Meet the Owls

Day 1 of Dying Matters Week - 9th May 2016

Today we attended a Meet the Owls session, organised by Sunflowers Cancer Support, where we also hosted an information stand. Hack Back CIC were the wonderful group who brought their three mesmerising owls; Murray (Burrowing Owl), Idris (African Spotted Eagle Owl) and Mango (Barn Owl), pictured below.

Seven people attended and we all enjoyed watching the owls flutter across the room, landing on the arms of those lucky enough to be wearing the special glove. We had some interesting conversations about Day of the Dead and remembering lost loved ones. One attendee had lost four close family members in the past three years, yet was able to freely discuss death and share happy memories of those that had gone before him and he credited this to an open and supportive family.

We’re hoping to collect some of your personal stories throughout this week, and beyond. Tomorrow will see us at Siren with an open table displaying our new promotional items, Topic of Death Cards, newsletters and practical guide and a story board to collate your experiences. If you can’t make any events this week, but would like to share your story, please email rachael.mcmeacock@mariecurie.org.uk

Hack Back CIC run a number of programmes for carers, people suffering with depression /anxiety, children, young people, adults and families with conditions within autistic spectrum disorders and cancer patients and survivors.

These programmes are aimed at giving people an exciting and enjoyable experience which will have a positive impact on well-being, self-esteem and confidence. The programmes integrate brief solution focussed therapy with green therapy and interaction with the birds.

Here are some more pictures from today:

 

Sunflowers provide advice and guidance services, counselling, alternative therapies and group support sessions in a welcoming and safe environment. Their service is confidential, free and led by a team of professionals.

The Sunflowers team are experienced in the emotions and practical support needed following a cancer diagnosis. Quite often, their support is nothing more than a listening ear in their informal ‘drop in’ centre.

They are passionate about helping others affected by a diagnosis of cancer and their shared experiences help to build a strong community in the fight against cancer. This is particularly important in Merseyside with the highest incidence of cancer in the UK.

Dying Matters Awareness Week 2016

it takes a village...

9 - 15^th May

If ‘it takes a village to raise a child’, it also takes a village to support someone who is dying and their family. For this year's Dying Matters Awareness Week, we will be celebrating everyone who has ever cared for someone who has died, and ask you to share your stories.

We have adopted the theme ‘it takes a village’ from Scotland’s Good Life Good Death Good Grief as it fits better with the work we’re doing on Compassionate Cities and the Dying Well Charter. Dying Matters are using the theme ‘The Big Conversation’ and again using the #YODO (You Only Die Once)

Our events run from Monday 9^th to Friday 13^th May. We have partnered with Sunflowers CancerSupport, Siren Café, World Museum Liverpool and Marie Curie Hospice Liverpool to deliver a range of events and activities across the five days.

On Monday 9^th May from 12pm (note revised time which differs from poster) Sunflowers are hosting a Meet the Owls event for anyone living with or beyond cancer. Relax in the company of the owls from Hack Back CIC. This opportunity is for over 18s only and is free for anyone affected by cancer (patients, survivors and carers). Places are limited so please book your place by emailing ekennedy@liverpoolsunflowers.com or visit the Sunflowers website #lifebeyondcancer

Image taken from Hack Back CIC

Tuesday sees us back at the popular Siren Food and Coffee Bar on St James Street from 3-5pm with an open table with cake and tea. We’ll be displaying our Day of the Dead photographs and decorated skulls and remembering our late loved ones whilst sharing stories of compassion and care happening around our city. Our new Topic of Death Cards will be available to play alongside our 5 Things booklet and promotional magnets and bookmarks.

Image taken from Siren Liverpool

We also want to collect your stories of local end of life heroes - whether it is looking after an aging parent, working as a nurse, or cooking a meal for a bereaved neighbour, every day, people help each other through the difficult times that can come with death, dying and bereavement.

We’ll be back briefly at Sunflowers to ask their existing art group to produce some compassionate art relating to end of life. Then we’ll be over in the Wirral for their End of Life Care – One Year On event to see how the other side of the river are delivering their work on the Dying Well Charter and Compassionate Cities.

