Sarah Jones and David Read more [...]
Full Circle Funerals Leeds
Funeral Directors Category: Yorkshire & The Humber
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Sarah Jones and David Billington are the business partners who founded Full Circle Funerals. Although, as their website says, Sarah and Dave are personal, professional and compassionate people first and funeral directors second.
Full Circle Funerals is quite unlike any other funeral director business in the area. This is immediately apparent to anyone driving past any of their premises in Guiseley, Bramley, Harrogate and Halifax – they look more like a classy interior design showrooms than funeral director premises, with large windows, warm and natural decor and a fresh, modern feel. The website is similarly bright and attractive in design and the whole look of the company reflects the intelligent and thoughtful approach that this young business is bringing to a traditionally staid and somber service.
Sarah and Dave are supported by a small, close-knit team and together they have created a completely different type of funeral business serving families of Leeds, Bradford, Harrogate and Skipton and the surrounding areas. There are no assumptions here, nor acceptance of what ‘should’ be done when it comes to a funeral; the people at Full Circle Funerals are totally flexible and committed to giving clients as much support and involvement as each family wants or needs. They are really keen to show families the range of ideas, suggestions, products and styles that are available to help each client make the decisions that are right for them.
Completely transparent in pricing, with an online estimator to help you work out what the final costs might be depending on your choices, the philosophy at Full Circle is simple. Clear information, guidance where you need it and as much emotional or practical support as you want. You can expect to be treated like an intelligent adult, and whichever team member you meet will listen closely to what you need from them without making any suppositions. The Full Circle philosophy is to start with a blank canvas each time, and not to have any expectations about what is ‘the norm’, or what might be right for any client or their family. They believe strongly that genuine engagement in funeral planning supports a more positive grieving process and they have the communication skills and confidence to support people to achieve this.
Sarah and Dave met when they were both working with adults with learning difficulties. Sarah had trained and worked as a doctor before moving into adult social care, and Dave had previously lived and worked in America supporting underprivileged children to access outdoor youth programmes. Their wide experience of the world is evident in their determination to breathe fresh life into the way that we deal with the subject of death, something so often hidden away behind the blinds of a traditional funeral director’s premises, or cloaked in the processional ‘otherness’ of a passing funeral cortege.
Sarah in particular is passionate about re-designing the dialogue our society has about dying and death. She believes ardently that we would all benefit from speaking more openly about it, and her decision to move into providing an undertaking service was very much motivated by a desire to offer families the time, choices and support to create meaningful funerals.
Away from work, Sarah is a mother to two children, and she loves walking, running and cycling with her husband and family. She loves baking and cooking and making things, and clearly has a creative eye – the attractive décor of all of Full Circle Funerals’ premises has Sarah’s stamp all over it. “I love a bit of duck egg blue,” she says.
Dave spent some time working alongside another funeral director locally and is also a trained civil celebrant. He and his fiancée enjoy exploring the local countryside with their golden Labrador, Wilson, who is also part of the Full Circle Funerals team.
Both Dave and Sarah have a great deal of experience of working with people from their previous occupations, and bring many skills to their venture, including managing difficult communication and public speaking abilities.
Full Circle has two service in the Leeds areas (Guiseley and Bramley) from which they can support people from across Leeds, Bradford and Wharfedale. Nicola and David are the funeral directors at the service in Bramley and they are supported by the wider Full Circle team. Full Circle hosts monthly free webinars and you might find their funeral arranging guide “Funerals Your Way – A Person Centred Approaching to Arranging a Funeral” helpful (available from Amazon and your local book store)
Specific Gravity
A contemporary, intelligent and very normal approach to helping families with organising a funeral. You can have a fully traditional black funeral if you want, they have all the kit, including the hats, but there’s a Full Circle uniform of duck-egg blue polo shirts and mid grey jumpers if you prefer that. Or they will attend in smart casual clothing if you’d rather. You tell them what look suits you.
What\’s Important?
Empowering you to decide how best to commemorate an important life. Transparency, guidance where needed and provision of information to help you find exactly what you need to craft the type of funeral that you want.
Environmental issues are also important, and the vehicles offered for funerals are both electric. The eco hearse and accompanying family car are an example of how Full Circle are trying to demonstrate the range of funeral options available now.
What’s Different?
All of the Full Circle premises are bright, light and airy environments with a fresh contemporary feel. Normal, ordinary people who are motivated by a desire to help families achieve the funeral that best suits them. Transparent pricing and a completely modern approach.
Services
- Your first call will be usually be answered at Guiseley by Sarah, Ruth, Lucy, Jade or Tim, at Bramley by either Andrew or Jodie, at Harrogate by Dave or Janice and at Halifax by Nicola.
