Dying matters
Dying Matters… So to get people talking about talk about it Alice House Hospice joined together with other organisations in one place so that the public could find out more about the choices available to them, and to encourage conversations about death and dying.
Many people have specific wishes about what they would like to happen after death but don’t talk about it. Death, dying and bereavement are still a taboo subject. In 2009, the National Council for Palliative Care (NCPC) set up the Dying Matters Coalition to promote public awareness of dying, death and bereavement.
Rebecca Jobson, Fundraising Manager at the Hospice said, “The public lack of openness has affected the quality and range of support and care services available and our ability to die where or how we would wish. Dying Matters helps people talk more openly about dying, death and bereavement, and to make plans for the end of life. On Saturday 19th May, Blue House Woodlands Natural Burial hosted an open event as part of the national awareness week ‘Dying Matters’.”
“The public enjoyed a walk around the woodlands and stopped for a cuppa at Gladys’s Vintage Tea Rooms who were there with their vintage caravan serving refreshments.”
The event was free and included a specialist talk from Newcastle Brain Tissue Resource. John and his team from Blue House Woodland Burials were on hand giving tours of the site PLUS other representatives from other organisations including, Victoria House Funeral Directors, Treasured Memories, Saint and Forster Funeral Directors, Humanist North East, Tilly Bailey & Irvine, West View Advice & Resource Centre, Jo & Mya Project and Alice House Hospice Counselling & Support Services
Rebecca continued, “I think everyone enjoyed the day and took lots of new information home with them about choices they may not have even considered before, plus the cakes from Gladys Vintage Tearooms were delicious.”