Why Train With Us the Fellowship of Professional Celebrants

Why Train with Us?

THE FELLOWSHIP OF PROFESSIONAL CELEBRANTS

A Word from our Director and Principal Course Leader

We are very aware that as you consider a new vocation as a Celebrant, you will have no doubt come across a variety of organisations offering Celebrancy training. There are many factors to consider when making such an important decision. So we actively encourage you to look at other training organisations, and to compare what we offer in terms of experience, resources, on-going support and value for money.

Just take a look at our gallery and testimonials to see the many wonderful celebrants who have trained with us and what they’ve said about our courses.

Terri Negus

Terri Shanks founder of the Fellowship of Professional Celebrants

Why Choose Us?

The Fellowship of Professional Celebrants is the largest organisation in the UK for Independent Celebrants.

OUR CELEBRANTS

why train with us (Fellowship of Professional Celebrants)

EXPERIENCE

Our Founder has 22 years experience in Celebrancy

Training College Established in 2007 (18 years)

Professional Celebrants (FPC) officially founded in 2007 (18 years)

Our Course leaders and celebrants have been winning awards since 2014

Our Reputation

ALL of our Registered Celebrant Members are TRAINED and CERTIFIED, meaning both the public and professionals we serve, (such as Funeral Directors, Wedding Planners and many others) have come to trust us.

High Standards

Whatever the occasion they can call on a member of the FPC to provide a trained and competent celebrant, who will deliver a personalised and unique ceremony to the highest standard.

Frequently Asked Questions

Below are some questions you may consider when choosing the right training organisation along with some additional facts about our organisation.

1. What is the history, origin and success of the Training Organisation?

Our acclaimed training programme is now its 15th successful year. Founded in 2007 it was the first of its kind in the UK to be written and delivered specifically for Independent Celebrants. Previous celebrant training courses had been provided only for Humanists and those celebrants working for local authority registry offices.

Over the years we have listened to our students feedback and as a result, have regularly updated and improved our training programme to provide the most in depth training and valuable resources possible.

Here are some examples:

Marian Down Funeral Director, Worthing

“I have used several celebrants trained by Terri and they have all conducted excellent services and this shows they have had a very thorough grounding from her. I have found them without exception aware of what needs to be done when officiating and as they have all come from backgrounds other than the funeral profession this can only be because they have been so well trained. I could take up several pages extolling her virtues as a celebrant and trainer, but I can condense this by saying that when my dear niece died very young in January 2012, I only wanted the very best for her and called Terri back from her maternity leave to conduct her funeral service.”

Pat Cook, H.D. Tribe Funeral Directors

“In my 13 years as a Funeral Director I have worked very closely with Terri on many of the funerals I have arranged. As a Celebrant I cannot fault her empathy, kindness and genuine understanding of clients needs. Her attention to detail is second to none and I receive nothing but positive comments from all my families regarding the service she provides. On the occasions when Terri herself has not been able to available to conduct services for me, I have used other celebrants who have been trained by her knowing that they too will also provide the same excellent, calm and personal service which can only be put down to Terri’s expert tuition.

Terri is extremely well respected within the funeral profession due to the superb professional service she provides as both a celebrant and trainer, and for the caring nature with which she treats people.”

2. What experience and training do the course leaders have?

We have experience not only in writing and conducting ceremonies, but also in Celebrancy training. Terri Negus, our Founder, Director & Principal Course Leader has over a decade of experience as a celebrant. She has personally conducted over 4,000 ceremonies herself and has trained over 1,500 new celebrants.

Her wealth of knowledge and experience is constantly sought after by trainee Celebrants not just from the UK but the USA, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Greece, Rhodes, Portugal, Spain, France & Ireland. Terri herself has worked and studied with some of the world’s leading celebrants and bereavement specialists both in the USA and Australia. She has been invited to address celebrants on both continents.

Group of Celebrants trained by the Professional Fellowship of Celebrants

3. What happens after the course has finished?

Our Training extends beyond the Classroom. Whilst we pride ourselves on the first class training we provide to students during the time they are with us, we are also very aware that with a profession like Celebrancy, one can never predict what each day will bring!

