PROFESSIONAL CELEBRANT TRAINING
THE GOLD STANDARD
The Celebrant Circle Ltd is a fully accredited member of the CPD Certification Service
Membership No. 019246
The Celebrant Circle are delighted to announce our new, 4-Day Intensive Funeral Celebrant Training. This is the most in-depth training currently available, designed for students who wish to work specifically in the funeral profession.
The course runs over four days in total, with three days of classroom-based teaching, followed by one additional day in the online training room, designed to expand and consolidate your learning. You will also receive one-to-one mentoring and support from our highly experienced training team. After completion of the course, you will be accredited by the Celebrant Circle and entitled to all of the additional benefits that graduates and full members enjoy.
We suggest that in order to fully engage with our training, a good standard of written and spoken English is necessary. Access to a smartphone and a laptop will be required for certain lessons. A basic knowledge of social media will be beneficial to get the most from our business marketing and promotion sessions.
We welcome applicants from all backgrounds and walks of life, who wish to enter this wonderful profession.
Note: all applications considered on an individual basis and if you are at all worried about any of the requirements, please do get in touch with us to discuss your concerns. We offer learning support, access to a pre-course preparation workshop - we’re more than happy to help you succeed!
You will be contacted within three days of us receiving your application to arrange an in-person or Zoom meeting with the teaching faculty. You’ll have the opportunity to hear about the course, ask questions, and discuss the realities and joys in the working life of a Professional Funeral Celebrant. We will be available to discuss the course requirements, and any additional training needs you may require.
BOOK DISCOVERY CALL or APPLY
We look forward to meeting you!
What's Included
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3 days of classroom-based teaching (including lunch and refreshments)
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2 nights accommodation plus meals *
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1 additional online teaching session**
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One-to-one support and mentoring
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One year of membership of the Inner Circle
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Access to the Celebrant Circle’s online resource library
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Assigned tutor for follow-up mentoring and support
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Fully-immersive learning with industry professionals
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Weekly ‘Celebrant Surgery’ sessions with tutors and colleagues
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Entrance to the Inner Circle Facebook ‘members-only’ group
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CPD and further learning opportunities
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Invitation to join the Celebrant Circle’s country-wide meetups
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* If you require accommodation on Sunday evening prior to the start of the course, we have negotiated a special rate with the hotel. Please indicate on the booking form if would like to take up this offer.
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**In order to gain full accreditation, students must submit the set piece of coursework and attend the final online teaching session.
Questions? Call us on 0333 577 8700
A Typical Day
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Meet for breakfast or, for non-residential courses, catch-up coffee and buns (obligatory!)
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We begin our training days with reflection and consolidation of the previous day’s learning, picking up and expanding on any gaps and enhancing understanding. We outline the timetable for the day and set to work on the day's learning.
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All sessions are live and fully interactive, with two trainers present in the room at all times. All of your training materials are provided. We utilise an array of teaching and learning methodologies - from good old-fashioned ‘chalk-and-talk,’ to interactive computer-based learning. We firmly believe that ‘to do is to learn’ and we’ll get you on your feet and actively involved, every step of the way!
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Coffee and snacks are available mid-morning and mid-afternoon, with a delicious lunch included on your course. Breakfast and dinner are also provided on our residential courses.
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In morning sessions we consider the background and theoretical nature of our work - including introductions to creative writing and ceremonial aesthetics. Afternoon sessions will involve funeral ceremony creation, service planning and writing, public speaking, and simulations for you to practice how we work with families. We teach you the importance of choreographing your ceremonies, media and music systems, and consider how you will market yourself as a Professional Funeral Celebrant. We will look at designing unique ceremonies incorporating spiritual or esoteric content.
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During your course we will visit a local crematorium and meet the onsite team. This in invaluable in boosting your confidence for when you take your first funeral.
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As part of the learning we will be visited by a Funeral Director. During this session, they will tell you about their role and explain how we work together to assist families during difficult times. This is a fantastic opportunity to ask questions and gain an insight to this amazing profession.
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At the end of each day, we reflect on our learning, and you are assigned an evening task to complete and submit prior to arriving in class the following morning. (Nothing too arduous - we recognise you’ll have worked extremely hard during the day).
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Whether the course is fully residential or non-residential, we offer you the opportunity to meet up and socialise with your cohort and trainers in the evening. This is a great way to wind down, relax and ask all of those questions that cropped up after the training day was complete!
