Goodbye 2016 and Hello 2017

We come to the end of 2016 with mixed feelings. The two-year extension we were so pleased to announce in our End of Year 5 Report has now been rescinded by our funders, Liverpool Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG). They are facing budget cuts, like a lot of other sectors, and are reviewing all of their services and the projects they fund. At the moment, we are safe until March 2017, but are anxiously waiting to hear the outcome of the review in the new year.

Rachael McMeacock, Project Manager of The Bucket Project, receiving her 5 year service award

The positive news is we are still moving forwards with the work of Compassionate Cities/Communities and are leading a task and finish group to develop this initiative. This could prove all the more important with the cuts facing health and social care services, where we will need the community to step in to support those that are dying, their families and carers as well as the bereaved. The Telegraph recently printed a story about a similar initiative, which you can read here. 

As part of this work, we have been compiling a list of end of life and bereavement organisations across Liverpool as well as collecting case studies to help others plan and prepare for end of life and death. If you have a story to share, we’d love to hear it. Read some of the stories we have collected so far here.

Both the Helper Service and Our Time Liverpool, a time banking project, are involved with the task and finish group. They have been sharing their expertise and best practice models to help develop the direction of this work. We also have a great mix of people from a range of backgrounds who bring a wealth of personal and professional experience to the group, and we thank them all for their contributions. 

Image taken from Nasir & Habib's Helper story

We hope to have established firm foundations for a Compassionate Liverpool before the potential end of The Bucket Project. If you would like to get involved or support Liverpool in getting this status, please get in touch.

You can find out more about Compassionate Communities, Compassionate Cities, Marie Curie’s Helper Service and Our Time Liverpool by clicking the highlighted text.

We would like to wish you all a merry Christmas and a happy New Year. We hope that 2017 brings us good news and the opportunity to continue working with the people of Liverpool. Look after each other, be kind and take care.

 Image taken from Desktop Nexus

So Long, Farewell...

I (Amy) am writing today to say goodbye to The Bucket Project and our supporters; I am moving on to another role within the Marie Curie Hospice. It has been a privilege to work on this project and I have learned so much. I have met so many interesting people this past year and a half and would like to thank each and every one of you for discussing such a difficult topic with me and sharing your experiences.

 

The work the project undertakes is so important because it is essential that people try and plan for the future and be able to discuss the subjects of death, dying and loss. Whilst I am sad to be leaving, I am sure that whoever takes my place will bring their own creativity, flair and imagination to help progress the project.

 

Here are some of my favourite moments:

 

  

 

 

 

 

Thank you for this experience and remember, help keep the topic of death alive in Liverpool!

Photograph Appeal

 

The Bucket Project will be touring their Day of the Dead Celebration around Liverpool and would like you to contribute a photo of your late loved one. Add to our altar of touching pictures and memories and ensure your loved one is remembered.

 

We want to encourage people to share their happy memories of departed loved ones and remember them for the person they were. We shouldn’t be afraid to remember the good times after someone close to us dies, we should cherish the time we did have with them.

 

Our Day of the Dead Celebrations provide a comfortable space in a social setting where people we have loved and lost can be discussed freely. Participant have said others can block conversations about those who have died, for fear of being morbid or depressing. When we gather to celebrate lives that have passed, it is with a feeling of peace and nostalgia blanketed in heart-warming memories.

 

The Day of the Dead altars are colourful and bright, decorated with paper flowers and patterned skulls. You can design your own frame or send us your picture and we’ll frame it for you. We do ask that you also send us the person’s name and a little bit about them to go on the back of the frame. To find out when our next events take place, become a member of The Bucket Project and receive regular updates, by simply sending us your email address.

 

A touching photograph brought to our November
Day of the Dead Celebration

A tribute written on the frame

If you would like to make a contribution to our Day of the Dead altar, you can email your photographs and stories to rachael.mckindley@mariecurie.org.uk. Alternatively you can post, or drop off, a copy of your photo with text, to:

 

The Bucket Project
Marie Curie Hospice Liverpool
Speke Road
Woolton
Liverpool
L25 8QA

 

Please do not send us original photographs as we may not be able to return them to you.