Thursday we’ll be hosting a stall in the World Museum from 3-5 called ‘Meet the Mayas’. Our collaborative art piece from the Day of the Dead craft celebrations in February will be on display alongside some skulls, ancient artefacts and personalised photo frames honouring the dead. You can also join us for a game of cards – our new Topic of Death Cards, which have proved extremely popular.

Our collaborative art piece is almost complete

Marie Curie Hospice Liverpool have organised an event to thank their supporters who have made such a positive difference in helping them to support people living with a terminal illness. This celebratory event, ‘It takes a community’, is on Friday from 4-7pm in the hospice, which is situated in the beautiful Woolton Village.

Marie Curie Hospice Liverpool

We hope you can join us at one or more of our events. Even if you can’t make it, we’d still like to hear your stories about how people in your village have helped someone nearing end of life. Please email rachael.mcmeacock@mariecurie.org.uk if you want to get involved. Let’s share the love and compassion.

Day of the Dead Crafts @ World Museum Liverpool

February half-term 2016

We’re excited to announce three new events during February half-term at the World Museum Liverpool. Suitable for all of the family, we will have a number of craft tables for you to get creative at using milk bottles, plant pots, paper skeletons, frames and much more. Take your customised piece home with you or donate it to our special Day of the Dead altar.

One of our donated and decorated milk bottles

We want your help to make our altar as beautiful, colourful and meaningful as possible. Bring along a photograph of your late loved one and personalise one of our photograph frames. Through the medium of art, we can share happy memories of those that have died and help to keep their memory alive. We’re providing a safe space to remember and honour those that have gone before us.

Families having fun at our crafts table in November 2015

If you would like to donate anything relevant to the altar, such as skulls, artificial flowers, vases or gothic ornaments please get in touch or bring them along to one of our events. If you would like to share a photograph or story about someone who has died, but are unable to make any of the events, please email us.

Personalised skulls and frame from the team at The Bucket Project 

The first event is on Monday 15^th February from 10am to 12pm. The second is on Friday 19^th February from 1-4pm with the final event on Sunday 21^st also from 1-4pm. You will find us on the first floor of the World Museum by the Treasure House Theatre.

Adam performing at a previous event in the Treasure House Theatre

We must say a huge thank you to Adam and the team at World Museum Liverpool for working with us again on our popular Day of the Dead celebrations.  It’s a great venue where adults and children are willing to engage and interact with what can be a difficult subject.

Into the Labyrinth...

This is the first post of 2016 from The Bucket Project and I originally intended to write about resolutions, the New Year and remembrance. Instead, I find myself drawn to writing about the death of David Bowie, which was announced today.

While many other articles are focusing on his influential music career and how he defined the 70s; I’m fondly reminiscing about my favourite childhood film from the 80s - Labyrinth. I’d watch this film obsessively and would annoyingly recite the script as I watched and rewinding if I got one word wrong. The influence that this movie had on me can’t be measured in any unit I’m aware of.

 David Bowie as Jareth in Labyrinth, 1986

The key message I took from the fantasy film is that life isn’t fair. But we can deal with that and anything life throws at us, if we have those we love around us and take time to help out others in times of need. No one is getting out of this alive so let’s live the best life we can, and help others to do the same.

The Goblin King, Jareth, may have been the villain of my favourite film, but his fantasy character oozed charisma and charm and was the person who delivered the key message the most. It is strange how something as simple as a childhood movie can shape attitudes and behaviours in our adult lives. I, for one, carry this deep message with me in daily life and it helps me get through tough situations. If I ever find myself saying “it’s not fair” my mind responds with “no, it’s not fair, but life goes on.” And I have Labyrinth to thank for that.

"Time is short"

Sadly, David Bowie and Jim Henson won’t get the chance to celebrate the 30^th anniversary of this iconic film on 27^th June 2016, though David Bowie did get a last chance to celebrate his recent 69^th family with loved ones.

I won’t end with a New Year message, but rather with a hope that you enjoy every day in your own ways, make many happy memories and look after each other.