Syllabus
Day One
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Introduction to Celebrancy and the Rites of Passage
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The evolving role of the Professional Funeral Celebran
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Ceremony planning - structure of the traditional funeral ceremony
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The ‘Family Meeting’ and interview techniques
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Service planning, design, and delivery
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Introduction to writing for funerals
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Music and readings for funerals
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Health & Safety for Professional Celebrants
Day Two
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Crematorium visit
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Media and Music systems at crematoria
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Creative writing for funerals
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Funeral Director visit
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Marketing and advertising your business
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Public speaking
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Funeral ceremony design and delivery
Day Three
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Full funeral ceremony run-through
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Equity, Diversity and Inclusion
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Legal requirements & funeral checklist
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Difficult funerals - working with challenging families
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Memorial ceremonies, interments, ash scattering, and Celebrations of Life
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Living eulogies and funerals
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Course consolidation and homework task
Additional accreditation session - online
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Recap and review of homework task
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Bespoke ceremonies and unique rituals
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Terms & Conditions, client contracts, and GDPR
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Business planning for Funeral Celebrants
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Funeral service practical exercise
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Course consolidation
Ongoing Learning
AND SUPPORT
Follow-up assignments
For full accreditation, you will be required to write and submit a follow-up homework assignment. Feedback on this piece of work will form part of your one-to-one session with a member of the training team.
One-to-one Mentoring
Once you've graduated from the course, you are entitled to an additional 1-hour mentoring session with your trainers. These sessions must be booked within three months of training.
On successful completion of your training, you will gain access to the ‘Inner Circle’ where you can connect with other Professional Celebrants and benefit from all of the fantastic opportunities and benefits available to our members.
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We look forward to opening ‘The Circle’ for you to come and join us!
Welcome to our World
Your Trainers
Jacqueline Cale
Jacqueline is a highly experienced Celebrant and trainer. As an NOCN tutor and assessor, she has trained and mentored over 200 students - helping them to launch their own successful celebrant careers. Dividing her time between the UK and France, Jacqueline's successful business sees her conducting weddings and funerals in both countries. An award-winning writer with a 1st Class Honours degree in English and a Diploma in Creative Writing, Jacqueline brings to her teaching a passion for the written and spoken word!
Jacqueline x
Shelley
Jackson-Woodall
Shelley is an independent wedding and funeral Celebrant, running her successful business across the Midlands area. She has previously worked in education and the charity sectors and is a highly-experienced Celebrant trainer and mentor, having trained over one hundred fledgling Celebrants. Shelley supports the wider Celebrant community by organising regular meet-ups and networking sessions and is actively involved with small business support. Shelley's specialist knowledge of social media and marketing, coupled with a keen interest in Equity, Diversity and Inclusivity issues, brings a wealth and depth of learning to the Celebrant Circle classroom and beyond.
Shelley x
About us
The Celebrant Circle was founded in 2021 by Jacqueline Cale and Nikki Kulin who, between them, have trained and mentored over 200 professional Celebrants. The Circle offers the highest standards in Professional Celebrant Training, with ongoing one-to-one mentorship and support once training is complete.
Automatic membership of our Inner Circle community begins immediately after graduation. Students will be welcomed into a knowledgeable, caring, and fun tribe of experienced celebrants ready to offer advice and support. All of our students and members gain access to the weekly Celebrant Surgery, exclusive ceremonial resources, CPD opportunities, members’ discounts and much, much more. Our combination of in-depth training, supportive community and fantastic resources will get your Celebrant business up and running right from the start.
Requirements
We welcome applicants from all backgrounds and walks of life who wish to enter this wonderful profession.
We suggest that in order to fully engage with our training, a good standard of written and spoken English is necessary. Access to a smartphone and a laptop will be required for certain lessons. A basic knowledge of social media will be beneficial to get the most from our business marketing and promotion sessions.
However, we do accept every application on an individual basis and if you are at all worried about any of the requirements, please get in touch with us to discuss your concerns. We offer access to a pre-course preparation workshop and are more than happy to help.
We will contact you within three days of receiving your application to arrange an in-person or Zoom meeting with Jaqueline or Shelley from the teaching faculty. You’ll then have the opportunity to discuss the reality of life as a Professional Funeral Celebrant, the course requirements, and any additional training needs you may require.