There will always be new scenarios – raw emotion – new challenges – new questions… But we commit to being there for you every step of the way, so you will never feel out of your depth or unsure of a situation.

We care for you and for the families you serve. Your course leaders support you on an ongoing basis, answer any questions you may have, either by phone or email. You will also have the benefit of our Fellowship of Professional Celebrants forums to share and discuss issues with other professionally trained celebrants.

4. Is the course residential?

Our courses are NOT residential. This is something we have considered over the years but speaking to the many celebrants we have trained, the majority said they prefer the flexibility of a non-residential course. We find that different people have different expectations and budgets when it comes to booking accommodation. Many have family or friends they can stay with and do not want unnecessary additional costs.

We have also found, (especially with the Funeral Celebrancy Training), that this brings up raw emotions for some students and they need the time and space to acknowledge and work through these feelings. However, we do always arrange a course dinner for those who want to attend so that you won’t have to eat alone, and we also set a bit of ‘homework’ each night (sorry!!)

5. Are the course leaders FULL TIME celebrants themselves?

This is a very important question to ask any prospective trainer. Celebrancy is a very flexible vocation. But whilst many celebrants make this their full time career, there are just as many who only work part time, because they are semi-retired or can work it around another job.

There are however, trainers who are semi-retired, part time celebrants AND part time something else!! These people may not have the time or expertise to share – nor to sensitively guide you through the many different circumstances you are faced with in the course of this work on a daily basis. Likewise those committed to other jobs may not have the time to give you the on-going back up and support, which is vital to your success.

Also, without meaning to sound ageist, it is important to consider the age of your trainer(s). If they are past the standard retirement age, the chances are they may simply be doing this work to supplement their pension in the short term. Thus, they are unlikely be working long enough to give you (or any association) guaranteed future security and support in the long term.

Additional Benefits

CONSIDER ON-GOINGS COSTS OF ASSOCIATED MEMBERSHIPS

As well as comparing the costs of course fees, please also ensure that you check the on-going annual/monthly cost of membership to any associated organisation. Double check that the organisation does not keep a % of your fee for recommending you to conduct a ceremony.

Become a registered celebrant with The Fellowship of Professional Celebrants.

Once you have completed your training with us, you will be invited to apply for membership of The Fellowship of Professional Celebrants.

The fee for this is a ONE OFF LIFETIME registration fee of £120 plus a regular contribution of £5 per month.

Benefits of Membership

£5 million Public Liability Insurance (free for the first 12 months, after which time you will have the option to renew your insurance).
Personalised Name Badge displaying the Fellowship of Professional Celebrants name and logo.
Professional Membership Certificate (in addition to your training certificate)
Use of our logo on your website, stationery, adverts etc.
Listing on our website professionalcelebrants.org.uk which is promoted in various publications, editorials and other online sites.
Online Forum to network and share resources, information and questions with our other members.
Networking meetings, both formal and informal.
A Voice for Change – for example the Fellowship of Professional Celebrants was the first organisation to petition the Ministry of Justice for a change in the law to allow marriage celebrants to be able to conduct the legal registration of marriage as our colleagues in Australia and the U.S.A. are able to do (results still pending)

Get In Touch

WE HOPE TO WELCOME YOU VERY SOON TO OUR FRIENDLY AND PROFESSIONAL TEAM.

We hope this little insight into our experience and our passion for celebrancy has answered why you should train with us and what we can offer, as you embark on this wonderful new vocation. However, we are so much more than just a website! There is a human face behind what you have read, so if you would like to discuss anything further, please pick up the phone for a chat.

CELEBRANT TRAINING FOR FUNERAL, WEDDINGS & BABY NAMING CEREMONIES – THE ORIGINAL & MOST EXPERIENCED TRAINING COLLEGE IN THE UK FOR INDEPENDENT CELEBRANTS, ESTABLISHED BY REPUTATION, “LEADING THE WAY IN CELEBRANT TRAINING SINCE 2007”