Dying Matters Awareness Week is a campaign that has been set up by Hospice UK, with the goal to encourage communities across the UK to talk about the language we use when we talk about health, dying and grief.
People First are raising awareness throughout the week; through our regular Self Advocacy groups, across Cumbria and Lancashire to share how as a community we can better empower one another to feel more comfortable when talking about death.
Kirsty Morgan, Head of Inclusion at People First, shared:
It is important we find a way for everyone to be part of these conversations. That people understand the choices and decisions they can make. That they have the support they need at this time. I would encourage us all to take some time this week to think about how we do this for ourselves and how we might support these conversations with others.
Self advocates involved with our Confirm & Challenge LeDeR Group have regular conversations about death and dying. They have found a way to do this without fear, contributing to the thinking and action the LeDeR programme is focused on. We are developing our work on this for the coming year with support for the conversations that need to happen a key part of this.
Events are taking place across the UK throughout the week. For more information, or if you want to host your own Dying Matters Awareness Week event, visit the Dying Matters website.