The NAFD has a long-standing commitment to inclusivity, recognising over many decades that diversity is a strength. NAFD seeks to support all of its members, acknowledging the wide variety within the funeral sector, but recognises the need to do more to ensure that the NAFD, as the largest sector trade body, are truly inclusive and representative of the sector we serve.
In 2020 the NAFD launched an Equality and Diversity Initiative, with a working group that brings together member businesses, both big and small, to talk openly about their experiences of promoting equality and inclusivity in the workplace and discussing barriers to NAFD membership and engagement.
Looking to 2023 and beyond, the NAFD remains committed to working with members to support their efforts to be more inclusive and support diversity by creating guidance and educational materials, hosting useful, accessible events, and profiling sector role models.
The hope is that, through this work, members of all business type and size will be able to access the resources and information they need to create truly inclusive workplaces for employees that deliver outstanding services for clients.
NAFD Pride was born out of a desire for better representation from funeral service workers who identify as LGBTQ+. Funeral directors, embalmers, students, and others have told the NAFD that they do not feel as visible and included as they would like to be, and that better representation from the sector trade bodies is needed.
Rachel Bradburne, who is leading the initiative, said: “The NAFD has heard that call loud and clear and we want to lead that work. We want the whole sector to feel included, visible and to feel confident that their voices can and will be heard. To support our understanding of the need, from both individuals and businesses, we will set up and manage activities and groups that facilitate information sharing and grow awareness.
“We have launched a Facebook group and we hope to conduct member research in the coming months to establish how we can best support our members, to create truly inclusive workplaces for their employees and to meet and exceed the need of all their clients.”
The group was created in partnership with Nathan Martin, of Viner & Sons, who brought the idea to the NAFD. Nathan said: “Having been in the funeral profession for over 25 years, I have seen the varying attitudes towards minority groups change and even experienced discrimination myself.
“Despite a more positive attitude towards those groups, there is still a need for us to have a safe space where we can be ourselves, regardless of whether we are openly LGBTQ+ within the companies where we work. I was thrilled that the NAFD gave me the opportunity to present my idea for this group to them and, as such, received overwhelming support from the association to move forward together as part of the EDI plan.
“Our group will be a place to be around likeminded individuals. We can support each other in a profession with which we can all relate and I would hope that, in time, the group will grow to become a major influence within the sector, widely recognised for our contribution to equality, diversity and inclusion.”
To join the NAFD Pride Facebook group, visit www.facebook.com/groups/nafdpride