Dying Matters Awareness Week

Dying Matters Awareness Week will take place from 6 - 12 May 2024. 

A young woman is sitting in a chair in a room with a figure opposite her talking to her. They are sitting down and having a conversation.

Every year, people around the UK use Dying Matters Awareness Week as a moment to encourage all communities to get talking in whatever way, shape or form works for them.

This year’s theme, ‘The way we talk about Dying Matters’, focuses on the language that we use, and conversations we have, around death and dying – specifically between healthcare professionals and patients, their carers and their families.

The way we talk about Dying Matters

Honest, timely conversations about death and dying are essential to good end of life care. Yet all too often barriers, including lack of confidence, taboos around discussing death, and confusion about who should be having these conversations mean patients, carers and families may not understand what is happening, or get all the information and support they need.

We’re sharing what the public think about how language used by healthcare professionals has affected end of life experiences, and sharing stories from people who are dying, and the families of people who have died.

The brilliant people who work in our 200+ hospices around the UK are experts in death, dying, and end of life care. So we’re asking them to share their tips and advice on how to start honest, transparent conversations about death and dying to help people feel informed, supported, and empowered at one of the most vulnerable times of their lives.

This Dying Matters Awareness Week, we’re helping communities around the UK to come together to talk about having those end of life conversations, whether with their healthcare professionals – or families, friends and colleagues.

Because the way we talk about Dying Matters.

Next steps

Tell us about your 2024 Dying Matters Awareness Week event using the form below, take a look at what's on in your area, and read our top tips for putting on event.

Tell us about your Dying Matters event, and we'll add it to our Hospice UK events listing

Tell us about your Dying Matters Awareness Week event

Each Dying Matters Awareness week, there are hundreds of events across England, Wales and Northern Ireland. Tell us about yours, and we'll add it to our listings.
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Find out about the fantastic range of events taking place around the UK for Dying Matters Awareness Week in 2024

What's on: Dying Matters Awareness Week

Find out about the fantastic range of events taking place around the UK for Dying Matters Awareness Week in 2024 - many run throughout May, and beyond.
Find out more
Thinking of holding an event for Dying Matters Awareness Week, but need some advice? Read our top tips and things to consider.

Dying Matters Awareness Week Events Toolkit

Thinking of holding an event for Dying Matters Awareness Week, but need some advice? Read our top tips and things to consider.
Find out more
Dying Matters Awareness Week Resources 2024

Dying Matters Awareness Week Resources

Explore and download the official Dying Matters Awareness Week resources, including supporter and library packs, posters, reading lists, social media graphics, bunting and more!

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The 2023 theme: Dying Matters at work

For Dying Matters Awareness Week 2023, we focused on Dying Matters at work. 

57% of employees will have experienced a bereavement in the last five years and every day, more than 600 people quit work to look after older and disabled relatives. And yet, fewer than one in five managers feel very confident supporting someone they manage with a bereavement.

By talking to those around you, you can help us make sure that workplaces are properly set up to support people who are ill, who are caring for those around them, or who have lost someone close to them.

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