- Home visits – yes of course, or at a place of your choosing if you like. Routinely offered.
- Same sex person to wash and dress? Yes, just ask.
- Embalming They do not personally feel that it is necessary but if a family is genuinely fully informed (including about the level of intervention required) then it is something that they are willing to arrange.
- Ethnic specialism Full Circle Funeral staff have the knowledge and skills to support any cultural, religious or spiritual needs or wishes.
- Home arranged funerals – positively encouraged, supporting families arranging funerals themselves is considered a privilege.
- Local celebrants – They have links with a range of local celebrants, independents, civil celebrants, Humanists, pagans and others in the area. David is also a trained civil celebrant and would be happy to help families. When meeting a celebrant you can ask that your Full Circle contact accompany you to ensure that your ideas and principles are not unintentionally overlooked.
- Website – really nice website with clear navigation and an online price estimator. The website complements the fundamental ethos and values of the company.
- Client support – excellent. Clients who need additional support will be signposted to appropriate groups or counsellors. Details of bereavement support organisations are included in the information pack.
- Money matters – clear, open pricing detailed on the website. Two simple options are also available, Simple Ceremony and Simple Cremation. Excellent value for money.
- Parking – Ample parking outside the premises, with car parks at Guiseley and Bramley, and on street parking alongside the Harrogate and Halifax branches.
Remarks
The Full Circle way of doing things is the future of funeral directing. All of the trappings and grandeur of the old patriarchal style of funeral directing have been dispensed with, replaced by stylish comfort, openness and a quality that is immediately apparent.
Their premises are gorgeous, and your person who has died will be impeccably cared for if you choose to use Full Circle as their custodians until the funeral. The simple kindness and humanity that motivated Sarah and Dave to open their business is embedded in the values of this company, and Yorkshire people now have one of the best new progressive undertakers in the country at their service.
Any decisions you take on engaging the services of a funeral director should be based on your views and research. You should not rely solely upon the views and opinions offered by us.
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Full Circle Funerals Harrogate
Sarah Jones and David Read more [...]
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Full Circle Funerals Leeds
Sarah Jones and David Read more [...]
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Full Circle Funerals Guiseley
Full Circle Funerals Read more [...]
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The funeral arrangement experience was actually better than my expectations. I liked the ‘one stop shop’ approach. Flowers and caterers suggested and contacted by Full Circle. We personalised the funerals by family and friends giving tributes in church. Full Circle staff were respectful. Suggestions made and opinions provided.
I have never arranged a funeral before and I was astounded by David’s approach. It was made an easy process. Nothing was too much trouble. I was very impressed. We decorated the coffin with personal messages and bunting and Full Circle allowed me to use their premises for this. Nothing was too much trouble and due to the circumstances surrounding my partners death, David and Kerry were so supportive. Thank-you for making this occasion a memorable one and a very well co-ordinated day.
The arranging experience exceeded what the family had expected. The Globe was a beautiful environment – modern, tasteful and respectful. The whole experience helped the family at the saddest time. I’ve been to lots of funerals and dealt with many funeral directors but nothing compared to our experience with F.C.F. We were given every opportunity to personalise Dad’s funeral. This was our family’s funeral for Dad and never felt like F.C.F were taking over/ Eulogy, order of service, even the position of Dad’s coffin was our choice and accommodated. The staff support was beyond our expectations. Nothing was too much. Friendly but never intrusive, respectful and incredibly kind especially to our 95 year old Mum.
The funeral arrangement experience exceeded what we expected. As soon as we walked into the room we received a warm welcome that put us all at ease. The atmosphere and surroundings were relaxing and David was brilliant. He gave full explanations, was very patient and managed to make it feel like we were not arranging our Dad’s funeral. We were able to place personal items in Dad’s coffin and allowed to see him whenever it was convenient to us which meant a lot. David and the team were excellent, very supportive. Family and friends commented on how fab they were on the day of the funeral. We cannot thank David and the team enough for making a stressful time easier. We felt we were planning a celebration with friends, rather than a funeral.
The management and delivery of the funeral from initial telephone contact through to the after-care support has been exceptionally good. I could not have wished for a better service. We personalised the service in a number of ways: a bagpiper – this was very special and personally relevant for Lorraine and family; the Nissan leaf eco-hearse; details on the seed packets, suffragette colours on the coffin; our own celebrant; Brooklands Woodland Burial – all of these things made the funeral feel very personal and beautiful. David was exceptionally good. I was very pleased that the support was consistent. David was the person I spoke to initially on the phone and he stayed with me throughout. He began by asking us to tell him about Lorraine which was the perfect way to begin. He was extremely sensitive, anticipating needs but always checking back. I was so so happy that Full Circle enabled me to ensure the perfect funeral for Lorraine. They surpassed my highest expectations. Thank-you so much.
