Exciting new services on offer at Burns Monument Centre
Registrars at the Burns Monument Centre have exciting new plans for the year ahead which will further enhance the services they already offer.
In a first for Scotland, from early 2023 the Centre will be able to live stream marriage/civil partnership ceremonies so that anyone who can’t attend the ceremony in person can join in remotely. The ceremony can also be made available to watch later so that the couple and their friends and families can relive every moment of the day, and there will also be an option to purchase a downloadable copy that can be kept forever.
In addition to this, a new bespoke audio-visual service will allow couples to choose from a huge range of licensed music to play on their special day.
Some other registration services can also now be accessed in a slightly different way following changes first brought about by the pandemic. The registration team continued to work from the Burns Monument Centre throughout the pandemic, and at one point were working seven days a week to provide COVID statistics to the Scottish Government. Throughout that time, they had to adapt their services, including providing some of them remotely. Going forward, all registration services will be centralised in the Kilmarnock Office at Burns Monument Centre by appointment only. Death Registration will continue to be carried out remotely over the phone, and documents will be posted out to families first class. There is also an option to pick documents up from the Burns Monument Centre once the registration is complete. If there is an urgent need for a face to face appointment, this can be accommodated where possible.
Birth Registration can also be carried out over the phone if this is more convenient for parents, or they can make a face-to-face appointment. Any remote birth registration documents will be posted first class.
Replacement Certificates can continue to be ordered from www.certificates.scot and will be posted first class. A same day certificate service can also be requested either by telephone or by calling into the office. Same day certificates must be ordered before 12 noon and will be available for collection after 3pm on the same day for an additional admin fee of £5.
ScotlandsPeople Centre will return to full day opening (9am-4pm) for two or three days per week at a cost of £15. Bookings can be made on a Friday from 9am for the following week by calling 01563 576695.
The office at Burns Monument Centre will close for lunch every day between 1pm and 2pm.
Councillor Douglas Reid, Leader of the Council, said: “The registrars at the Burns Monument Centre are always looking for ways to innovate and expand the services they offer and the plan to live stream ceremonies and give couples the option to keep the recording forever is a fantastic idea. No other registration office in Scotland currently offers this so I think it will be a real draw for many couples, in addition to the beautiful marriage suite and the lovely surroundings of Kay Park in which the Centre is set.
“Having some of the other registration services available remotely provides a more convenient way for people to register life’s important events, and the family history centre being open again for full days will, I’m sure, be welcomed by many.”
For more information, call 01563 576695 or visit https://www.east-ayrshire.gov.uk/CouncilAndGovernment/BirthMarriageAndDeath/Marriage-and-civil-ceremonies/Burns-Monument-Centre.aspx
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