Dying Matters Week Review 2015

We kicked off this year’s Dying Matters Week with a ‘Memories’ event at the Marie Curie Hospice Liverpool. We invited people to share their stories of loved ones who have passed whilst sipping tea and eating cake. There were some really touching moments shared and placed on our daffodil wall.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The main event took place on Thursday 21st May named ‘This Event Won’t Kill You!’ at Quaker Meeting House, where stallholders from a number of specialist fields, such as funeral planning and organ donation, provided information and advice. Alongside informative displays there were interactive pieces, such as our 4ft ‘DEATH’ lettering and popular remembrance tree.

 

 

 

 

To round off the week, our final event, ‘May Day of the Dead’ took place at the stylish Siren Café on St. James Street. This was well attended with a group discussing lost loved ones and the topics of life and death.

 

 

 

We would like to thank our members, partners and hosts, who made these events possible. And don’t forget, Talk, Plan, Live!

This Year's Dying Matters Events in Liverpool

As part of Dying Matters Awareness Week (18-24 May 2015), The Bucket Project is hosting three events: ‘Memories’ at Marie Curie Hospice Liverpool; ‘This Event Won’t Kill You’ at Quaker House; and ‘May Day of the Dead Celebration’ at Siren Café.

 

The theme of Dying Matters Awareness Week 2015 is ‘Talk, Plan, Live’, an action-focused theme emphasising that we only get one chance to have our dying wishes met, which is why it’s vital to talk, plan and make arrangements for the end of life – before it’s too late. The Bucket Project will be launching their brand new ‘5 Things To Do Before You Die’ practical booklet, which covers:  

• Talking to your loved ones about end of life wishes 
• Making it legal and writing a will 
• Planning for your funeral and recording the details 
• Considering organ donation and sharing your decision 
• Thinking about your future care needs

Here are the details of the three events organised by The Bucket Project:

 

‘Memories’ – Marie Curie

Wednesday 20th May from 1-3pm

Marie Curie Hospice, Woolton, L25 8QA

 

 

We invite you to share a photograph and a story of your late loved one with a warm drink and slice of cake. We’re creating a Memory Wall for friends and families of the people cared for by Marie Curie.

 

We often tend to focus on the sadness and loss when someone dies, but it’s also good to take time to remember and celebrate the life they lived and the memories made. Members of staff and volunteers will be in attendance to listen to your stories and share some of their own.

 

‘This Event Won’t Kill You’

Thursday 21st May from 10am-5pm

Quaker House, School Lane, L1 3BT

 

 

Unique to the Northwest: open event with a range of stalls, talks, discussions and displays. Call in between 10am-5pm to find out everything you need to know about end of life and death. See the launch of our special ‘5 Things To Do Before You Die’ practical booklet along with our remembrance tree and altar, interactive DEATH lettering, Before I Die postcards and much more. Be one of the first to take part in this special event, in partnership with: Marie Curie Hospice Liverpool, Age Concern, Sahir House, Jackson Canter Quality Solicitors, Woodlands Hospice, Liverpool CCG, Co-operative Funeralcare, Child Bereavement UK, Philosophy in Pubs, Marie Curie Palliative Care Institute Liverpool, Tower Law, Liverpool CCG and Liverpool Bereavement Service.

 

‘May Day of the Dead Celebration’

Saturday 23rd May from 1-3pm

Siren Café, St James Street, L1 0AB

 

 

Toast departed loved ones and bring along a photograph of them to display on our altar, or send us one in advance and we can print it for you. Join us for free cake, drinks and conversation. A relaxed and casual event based on the Mexican tradition Dios de los Muertos (or Day of the Dead); it is typically celebrated on 1st November but we’re bringing a spring theme and hosting a ‘May Day of the Dead Celebration’. Photographs of departed loved ones will sit in decorated frames alongside colourful skulls and paper flowers. We talk about the lives of those passed and try not to focus on the sadness of our loss. The event ends with a toast, a smile and a sense of keeping their memories alive.

