Dying Matters Awareness Week 2014

Image from dyingmatters.org

 

Dying Matters Awareness Week is fast approaching, taking place from the 12th – 18th May. We are hosting a number of exciting events throughout the week, in partnership with the World Museum, Walker Art Gallery, Central Library, FACT and Siren to name a few. We will be releasing the details shortly but make sure you follow us on Twitter and like us on Facebook to get the latest updates!

There are a number of family events taking place on the weekend of the 17th and 18th of May from Meet the Mummy! at the World Museum to cookie decorating at The Garden in LEAF @ FACT. All of our events are free and promise to be engaging and a lot of fun.

 

Image from sweetsugarbelle.com

 

Check back here soon for the dates and times of our events! If you would like to get involved or want to know more about The Bucket Project or Dying Matters, please contact us at amy.king@mariecurie.org.uk.

Are you doing anything for Dying Matters Awareness Week? Let us know here #YODO

Schools Carousel a Roaring Success

Last week we visited a primary school on a ‘schools carousel’ to talk to children about our jobs and to give them a chance to ask us any questions they may have. We were accompanied by a number of different representatives of businesses and public services, all interested in helping children find out information about their careers.

However, we were initially concerned about talking to children about death and dying and wanted to do so in an appropriate way. The response from the children was remarkable; they were open about the subject and actively engaged in a ‘name the animal skeleton’ quiz which they of course, found fascinating. They were extremely excited to write on our ‘bucket list’ postcards with chalk and discussed not only career aspirations but things that they would like to do in their lives, from deep sea diving to swimming with sharks!

 

Bucket List Postcard

 

Whilst many of the questions they asked regarded salary or length of working hours, there were a few fantastic questions such as ‘do you find your job emotional?’, which demonstrated that children are far more aware of issues surrounding death than adults often give them credit for.

As adults, we are reluctant to talk to children about the subject of death and dying, in an attempt to ‘protect’ them. However, this venture proved that children are resilient and do not approach these topics with the same taboo attitude that is ingrained in to adults in Western society. Of course it is always important when talking to children about death to adhere to appropriate conversation, but it should not be avoided and brushed under the carpet.  Through talking openly about death at a younger age it will ultimately make it more normal and lead to better awareness of end of life care options for people with terminal illnesses.

 

Death in Disney Films
Image from clubecandoca.com

 

Death can be a scary subject, but it happens to us all. Every day children see death and dying in Disney films, cartoons and video games, so we shouldn’t be afraid to talk about it with them. For an interactive and light way to introduce the topic, why not head down to one of our events at the World Museum during Dying Matters Awareness Week, from the 12th – 18th May. There will be ‘Meet the Mummy’ sessions for both adults and children on Saturday the 17th at 1pm, 2pm and 3pm and a ‘Day of the Dead Drop In’ from 1-4pm on Sunday the 18th. It was inspiring to see one little girl in particular, frantically writing down the dates of these events; she will no doubt be asking her parents to take her there! And we hope to see you there too!

 

For more information on events we are hosting in Dying Matters Awareness Week, contact us at amy.king@mariecurie.org.uk or find us on Facebook and Twitter.

A Successful Second Death Cafe

As you may be aware, our second ever Death Café took place yesterday at the No. 8 Main Street Coffee café in Woolton. It was a great success and involved extremely interesting conversation, good company and wonderful refreshments.

 

A wonderful selection of refreshments at the Death Café

 

This was the first Death Café I had ever attended and I am pleased to announce that it involved truly thought-provoking conversation. The name may be off-putting to many people, but if you look past the vocabulary you may find it can be a freeing and fascinating experience. Topics discussed ranged from eating animals to what happens after we are gone, producing some very interesting and unusual ideas.

One thought that struck me throughout was that these conversations, some remarkably philosophical in nature, remind me of the type of exchanges had after an evening of inebriation (which we do not condone) and that it’s upsetting that we have to lower our inhibitions before we can discuss such important topics. In my opinion it was refreshing to talk about ideas with other like-minded people and some of their comments completely changed the way I think about things. One moment in particular was that of a small reading shared by one of the attendees from the Muriel Spark book ‘Memento Mori’, the end of the excerpt read:

 

‘[Death] should be part of the full expectancy of life.  Without an ever-present sense of death life is insipid. You might as well live on the whites of eggs’

I found the last sentence particularly profound, but I shall leave you to decide what your own thoughts are on this extract.

 

Listening to an impromptu excerpt reading

 

I would definitely recommend people try out a Death Café in your area, even if you are apprehensive at first, there is no pressure for you to speak and you are welcome to leave at any time. You might just be pleasantly surprised.

 

 

Some members mid-discussion

If you have suggestions for a future Death Café or would like to be involved in future events, do not hesitate to contact us at amy.king@mariecurie.org.uk or chat with us via Facebook and Twitter.

What is a ‘Death Café’?

Image from deathcafe.com

The name ‘Death Café’ can be off-putting to many people as talking about ‘death’ is an extremely taboo subject not only here in the UK but in a number of western capitalist countries across the world.

 

The Death Café is a global initiative developed by Jon Underwood in 2011, taking inspiration from Café Mortel in Switzerland created by sociologist Bernard Crettaz. It is a temporary event that provides a comfortable place to talk about topics relating to death and dying whilst eating nourishing nibbles and cakes which are served alongside tea and coffee (free at our Woolton Death Café).

Image from eatitdetroit.com

 

The image you first associate with this kind of event may be a group of people with a morbid fascination gathered around a table. However this couldn’t be further from the truth. A variety of people from different backgrounds and life experiences attend and discuss a wide range of topics that can be both inspirational and touching.

 

It may not be for everyone; however, it is obvious that there is a need for comfortable and safe spaces for people to talk about death, proven by the growing popularity of this initiative. It may not be easy talking about death and loss but that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t. Death happens to everyone and is something we all have in common. A survey conducted by Dying Matters discovered that more than 70% of people are uncomfortable talking about death.

People talking at a Death Café in Portland, USA
(Image from komonews.com)

 

Talking about death doesn’t have to be morbid, it can make you think about how you want to live and what you want to achieve, helping to make the most out of our (finite) lives. Through breaking down the taboo surrounding death together we can be more prepared.

 

If you are interested in finding out more or would like to book a place in our upcoming Death Café on the 24th February, email me at amy.king@mariecurie.org.uk or chat to us on Facebook and Twitter.

If the Death Café isn't for you, email us and let us know ideas and events that you would be interested in.