What's on: Dying Matters Awareness Week
Find out about the fantastic range of events taking place around the UK for Dying Matters Awareness Week in 2024.
You can explore events in your area via the interactive Google map, or regional event listings.
Based in Scotland? Check out Demystifying Death Week run by Good Life, Good Death, Good Grief. Demystifying Death Week takes place across Scotland at the same time as Dying Matters Awareness Week (6-12 May).
What's Dying Matters Awareness Week?
Starting conversations about dying is often not as hard as you might think.
Every year, people around the country use Dying Matters Awareness Week as a moment to encourage all communities to get talking in whatever way, shape or form works for them. In 2024, Dying Matters Awareness Week takes place from 6 - 12 May and focuses on How we talk about Dying Matters.
Explore the events map
Dying Matters events by region
Dying Matters Awareness Week in 2024 takes place from 6 - 12 May. Explore the events by region, below.
You can submit your own Dying Matters Awareness Week event and get it listed on this page for free.
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Monday 6th - Friday 10th May
HIoW Healthcare Foundation NHS Trust 'Dying Matters Awareness Week 2024'. The specialist palliative care team within Hampshire and Isle of Wight Healthcare Foundation NHS Trust are hosting 'Dying Matters Awareness Week 2024' webinars across the week for all staff. A wide range of topics will be covered including: talking about death and dying, future planning, cultural perspectives, and more. Find out more on the Trust website.
Tuesday 7th May
10am: Compassionate Conversations. A free awareness training session delivered by St Elizabeth Hospice. It is aimed at helping people (aged 18+) build the skills and confidence to enable open, honest and sensitive conversations around end of life, loss and bereavement, whilst identifying ways to help and support others. Find out more.
Tuesday 7th May
12pm: Your Digital Memories Matter. Have you thought about what will happen to your digital footprint? What do we mean by digital assets? This workshop will provide you with an understanding of what your digital legacy means, what your digital assets are, where to go for help and how to turn this into conversation with family and friends. Find out more.
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Tuesday 7th May
2:30pm: A cuppa and a chat, Northumberland. Tea, cake and the opportunity for patients to chat about death, dying and grief to health professionals in primary care including GPs, social prescribers, care coordinators and Macmillan nurses. Address: Railway Medical Group, Blyth Health Centre, Thoroton Street, Blyth, Northumberland, NE24 1DX
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Saturday 4th May
9:30am: Open morning at GP surgery, Leyland. Informal opening morning at Worden Medical Centre, with the opportunity to speak with medical, nursing and social prescribing staff, as well as representatives from local hospice, bereavement support, carer support and other associated community groups. Address: Worden Medical Centre, Leyland, PR25 1HR
Thursday 9th May
1pm: Love, Life & Death with St Mary's Hospice, Cumbria. An event with Pluto Productions, who will be performing the play 'Blue Skies' written by Brian Daniels. The play focuses on the importance of hospice care and open dialogue through the eyes of a young man confronted with the prospect of losing his mum. Following the performance St Mary's Hospice staff will be encouraging conversations around this subject in a relaxed and supportive space. Address: Forum Theatre, Barrow in Furness, Cumbria, LA14 1HH. Find out more.
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Thursday 9th May
Dying Matters Coffee Morning, Sheffield. Coffee morning hosted by local funeral director, C&A Reed, to open the conversation about dying in a positive and constructive way. Address: Oriel House, 173 Duke Street, Sheffield, South Yorkshire, S2 5QN.
Friday 10th May
Launch date for Going Gently, Harrogate. A course which covers subjects related to all stages of death and dying, including: planning for death, talking things through with your family, funeralplanning, wills, powers of attorney and advance decisions. Address: Harrogate Library, Harrogate, HG1 1EG.