 

“This year, a key theme to our events is remembrance and celebrating the lives of the people we loved. Sometimes, we tend to focus on the sadness of their death and we want people to remember the happier times of their life. Our ‘Memories’ and ‘May Day of the Dead Celebration’ aim to provide a space to come together and share memories of those that have died. The open day ‘This Event Won’t Kill You’ will provide practical advice, interesting talks and creative displays and we have a number of charities, services and businesses hosting information stalls and leading a number of interesting discussions.”

 

- Rachael McKindley, Project Manager of The Bucket Project

 

For further information regarding The Bucket Project, please call Rachael McKindley on 0151 801 1488 or e-mail at: rachael.mckindley@mariecurie.org.uk. Alternatively, you can follow us on Facebook at the following address: www.facebook.com/TheBucketProject.

 

 

The Perfect Present

Image from loriannfranks.wordpress.com

At this time each year, everyone is searching for that elusive ‘perfect present’. They want to spoil their loved ones with the latest must-haves and make Christmas special. But maybe the greatest gift you could give this year can’t be bought in a shop – your time. Why not take the time to visit a relative, friend or neighbour who is alone this Christmas. Or pop in to see how someone who has been bereaved is feeling, they could probably do with some support or a listening ear at this difficult time.

 

Sometimes the most meaningful gifts won’t be found under the tree, but could be a much needed phone call or a chat over coffee. A number of people close to me find Christmas a particularly difficult holiday due to recent and not so recent bereavements. We should remember that grief isn’t something that magically disappears and family-oriented holidays can make it all the more prominent, even after years have passed.

 

Image from hbbscounselling.org

Many people don’t know how to talk to someone who is experiencing bereavement and can avoid speaking about the subject altogether as they don’t want to upset or offend that person. It can be daunting but maybe this Christmas we can start a conversation with a person who very much needs it and put our fears aside. Spending time with a loved one can be more rewarding than any gadget or game, so make memories while you can and keep in mind that even the strongest of us need support at times.

 

The Bucket Project would like to wish you all a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. If you are struggling to cope with bereavement there are a number of websites you can visit for advice, listed below:

Dying Matters
Macmillan
Marie Curie

 

A Successful Dying Matters Awareness Week!

Dying Matters Awareness Week 2014 was a fantastic success for The Bucket Project, with a number of events held across a wide range of venues. We met some very interesting and insightful people along the way who have been helping us to keep the topic of death alive. In case you didn’t get the chance to visit any of our events, here’s what happened during the week.

 

Monday 12th May

 

There were two launch events, at the Central Library and the Walker Art Gallery debuting our Remembrance Tree and ‘life’ and death’ interactive lettering, respectively. It was fantastic to see so many people contributing to our displays, building a better picture of what life and death means to the community in Liverpool. A number of school groups got involved and enjoyed writing and drawing on the 4ft lettering throughout the week, leaving some valuable interpretations.

 

Life and Death Letting @ The Walker Source: Author

 

Over four hundred people wrote touching messages to their departed loved ones and placed them on our Remembrance Tree. We made the tree out of recycled paper and packaging tape and printed a popular poem called ‘Dust if you must’ by Rose Milligan on the back of the leaves. We are currently discussing how the leaves will be displayed in the future. If you didn’t get a chance to leave your message to a loved one on our tree, don’t worry as we are planning on touring it around a number of popular venues in the near future.

 

Remembrance Tree @ Central Library Source: Author

 

Tuesday 13th May

 

On the second day of Dying Matters, we held a ‘Dead Write’ workshop at Central Library, where we discussed a wide range of topics and assessed how death, dying and loss is incorporated in works of poetry and ways you can approach this subject yourself. We were working in partnership with The Windows Project who facilitated this session. There was a small turnout for this particular event; however the discussion was fantastic, with members reading their own excerpts of poetry to the group and suggesting ideas for future work.

