Association also collects second award for DMAG’s commitment to “positive impact and unselfish gain”
The National Association of Funeral Directors was awarded UK Association of the Year, at the 2021 Association Excellence Awards, in recognition of the focused and comprehensive support provided to members across the end of 2019 and whole of 2020 by the entire National Office team.
Jon Levett, NAFD Chief Executive, said: “It is always a privilege to support our members in the important work they do to care for deceased and bereaved people, but our work has perhaps never more important than across the last couple of years and our purpose never clearer or more focused.
“The NAFD’s small team, together with some very dedicated volunteers from the membership, worked tirelessly – sometimes seven days a week – during the pandemic, campaigning for clear guidance from Government and ensuring the sector’s contribution to the national effort was recognised – as well as providing support to members on the introduction of CMA regulation to the funeral sector and maintaining vital services like NAFD qualifications, standards and compliance activity, events and practical business support.
“I am very proud of the entire team for this achievement, particularly given how strong the competing submissions were, and would also like to thank the member volunteers for their support too. This award is a fitting and valued recognition of the entire NAFD team’s collective efforts to support members during a very difficult time.”
The NAFD walked away with a second award too, in the ‘Best Partnership or Collaboration’ category – on behalf of the Deceased Management Advisory Group (DMAG) – for the creation of a single point of contact for Government during the COVID-19 pandemic.
DMAG was set up by the Funeral Furnishing Manufacturers Association, the Cremation Society, the National Society of Allied and Independent Funeral Directors, The Association of Private Crematoria and Cemeteries, The Institute of Cemetery and Crematorium Management, the Federation of Burial and Cremation Authorities and the NAFD – and it continues to meet regularly with Government, almost 18 months later.
In their feedback, the judges praised the NAFD for its “focused support during a difficult year” and praised DMAG for its excellent collaborative approach, clear impact and “the exemplary value of working in unison to serve the interests of vulnerable groups more effectively. The judges added: “The high-level feedback is testament to the Group’s commitment to inform key decision-makers and influence policy for positive impact and unselfish gain, giving vital visibility to the sector at a time of desperate need.”