I have been going past Full Circle in Bramley whilst it was being developed from The Globe pub and thought it might be a good place to try. Very handy for me. I wanted a fairly traditional and simple service and Full Circle were able to arrange this for me. I was able to personalise the funeral by arranging to have a horse-racing scene printed on a fabric to drape over the coffin. That added to my contribution towards the service and made me feel good. The staff were very friendly, warm and kind. They were thoughtful and easy going. They did not try and persuade me to do anything I didn’t want to. Jodie especially was very sweet.
The funeral arrangement was what I had expected it to be and more. I just wanted the best send off for my Grandad and they fulfilled that. David made me feel welcome and he listened. He also gave me options for the funeral. The staff were very friendly and easy to talk to. Full Circle was a very warm environment who made me feel welcome. The staff are amazing and understanding – talking to me and helping with the funeral. I would recommend them to people.
I feel that even with the restrictions Full Circle went above and beyond. I requested that the hearse was driven via Dad’s address so that it gave neighbours of Dad’s chance to say goodbye. I’m so glad that Andrew obliged it felt “the right thing to do”‘.
We as a family would yet again like to say what a lovely/respectful experience we have had at this sad time. Special thanks to Andrew and Jodie. You should be extremely proud of your staff it made a difficult time so much easier!
I feel I couldn’t have faced my dad’s death without the support of Full Circle. What was the most horrific of times was lightened by the kindness and empathy that come so naturally to the team there – I couldn’t have asked for better people to walk alongside us. Mum and I are so thankful that we were supported in the right way, in every way, and we hope that more families find the solace that we have. We were afforded the time and the space to make the decisions that were really meaningful for us and the day that was created for Dad epitomised all of his days and the memories that we created at his funeral will bring me strength for the rest of mine. Thank you.
We had no expectations of what we required from a funeral director as we have never had to arrange one. We were in utter shock & grief, on the recommendations of a family member we approached Full Circle. A soon as we met with Nicola +team who came to care for our dad we knew all would be ok, we instantly knew with Nicola’s lovely soft approach to our dads passing her sense of calmness+ gentle voice she would get us through this difficult time, We didn’t have a clue where to start but nicola made it so easy and dignified, the aftercare has been incredible with ways to remember dad, we are more than welcome to share our thoughts. Thank you.
The support we got in upsetting times was fantastic. The communications between ourselves and Full Circle leading up to the funeral were done in a very dignified manner.
The way in which Anne gently guided us when making plans but let us take the lead. I planned the funeral myself, with my son’s help, and Anne didn’t object to any suggestions and just made it happen in the way we planned.
Everyone I spoke to was friendly and supportive, understanding and compassionate without being ‘gushing’ or ‘over the top’ with ‘sympathies’. I was allowed to do things the way I wanted and was never made to feel this was wrong.
I knew what my husband would have wanted and more importantly, what he wouldn’t have wanted. I wanted to be very involved in every aspect of my Husbands care and this was never discouraged. I was allowed, and helped, to do everything I needed to do for him. This felt so important to me.
Paul
Everything was taken care of and it went so well. Once I saw we had so many options for the coffin it changed from cold formal service to celebration of my mam’s life with a beautiful printed coffin. Ruth made us feel a ease, she almost felt like part of the family. She knew what she was doing and made sure we didn’t’ miss anything out.
Personalised, felt like Ken was looked after And team at Bramley incredibly compassionate to family. Kevin chose a direct cremation prior to passing, he originally chose another Funeral Directors, we had a long wait for them to arrive. We agreed as a family to change to Full Circle as we had a previous funeral with them. Kevin chose this Funeral Directors as he did not want an expensive funeral however found Full Circle to be the same price. We thought a direct cremation meant we wouldn’t have much option to personalise, but Full Circle allowed this to happen.
Thanks to Anne and the Team, such caring people. Our family was already struggling with the loss of mum a year prior my dad took great comfort in seeing Anne arrive to collect Kevin as he knew her already from the monthly meetings.
This is my second time using Full Circle in the past two years and on both occasions the team has been outstanding. Myself and the family do not feel there is any way our experience could have been improved.
Jodie was always on the end of the telephone to help with every step of the way in a very professional but friendly way. Having a kind friendly face made it all a happy occasion instead of a depressing occasion. I can’t praise the staff enough for there professional and friendly approach to a sad occasion.