 

The ‘Death in Art’ tour took place at the Walker Art Gallery in the afternoon with many people extremely excited to learn about pieces of art on display that had themes of or were inspired by death. This tour then finished at our interactive lettering display, sparking discussion about life and death and the role that art can play in the formation of our interpretations.

 

Death in Art Tour @ The Walker Source: Author

 

In the evening, we rounded off Day 2 with an exclusive tour of the Science Fiction: New Death exhibition at FACT. This intriguing display dealt with themes of death in the future and was closely linked to the development of technology. This exhibition is open to the public until the 22nd of June 2014.

 

Wednesday 14th May

 

For Day 3, we held another ‘Dead Write’ session at the Central Library. We also met some interesting people at our information stands throughout the different venues, where our promotional pens were a hit, alongside our specially designed day of the dead coffin bookmarks. It was wonderful to see so many people filling in our chalk wall inspired cards, which asked ‘Before I die I want to…’ and 'In my life I want to...', producing some interesting results! From travelling the world, to finding the one, everyone has their own goals and dreams.

 

Thursday 15th May

 

Day 4 of Dying Matters Week and a busy one at that! We held another Death in Art tour followed by our very first Life and Death Café at the Walker, discussing elements of life and death whilst eating nourishing food and drinking delicious tea and coffee. It is always an enlightening experience, discussing such an important topic with like-minded strangers. You never leave without having learned something new about the world and how different people perceive death.

 

People enjoying the Death in Art Tour @ The Walker Source: Author

 

Friday 16th May

 

One of my favourite events was the Vintage Tea Party we arranged to inform people about what is happening in their local Marie Curie Hospice, Liverpool. This event was a huge success with staff, patients, volunteers and visitors enjoying our homemade cakes and free refreshments. People who don’t often come in to contact on a daily basis had a chance to get to know each other and the roles each of them play in the hospice. It was refreshing to hear patients talk about how they appreciated many different services the hospice provides, such as complementary therapy. This conversation gave us an insight in to the still prevalent issue that people do not know what services are available to them until they are in a vulnerable position. We believe that it is an essential part of the project to not only break down the taboo around talking about death, but to inform people in the community of what care and end of life care options are available to them, even if they are not necessary at the present time.

 

Some of our delicious homemade cakes at the Vintage Tea Party @ Marie Curie Hospice,
Woolton Source: Author

 

We continued serving homemade cake throughout the evening at our Life and Death Café at Siren, 54 St James Street, to celebrate Light Night. Not only was the venue beautiful but we met sixteen amazing people, from a diverse range of backgrounds who came together to discuss the topics of life and death. So many subjects were discussed, from archaeology and complementary medicine, to the symbolism of colours and the feelings they provoke inside us.

 

Our fantastic Life and Death Café discussion group @ Siren Source: Author

 

Saturday 17th May

 

It was an early start for the penultimate day of Dying Matters Awareness Week in The Garden at Fact by Leaf. We hosted a ‘Dead Good Cookie Decorating’ session for children and parents. We had some superbly decorated day of the dead- style cookies that tasted just as good as they looked! Have a peek at the pictures below to see some of the weird and wonderful designs!

 

A creatively decorated cookie
Source: Author

Decoration in action! In The Garden @ FACT by LEAF
Source: Author

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We then strolled over to the World Museum where two ‘Meet the Mummy’ sessions were taking place. These were unique performances specially opened to the public for this occasion, providing an insight in to the ancient world of Egyptian practices of mummification with the children taking centre stage, playing the roles of embalmer, high priest and Anubis.

 

Sunday 18th May

 

What could be better than a celebration for the final day of an amazingly successful Dying Matters Awareness Week? In partnership with the Treasure House Theatre at the World Museum, we put on a ‘Day of the Dead Drop-In’ where nearly seventy people attended to make masks and put a wish on the Mexican Wishing Tree whilst listening to Dia de los Muertos music.

