for managing the deceased’ there was no mention of Celebrants.

“This situation is now clarified, and I thank Terry for ensuring that is the case,” added Phil.

Here at Mountain Celebrations our team of Diploma trained Celebrants can individually designed your bespoke ceremony.
 
All will be created and delivered with professionalism, warmth and feeling. They work with you to create a beautifully tailored Wedding Celebration Ceremony.
 
This will reflect your individual needs and contain special meaning for you both.

Celebrating your memorable and unique occasion.
 
Albeit a formal, white wedding Blessing, or something less conventional, it’s important to us that each couple has and achieves their dream day.
 
A traditional church wedding, with ritual and religious words does not fit with everyone’s outlook on life and the Registrar is guided by rules and regulations on where ceremonies can be conducted.
 
Our ceremonies here at Mountain Celebrations are guided by you and only you….
 
Your ceremony, your way, your content, your choice of venue…. you can have as much or as little
religious content as you desire, with the added uniqueness of an additional option like Handfasting, the pouring of the Sands, Jumping the Broom or Crowning’s.

A Celebrant Ceremony can take place anywhere and be designed to suit the individuals concerned.
Our ceremonies can be as creative and romantic as the you want.
 
Mountain Celebrations has officiated at many wonderful unique Wedding Blessings in many countries Worldwide…. From gardens, Marquees, on Boats, in Castles, and on Beaches.
 
You choose your venue somewhere that is special to you and here at
Mountain Celebrations we will make it happen.

We encourage you to choose a wide range of readings, poems, songs, and music to make your ceremony unique to you and all elements from many cultures can be incorporated, bring together our very cosmopolitan culture that we live in today.

We love to get family and friends involved…. anyone can speak, and actively participate in the ceremony.
 
Here at Mountain Celebrations we embrace love, laughter and happiness….
 
So
 
“Share your memories with Mountain Celebrations”
 
For those of you who have been disappointed with the restrictions imposed on the Church during this time, you can still go ahead with your wedding plans, and at a later date, continue the celebrations with the legal ceremony once the churches have reopened.

For more information please get in touch

Those who are planning a funeral at this time, will be worried for their safety of their loved ones and of course themselves. Planning a funeral at any time is stressful, emotional and potentially sometimes difficult, but with coronavirus (COVID-19) now classified as a pandemic by the World Health Organisation (WHO), there are additional factors to take into consideration.

For more details please read our news letters..

Mountain Celebrations has been helping couples share their memories with amazing wedding blessing, and alternative ceremonies for over 8 years…I Claire Mountain set up Mountain Celebrations in 2010, after working with British Airways for over 25 years, Customer service run’s through my vein’s and I have instilled this into my wonderful team of seven.

Our team of diploma Qualified Celebrants individually designed bespoke ceremonies, giving our clients a full range of choices and listening their ideas is our forte. We create and deliver with professionalism, warmth, and feeling. We work with the client to create a beautifully tailored Wedding Celebration Ceremony. This reflects their individual needs and giving special meaning to them both.
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Mountain Celebrations Training Ltd, was created in 2015 when we teamed up the National Open College Network to create and work with them on delivering a qualification in Celebrancy. We have now taken that a step further and are one of the first companies to offer the qualification online, giving those who want to train the freedom to do so in their own time and area.
Many of our trainee’s are from abroad, or big hotel chains… giving them all the chance to obtain a UK Qualification. Mountain Celebrations has gone from strength to strength.

We are pleased to announce that our new Diploma Certificate in Civil Celebracy Training Course is now available. View course details

MVRRS Training celebrated 10 years of being in business with a ball at the Celtic Manor Resort, Newport, in aid of the Soldiers Charity. Kim Churcher started up MVRRS, an accredited national training provider, in 2009 and it since has grown to consist of MVRRS Training, Plan-it-eco, Wales England Care Training and Wales England Domiciliary Care

There are occasions when distance, health or other circumstances can stop family from attending a family funeral which, as you know, can be devastating.

So we’re thrilled to launch our new Live Funeral Streaming Service which can provide a great alternative, by giving people the opportunity to view it from the comfort of their own home and at the same time feeling as though they were a part of the occasion, allowing them the opportunity to see and hear the funeral in real time, regardless of where they are in the world. 

We can stream from churches, crematoriums and even the graveside.

For more details please contact Shaun on 07772 509101
https://www.ukfuneralvideoservices.com

The Temple of Peace event is for people who are in the funeral profession, and has been put together with our compliments. We hope that you find the evening informative, educational and enjoyable.