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Friday 3rd May
10am: Death café coffee morning, Chapel-en-le-frith. Share a coffee with staff from Bythe House Hospice and have informal discussions with them about the language used around death, dying and grief. You can also get involved in some crafts themed around the 'elephant in the room'. Address: Blythe House Hospice, Chapel-en-le-frith, SK23 9TJ
Thursday 9th May
Grief walk, Buxton. Take a walk around a beautiful park in Buxton. You are welcome to stop for a coffee and a chat afterwards. Address: Blythe House Hospice, Chapel-en-le-frith, SK23 9TJ
Thursday 9th May
1:30 - 3pm: Dying Matters Coffee Afternoon, Bourne. A coffee afternoon with refreshments at Central Coop Funeral Home. Everybody welcome. Address: R J Scholes Funeral Service, Wherry's Lane, Bourne PE10 9HQ
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Tuesday 26th March
6pm: Preview Screening: Much Ado About Dying, London. When filmmaker Simon Chambers cuts short a shoot in India to tend to his dying uncle, he has no idea of the journey they’re about to embark on together. Much Ado About Dying presents an intimate, occasionally funny and ultimately moving portrait of a solitary life and a quietly critical assessment of the inadequate resources available in the UK for a rapidly ageing population. Followed by a filmmaker Q&A, hosted by Jerry Rothwell. Address: Bertha DocHouse Curzon Bloomsbury The Brunswick Centre , London, WC1N 1AW. Find out more.
Thursday 2nd May
9am: Dying Matters - Never Too Young To Start Talking, Norwich. Meet over 30 local charities and organisations at this information-rich event ahead of Dying Matters Week. There will also be talks taking place in the auditorium. Address: The Forum, Millennium Plain, Norwich, East of England, NR2 1TF. Find out more.
Tuesday 7th May
10am: The Departure Lounge, Norfolk. A pop-up installation on the theme of an airport departure lounge, aimed at encouraging accessible public conversation about death and dying. Provides information, opportunities to write last postcards, conversation and refreshments. Organised and run as a collaboration between The Norfolk Hospice Tapping House and Marie Curie. Address: The Place, 23 New Conduit Street, Vancouver Quarter, King's Lynn, Norfolk, PE301DE.
Wednesday 8th May
10am: This is your life...plan it, enjoy it!, Hampshire. Community event hosted by Oakhaven Wellbeing, part of Oakhaven Hospice. Everyone is welcome to come along and explore the market stalls of local information; estate and funeral planners, celebrants, ways to remember our loved ones. There will also be inspiring and creative workshops that will give people the opportunity to explore the language of Dying Matters and how important it is to share our stories with each other. Address: Sway Place, Church Lane , Sway, New Forest , Hampshire, SO41 6AD. Find out more.
Norfolk Palliative Care Conference Advance Care Planning ‘Getting your house in order’, Norfolk. A palliative care conference focused on Advance Care Planning. It will be streamed live across Pilgrims Hospices' three sites in East Kent. In-person attendees will receive complimentary refreshments and lunch. Site post codes: CT2 8HQ, TN24 0NE, CT9 4AD. Email the team to reserve your place.
6pm: Talk & Tour with Royal Trinity Hospice, London. Interested in knowing more about Trinity and hospices in general? Join this free open house evening to learn a little bit more about what they do. You'll have the opportunity to meet members of our clinical and non-clinical teams and visit different areas of the hospice. You'll also hear about our work in the wider community and the difference we make in the lives of our patients and their families. Address: 30 Clapham Common North Side, London, SW4 0RN. Find out more.
Thursday 9th May
1pm: Regis Primary Care Network Dying Matters Awareness, Bognor Regis. A one hour presentation and question and answers with a local GP, community nurses, paramedic practitioner, hospice community nurse, solicitor, carers team and many others. All patients and carers welcome to join. Address: Flansham Park Health Centre, Bognor Regis, West Sussex, PO22 6DH. Find out more.
6pm: Power of Planning Ahead Café, London. A relaxed, informal and social practical session for anyone interested in finding out more about their options when making plans for when they die and afterwards. There will be plenty of opportunities to share hopes, expectations and ask questions over a glass of wine or soft drink with the support our "What matters to me" booklet. Address: Royal Trinity Hospice, 30 Clapham Common Northside, London, SW4 0RN. Find out more.
