Plan today for all your tomorrows
Plan the funeral you want, with our local knowledge, we will make it simple, secure and tailored to you.
Please Note:
This site is for Prepaid Funeral Plans.
For immediate assistance or to arrange a funeral today, please visit our main website or call 01702 558 717.
Our Plans at a Glance
We believe planning ahead should be simple and transparent. Take a look at our plans below – each designed to offer clear value, flexible payment choices, and complete peace of mind for you and your family.
Option One
- Cremation Only
- No Service or Ceremony
- Transportation to our chosen crematorium
- Wood Effect Coffin
Option Two
- Cremation or Burial
- A service for the family to attend
- Hearse to meet at the service venue
- A simple wood coffin
Option Three
- Cremation or Burial
- A service for the family to attend
- Hearse & 1 Limousine
- Wood Veneer Coffin
- Flexibility to add services
Option Four
- Cremation or Burial
- A service for the family to attend
- A separate service in church or other venue if required
- Hearse & 1 limousine
- Superior Wood Veneer Coffin
- Flexibility to add services
Good reasons to plan with us
In a crowned market, it can sometimes seem difficult to make the right choice, especially for something as important as your funeral. For many people, taking out a funeral plan is about protecting their family from having to make decisions at a difficult time. Although noble and well-intentioned, many people fail to consider what will actually happen when the time comes. Purchasing a funeral plan on-line can be quick and easy, but when it comes to actually arranging the funeral, most families want the familiarity and reassurance of dealing with a real person based in their local community.
Financial Protection & Peace of Mind
- Our chosen partner, Golden Charter offer, fixed costs for all guaranteed services in your plan at today’s prices, protecting against future inflation.
- Your funds are held securely in the Golden Charter Trust, managed independently to ensure your money is safe and independently managed.
- For further protection and reassurance, funeral plans are regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA)
Tailored Planning & Flexibility
- With a Golden Charter funeral plan through S. Stibbards & Sons, you can, specify your funeral preferences in advance, ensuring a meaningful send-off, or even no send off at all!
- Include allowances for third-party costs like cremation or burial fees.
- Choose from a number of plan options, from a simple non-attended cremation to bespoke arrangements.
Avoid the Pitfalls of Buying Online
- Lack of Funeral Director Choice & Notification – one of the most significant risks of buying on-line is that you won’t know who will be carrying out your funeral or looking after your family. When purchasing a plan online, if you do not nominate a chosen Funeral Director, the plan provider may assign your funeral to a partner company that could be miles away, causing logistical issues and emotional stress for your family. Unfortunately you may not find this out until the time of need.
- Even if you do nominate a local funeral director, they may not be informed until after death, and they may decline to accept the plan, leaving your family scrambling for alternatives. As a company we do not accept accept plans from most of the other funeral plan providers.
- Hidden Administration Fees & Cost Discrepancies – online funeral plans often include administration fees that reduce the amount paid to the funeral director, although this won’t affect the care you receive, your funds may not be allocated how you wish.
- The price you pay may be significantly higher than what the funeral director receives, meaning that you don’t receive the value for money that you expected.
Online plans frequently ignore local variations in burial and cremation fees, resulting in unexpected shortfalls that your family will need cover at the time.
Why choose us, your local funeral plan provider
We are a local company, primarily looking after the communities of Southend-on-Sea, Castlepoint, Rochford and the wider area of Essex. Choosing us as your selected funeral director ensures your wishes are carried out with personal attention and familiarity. Unlike online plans that may assign a provider miles away, working with a local firm like S. Stibbards & Sons means, your family won’t face the stress of coordinating with unfamiliar providers at a difficult time. With over 150 years of experience, we are a trusted, reputable family company with an extensive knowledge, ensuring your funeral plan meets your expectations.
At your time of need you’ll receive compassionate, face-to-face support from a team embedded in your community and local to you.
- Standard Service Available
- Service Available Outside Our Usual Area
Begin Your Planning Journey
Three easy steps. One simple decision. A lifetime of reassurance for you and your loved ones.
STEP 1
Choose the right plan for you
Browse our range and pick the plan that suits you.
STEP 2
Add your personal touches
Include any music, readings, or service preferences.
STEP 3
Feel reassured
We’ll take care of everything, leaving you free to enjoy life.
Got Questions? We’re Here to Help
All funds for funeral plans held by Golden Charter are securely held in The Golden Charter Trust, established in 1990. The trust is a separate legal entity, entirely independent of Golden Charter Limited. The trust exists to protect both the plan holders by ensuring their funeral costs are covered when the time comes and funeral directors, such as ourselves, by guaranteeing they are paid for services rendered under the plan.
If you have any specific questions, please don’t hesitate to get in contact with us.
What is a pre-paid funeral plan?
A pre-paid funeral plan lets you arrange and pay for your funeral in advance at todays prices. The funeral directors fees are guaranteed and an allowance is included towards the third party fees, such as burial or cremation costs. With a range of flexible payment options, you can spread the cost of your future funeral arrangements.
Why should I plan ahead?
Peace of mind, you will have the reassurance that your family won’t face unexpected costs or decisions at a difficult time.
Choose between traditional funerals, direct cremations, or unique send-offs tailored to your preferences. Our local knowledge ensures that we can advise you of the best options available to you. This ensure that the plans you make are based on informed local knowledge, protecting your family in the future.
Can I personalise my funeral plan?
We understand that everyone is an individual and their send off should be a fitting tribute to the life they have lived. All our plans allow you to personalise the elements that are important to you, ensuring your funeral reflects your wishes. From a Horse-drawn carriage, extra limousines or an Order of Service we offer a range of services to ensure every element of the service has been thought of.
Is my money protected?
S. Stibbards & Sons Ltd is an appointed representative of Golden Charter Limited trading as Golden Charter Funeral Plans which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FRN:965279)
Since 29 July 2022, the pre-paid funeral plan sector has been regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). While the Trust itself is not directly regulated by the FCA, it must comply with FCA rules relating to trusts. Golden Charter Limited, the plan provider, is fully authorised and regulated by the FCA.
Care, Compassion & Support in all we do
As a Funeral Director, who offer funeral plans, we are uniquely placed to offer you the very best information and support when pre-planning your funeral. Unlike on-line call centers who are experts in selling a ‘product’, we can carefully listen to your wishes, ensuring that you make informed choices that reflect your future needs and are suitable to the facilities that are available locally. If you would like to speak to one of our planning consultants, please get in touch for a no obligation chat, support and guidance.