 

Day of the Dead Drop-In celebration @ The World Museum Source: Author

 

All in all, this week was a fantastic success, with our events reaching roughly 700 people directly and potentially reaching in the region of 380,000 through our very own Rachael McKindley being featured on the BBC Merseyside Drivetime show throughout the week! Taking in to consideration visitor numbers to each venue, we estimate to have reached over 400,000 people with this years Dying Matters theme 'You Only Die Once'. We are extremely grateful to our many partners who made the events possible and thank our members and the public who continually support the project and help keep the topic of death alive.

 

Why not become a member? Email us at amy.king@mariecurie.org.uk and be the first to find out about our upcoming events! You can also find us on Facebook and Twitter.

 

Programme of Events - Dying Matters 2014

The Bucket Project would like to officially present our Dying Matters Awareness Week 2014 programme of events!

Dying Matters Awareness Week 2014 is taking place from the 12th-18th May and this year’s theme is You Only Die Once or #YODO for short. We have prepared a number of exciting, free and fun events in a range of venues across Liverpool so make sure you check out the timetable below to find out dates and times.

 

 Here is an overview of what’s going on in the week:

Walker Art Gallery:
Have you ever wanted to help create a work of art? We want you to show us what symbolises Life and Death for you and to write or draw your interpretation of these words on our Hollywood-style lettering. You can also join us for a Life & Death Café or guided Death in Art tours. Events at the Walker Art Gallery are organised by The Bucket Project in partnership with Cheshire Living Well Dying Well.

 

World Museum:
Are you brave enough to Meet the Mummy and discover the secrets of Ancient Egyptian embalming? How about joining in with a Day of the Dead dance or placing a wish on the wishing tree? We have three Meet the Mummy sessions on 17th May and a Day of the Dead Drop-In on 18th May. Our information stand will be available throughout the week where you will be able to pick up a free Day of the Dead inspired coffin bookmark. All events are family friendly and completely free.

 

Central Library:
Writing is a way of seeing – the ordinary and the extraordinary, from your own street to the landscape of your dreams. Everyone has a voice that is valuable and unique. We are hosting two specially themed writing advice sessions called "Dead Write" in partnership with the Windows Project. You can also take a leaf out of our book and leave a message on our Remembrance Tree or pick up a free Day of the Dead inspired coffin bookmark.

 

FACT (Foundation for Art and Creative Technology):
Join us for a one-off guided tour of the current exhibition – Science Fiction: New Death, which runs until 22nd June 2014. Explore how our relationship with technology has blurred the lines between the real and the virtual with thought-provoking installations from a number of artists. The exhibition is presented as a deconstructed film set, with the curator acting as director and the artists as actors. Our tour takes place on 13th May from 5-6pm. Please book your place to avoid disappointment.

 

The Garden at FACT by LEAF:
Bring the family and join us for a fun morning where we will have specially prepared Ginger-Dead men and Mexican Day of the Dead Sugar Skull cookies ready for you to decorate with colourful icing and tasty toppings. We can even wrap your cookies for you to take as a gift, if you can't resist eating them first! Great food and great conversation, what else are you doing on a Saturday morning?

 

Siren @ 54 St James Street: LIGHT NIGHT
Do something different on a Friday night and celebrate Liverpool's one night art and culture festival; Liverpool Light Night where many venues across the city stay open late. We’re hosting a Life & Death Café, which comes under the Words & Debate section of the Light Night programme. The aim of this special cafe is to break down the barriers to discussing death, dying and loss in a comfortable, relaxing environment whilst eating sustaining and nourishing food in the company of like-minded people.

 

Marie Curie Hospice Liverpool:
Join The Bucket Project for a Vintage Tea Party at the Marie Curie Hospice Liverpool and find out more about our range of services whilst enjoying delicious sandwiches, tea and cake. It will be held in the gorgeous vintage setting of our beautiful conservatory, where the atmosphere will be comfortable and relaxing, with the added bonus of good food and excellent conversation. We hope you can join us for an inspiring afternoon.

 

You can download the full programme from the downloads page, alongside all of our promotional event posters.

