Dying Matters Awareness Week: 4th-10th May

Led by Hospice UK, the initiative aims to encourage communities to talk openly about death, dying and funeral wishes.

Encouraging open conversations about death and dying is something our FuneralCoop colleagues are actively involved in - including hosting monthly grief coffee mornings, open to anyone in the community. We also offer free bereavement support through our GriefChat online service, connecting people with experienced counsellors Monday to Friday, 9am–9pm.

A recent survey of our Members found that while many people want to have conversations about death and dying, they often don't know where to begin - and those who have experienced loss frequently wish they'd spoken sooner. So, this Dying Matters Awareness Week, we're encouraging colleagues to take small, practical steps towards starting these conversations with the people who matter most to them:

• Start small - it doesn’t need to be one big conversation

• Ask a simple question - “Have you ever thought about what you’d want?”

• Talk about what matters - not just plans, but feelings and wishes

• Use real moments - a life event or shared experience can open the door

• Write things down - even basic wishes can make a big difference

For more information and resources about Dying Matters Awareness Week, visit the Hospice UK website.