Event Name
Welcomes you to The Temple of Peace

Event Date
Thursday 11th April 2019.

Event Time
6:00pm - 9:30pm.

Location
King Edward VII Avenue
Cardiff
​CF10 3AP

Guest Speakers
​
Dr. Heather Conway – Queen’s University of Belfast
Dr. Conway is a senior lecturer in Law at Queen’s University Belfast. Her
research focuses on the substantive laws surrounding the treatment of the
dead, the fate of corpses and who has decision-making powers over human
remains. Her areas of interest include the resolution of family disputes
surrounding funerals, exhumations and commemoration, and their
underlying reasons: the legal status of funeral instructions; and the legal
and financial issues posed by pre-paid funeral plans. Heather is the author
of The Law and the Dead.

Catherine Betley – Grief Chat Founder/Managing Director
Professional Help was established in 2012 by Catherine Betley who has over
20 years’ experience of managing counselling and therapy organisations,
starting and developing new projects and ventures and delivering training
and support to a huge range of organisations. Catherine has worked in
business and across the voluntary and community sector at local, regional
and national levels, including a significant period serving as a Director of a
large UK bereavement charity. Catherine is also a founding Leader in
Residence and Honorary Teaching Fellow at Lancaster University
Management School and has a particular interest in end of life and
bereavement care.

Terry Tennens – Chief Executive of SAIF
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.
Together with the team at SAIF Business Centre, he is also a strong
advocate for professional development and a believer that funeral directors
must have access to expert advice and support if they are to continue to
provide a service of the highest standard.

Richard Elliot – Director MVRRS
Experienced Operations Director with a demonstrated history of working in
the Professional Training & Welfare to Work industries. Skilled in
Performance Management, Budgeting, Operations Management, Sales,
Coaching, Bid Writing, and Team Building. Strong operations professional
with a Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) focused in Business
Administration and Management, General from The University of
Glamorgan.

Presentations:
Mountain Celebrations, GDPR & The Temple of Peace facilities

We are delighted to announce that we have been selected as a finalist for 'Small Business of the Year' award at The Welsh Woman's Awards 2019!  Thank so much for all your nominations!
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Nerys is an experienced and versatile cellist who enjoys playing a large mix of genres and styles from classical to contemporary pop. Based in Wales, Nerys is available for Wedding and Funerals as well as other events.

Nerys has been classically trained on the cello since the age of 7 and was educated at Chethams School of Music before gaining her degree at the Royal Northern College of Music. Nerys has many years of professional experience in all areas of musical performance taking her to many prestigious venues such as the Bridgewater Hall, the Royal Albert Hall, Cardiff Principality Stadium, the O2 Arena, and Hyde Park. Performances have also taken her around Europe to places such as Amsterdam, Barcelona, Prague, Florence and Austria.
​
As a backing cellist, Nerys has performed alongside many well-known artists such as Kanye West, Oasis, Gorillaz, Stereophonics, Alfie Boe and Katherine Jenkins. Television performances include Britain’s Got Talent, Top of the Pops, and the Reading Festival to name but a few.

For more details please visit he website...
www.nerysclark.com/

Caerphilly Business Forum Awards Winner Stories ​​

"If you believe in it do it, take the chance, be brave, be strong, always ask for help you will never succeed unless you try and fight for success. Nobody is going to hand it to you on a plate it takes sacrifice, hard work, long hours and all of your money… but the rewards when success comes is amazing. 

I was so pleased we won a highly commended award last year, so this topped it off, being a woman in business is tough, especially when you don’t have an academic business background. So, winning for me is like winning for all woman who wish to achieve!"

Claire Mountain
Mountain Celebrations Ltd

It’s Christmas time. Twinkling lights are going up, parties are being planned, and presents and treats galore are being purchased and made. But even as happy tidings are shared between family, friends and neighbours, we can’t forget that many of those we care about are hurting deeply.
 
Grief is not relegated to certain parts of the year, it’s a 24/7 process and when Christmas and the holidays arrive it can be escalated…. But how can we be sensitive to the emotional needs of those around us.
 
Remember that we have all lost a loved one, and remember how we felt, talk, share, remember and embrace this time of year… it will not be an easy task for those who are hurting at the loss of someone close and special.
 
Consider these 12 tips on how to interact with your grieving friends or loved ones this Christmas.