 

For more information feel free to contact us at amy.king@mariecurie.org.uk

From Our Newsletters: Disturbing Disney Deaths

Did you know we have a series of newsletters you can download from the Newsletters tab? Every so often we will re-post an article from past newsletters. Here's one from our Spring 2013 edition about the dark side of Disney films...

Disturbing Disney deaths 

You might think that kids' movies would gloss over the less pleasant sides of life, in an effort to shelter children's innocence for a little while longer. But Disney has other ideas! Death is a common theme in many Disney films, and sometimes those deaths are pretty brutal.

Ursula's Stabbing, 'The Little Mermaid'
Take Ursula's death in 'The Little Mermaid', for example, she's the bad guy of the film, so she has to go somehow. But did she really have to die by getting impaled on the jagged front edge of a sunken ship? And then she gets electrocuted too, just in case you thought she might survive getting stabbed directly in the gut.

Judge Doom Gets Dipped, 'Who Framed Roger Rabbit'
Judge Doom from 'Who Framed Roger Rabbit' is one nasty character. He is the main judge in Toontown and gets his jollies by punishing wrongdoing toons, preferably by killing them with his special Dip substance called.

When it's time for Doom to get his comeuppance, he first gets run over by a steamroller. Then, he stands up, flaps his paper-like limbs on over to an air pump, and blows himself back to relative normalcy. How is he even still alive? As it turns out, he's a toon, just like the ones he's killed with his dastardly Dip.
Thus, we get not only one horrifying death scene for Judge Doom, but two: he inevitably falls victim to his own creation, screaming like a banshee as he melts in a puddle of Dip.

Ray Gets Squashed, 'The Princess and the Frog'
It's one thing when the bad guys get taken down in the final act, but it's much more heart breaking when it happens to one of the good guys. In 'The Princess and the Frog', the talkative Cajun firefly named Ray meets his demise much sooner than anticipated.

What happens to the poor little critter? Well, he gets stomped to death! Never has the crunch of a dead bug brought so many tears!

Emily Binx and the Sanderson Sisters, 'Hocus Pocus'
Though 'Hocus Pocus' is arguably the best and most beloved children's Halloween movie ever made, we can't honestly claim that it's an entirely innocent endeavour. A creepy zombie cuts open his mouth and coughs up dust and leaves, and a cat gets flattened by a speeding bus. But even those scenarios aren't the most disturbing moments in the film!

In the beginning, the Sanderson Sisters kidnap an adorable little girl, tie her up to a chair, and proceed to suck the life-force out of her until her body lies dead and limp. Then, as a punishment for this terrible deed, the three witches are hanged in front of a town full of onlookers. Disney definitely isn't afraid to go dark!

Oogie Boogie Falls Apart, 'The Nightmare Before Christmas'
In Tim Burton's 'The Nightmare Before Christmas,' Oogie Boogie's demise is a rather disgusting one. As Jack Skellington grabs onto one of Oogie's loose strings, his sackcloth "body" unravels to let out his innards - thousands of disgusting bugs.

Ellie Grows Old, 'Up'
Lastly, this Disney death isn't as gruesome as the rest, but it still has the ability to absolutely destroy a viewer's hopes and dreams. Of course I'm talking about Ellie from 'Up,' who kicks the bucket less than ten minutes into the film.

First, though, we're treated to Carl and Ellie's love story. As they grow up, they build a happy life together. Then, Ellie grows old, gets sick, and dies.

Even if they don't get eaten by a wild animal, impaled on a spike, or hanged from a tree in the forest, people get old and die. Thanks for the reminder, Disney!

These are just a few examples of how we are exposed to death from a young age. We shouldn’t be scared to talk about it – even to young children.

There is a range of information available on how to talk to children about death with age appropriate literature. Child Bereavement UK, the Alder Centre, Marie Curie, Macmillan and Liverpool Bereavement Service are just some of the places that could help.

We’re working on a collaborative initiative around Bereavement policies in schools with a number of partners – watch this space for news or contact us if you want to get involved.