ENCOURAGING CONVERSATIONS ABOUT DEATH, DYING AND GRIEF – DYING MATTERS WEEK 2025
30 April 2025
Organisations across Coventry and Warwickshire are inviting people to join the conversation about death, dying and grief in ways that resonate with them during this year’s Dying Matters Awareness Week (5th-11th May).
The national campaign, led by Hospice UK, encourages open and honest discussions about end-of-life experiences. This year’s theme, The Culture of Dying Matters, delves into the diverse ways communities across the UK discuss, navigate, and commemorate death and dying, while emphasising the shared emotions that connect us all in grief and loss.
Death, dying and grief is something that all of us will experience during our lives, but often people avoid the subject or find it difficult to speak about. Dying Matters Week is designed to help people talk about death in a way that works for them, start conversations they might have been avoiding, and get over their worries about saying the wrong thing.
In particular, this year people are being encouraged to talk about the way different people approach death, dying and grief.
There are of course differences in the ways that different cultures and faiths approach and mark death and dying. Not everyone will have the same attitudes, views and practices, and some people will experience, show and deal with grief in different ways. However, there may also be some similarities in the way we all deal with death and dying that bring us together. Understanding these different approaches is important and can help us all reflect on our own attitudes towards death, dying and grief.
There are a variety of events taking place across Coventry and Warwickshire to facilitate these conversations. You can see a full list of the events on the Coventry and Warwickshire Integrated Care System website.
In addition, there are a range of resources that have been produced to help people, their families and friends start conversations around death and dying in a way that works for them. These are available on the Hospice UK website.
Ellie Monkhouse, Chief Nursing Officer at NHS Coventry and Warwickshire ICB, said:
“Death, dying and grief is something we will all go through at some point during our lives, so it’s really important that we feel comfortable having these conversations with our friends and family, as well as health professionals.
“I’d encourage everyone across Coventry and Warwickshire to take part in Dying Matters Week and start opening up conversations about this important subject.”
Chris White, Senior Digital Marketing & Campaign Manager at Hospice UK, said:
“Talking about death and dying is never easy, but it’s vital. Honest and timely conversations can ensure that people get the support they need and help loved ones better understand their wishes.
“This Dying Matters Awareness Week, we’re focusing on the diverse cultural approaches to death and dying within the UK and how those perspectives can inspire more open, meaningful discussions in every community.
“We hope that by sharing and learning from these experiences, we can create a society where talking about death is less of a taboo and where everyone feels empowered to have these conversations.”