Death Cafe will get people talking

Death is often a topic that many people avoid, but it’s the one certainty in life – unlike other occasions such as weddings and having children – that is guaranteed to happen to everyone.

To promote Dying Matters Awareness Week, which runs from 9th to 15th May, Chesterfield-based Ashgate Hospicecare is holding a ‘Death Cafe’ to show how it can be helpful both to ourselves and those close to us to talk about it.

Taking place on Thursday 12th May at Chesterfield Library, the ‘Death Cafe’ will give members of the public the opportunity to discuss subjects around death and dying in an informal and comfortable atmosphere. There will also be opportunities to ask questions to professionals including a funeral director, solicitor and staff from the hospice.

Rebecca Littlewood, Communications Manager at the hospice, said: “At Ashgate Hospicecare, we understand the importance of being open and honest about death and dying and actively encourage people to talk about it.

“The Death Cafe will provide an open and comfortable space for anyone to drop in, join conversations on varying subjects and help people explore questions, such as what they want from their own funerals, explore what is on their bucket list for life and more.

“Having the ‘big conversation’ and opening up the dialogue about death and dying can help people make the most of their own lives, support the people they care about and help to ensure that we all know what we want, right up to the end of our lives.”

Everyone is invited to go along to the Death Cafe on Thursday 12th May from 10.00am to 4.00pm at Chesterfield Library in Meeting Room 2 where coffee and cake will be available to purchase. All contributions will go directly to Ashgate Hospicecare.

To find out more please call Rebecca Littlewood on 01246 568801 or email rebecca.littlewood@ashgatehospice.nhs.uk