Friday 10th May
10am: Living Well, Dying Matters, Brentwood. Come and have the big conversations with us - advance care planning, the legalities you should know, how important is the language we use around death, dying and grief. Eight organisations are taking part including Saint Francis Hospice, the local authority, St. Thomas' Church, care homes, and funeral directors. Refreshments available 10am-1pm. Address: St Thomas of Canterbury Church, Thomas Road, Brentwood, Essex, CM14 4DF.
Dying Matters hospital stall, Southend. A stall will be run within the hospital to raise awareness surround Dying Matters. It will be supported by palliative care staff, chaplains, and the bereavement team. There will also be various activities at the stall, such as question time, ribbons for loved ones on a remembrance tree, cakes, mortuary tours and more. Address: Southend hospital, Prittlewell Chase, Southend, Essex, SS0 0RY.
Tuesday 14th May
Dying matters in Tower Hamlets, London. A variety of awareness-raising and engagement events for health and care professionals, and local residents in Tower Hamlets. Please check social media for further information (@NHS_NELondon - X/Twitter account). Address: In accessible community locations across Tower Hamlets, London (more details to be shared via social media).
Tuesday 30th July
'And Death Shall Have No Dominion', London. An art exhibition with paintings inspired by personal death experiences. Address: Fitzrovia, London W1T 9PN. Find out more.
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Thursday 2nd May
12pm: Chew Valley Death Café. Death café hosted on the first Thursday of every month. Address: Bishop Sutton Community Library, Bishop Sutton, Somerset, BS39 5UU.
Friday 3rd May
7.30pm: Death - A Romantic Comedy, Southampton. Death - A Romantic Comedy is the new show from comic, poet and psych nurse Rob Gee. Address: Gods House Tower, Town Quay Rd, Southampton, Hampshire, SO14 2NY. Find out more & tickets
Monday 6th - Friday 10th May
Dying Matters Awareness Week at St Monica Trust, Avon. This event takes place throughout the week, exploring a different perspective on the theme each day. It also brings together good practice relating to end of life care. The event is delivered digitally across all care homes and domiciliary care locations using an online platform. Address: St Monica Trust, Sandford Station, Avon, BS25 5AA
Monday 6th - Sunday 12th May
1pm - 4pm: Open Studio, Dorset. Visit Angie McLachlan's studio to learn about mortality and care of the body with The Ichabodies - death dummies that allow people to approach the subject of death and dying in a non-funeral setting. Address: Workshop 6 - The Victoria Building, Lerret Road, Portland, Dorset, DT5 1GB.
Tuesday 7th May
7pm: Suicide Bereavement & Support, Southampton. What language to use regarding suicide, how to support someone or get support following a bereavement, some myths, facts and complications and the long term effects. Address: Edmund Kell Church, Bellevue Road, Southampton, Hampshire, SO15 2AY. Find out more
Thursday 9th May
12pm: Good Life; Good Death, Plymouth. An afternoon for the local community to come and talk to The Durnford Society about death and dying and what this means to them. The event hopes to start conversations using processes such as Advance Care Planning and resources for people with Learning Disabilities or Autism. Address: 165 North Prospect Road, Plymouth, Devon, PL2 2ND.
Thursday 9th May
7pm - 9pm: North Bristol Death Café, Bristol. A monthly safe space to reclaim the conversation about death and dying - and inevitably - living. Open to anyone with any questions, thoughts or specific issues around death and dying. It's always a free evening, including the tea and cake! Address: Divine Ceremony, 2 Zetland Road, Bristol, BS6 7AE. Contact Ruth, Dee or Isabel on 0117 904 9786 to find out more.
Saturday 18th May
11am: A Dead Good Day Out, Southampton. Plenty of family friendly hands on activities, in a welcoming and creative space. Address: St Denys Church & Centre, Dundee Road, Southampton, Hampshire, SO17 2ND. Find out more
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Based in Scotland? Check out Demystifying Death Week run by Good Life, Good Death, Good Grief.
Demystifying Death Week takes place across Scotland at the same time as Dying Matters Awareness Week (6-12 May).
Explore Dying Matters
Explore our Dying Matters campaign: what we're trying to achieve, our latest news stories, and how you can get involved.