New UK register seeks to raise professionalism among funeral celebrants

A national database of vetted funeral celebrants and officiants has been established as part of efforts to address concerns surrounding safeguarding, accountability and service standards within the funeral The Funeral Officiant Authority (FOA), founded by experienced celebrants Sacha Mulligan and Michelle Harvey, aims to introduce clearer professional standards for those conducting funeral ceremonies across the UK. The organisation is launching an initial pilot scheme in the South-East of England and plans to expand nationally, with the longer-term goal of establishing a recognised benchmark for funeral officiants nationwide. Currently, there is no formal regulation preventing individuals from conducting funeral ceremonies without recognised training, vetting or accountability processes. The launch follows wider industry concerns surrounding safeguarding, transparency and professional oversight within the sector. The FOA will operate as a voluntary national register of vetted officiants and celebrants and will be overseen by a board including experienced officiants, funeral directors, legal professionals and sector specialists. Alongside the register, the organisation is also launching a public awareness campaign, “Let’s Talk About Death”, aimed at encouraging greater openness, professionalism and public confidence around funeral services. Under the proposed standards, all officiants listed on the register will be required to:

•  Hold DBS checks
• Meet minimum training and competency standards
• Maintain appropriate insurance
•  Adhere to a formal complaints and accountability process
• Commit to ongoing professional development and compliance monitoring

The FOA is also calling on government, political parties, funeral providers and insurers to support the introduction of clearer professional standards across the sector. Sacha Mulligan, co-founder of the Funeral Officiant Authority, said: “We co-founded the Funeral Officiant Authority after more than six years of work to create real protection, accountability, and meaningful support for both the families we serve and the celebrants who support them. “Every benefit, standard, and safeguard has been built to ensure families, celebrants and funeral directors have somewhere trusted to turn to, and somewhere concerns can be properly raised and addressed.” Michelle Harvey, co-founder of the FOA, added: “The Funeral Officiant Authority (FOA) is dedicated to helping families find trusted, professional officiants to deliver meaningful and personal funeral services. “The FOA provides access to approved officiants who are experienced, compassionate, and fully DBS certified for complete peace of mind. Through its carefully maintained database, the FOA is committed to supporting families with dignity, care, and professionalism during life’s most difficult moments.”