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Written by Emily Cross.
16 minute read
Dying Matters Week takes place annually, offering fresh insight and relevance every time it returns. This open, accessible, and thought-provoking event happens with the intention to remove the stigma and taboo around talking about death and dying. It’s a chance to open up, start new conversations, and process feelings that would have otherwise remained under the surface.
Looking back at the most recent Dying Matter Week, we can see that the topic of advance care planning remains as important now as it has ever been. With an ageing population and a more open approach to topics such as health, wellness, and mental wellbeing, planning for the latter stages of life is something more and more families are choosing to do.
As providers of direct cremation services right across the UK, we have the honour of serving families from all backgrounds and walks of life. That’s why the topic of “The Culture of Dying Matters” from this year was particularly insightful. We hope that by recapping the key lessons taken from the week, we can help you find some direction and support at a time when you may need it.
Key takeaways:
Dying Matters Week is an annual event held in early May that is designed to promote open conversations about death and dying. In our role as a family-run funeral provider, we have always supported this initiative and championed the work of the organisers, Hospice UK. When the campaign first started, it focused on three core things:
As the event has evolved over the years, it has focused on different themes. 2025 saw a focus on “The Culture of Dying Matters.” The idea here was to open up conversations on how different cultures and religions approach death and dying. By making sure underserved communities feel heard, validated, and included, the event sought to break down barriers that can leave many feeling isolated. It also aimed to show everyone involved that we each grieve and process death in our own way, but that we are united by the fact that we are all human.
The importance of talking about death, grief, and end-of-life planning lies in the fact that talking and sharing our feelings is how many of us process our emotions. Individuals who are working through these types of issues right now may feel more supported, and people who are in their wider circle may have a greater sense of awareness. It’s this dual approach that makes the event so effective at bringing people together in a way that can make a real difference. When we are all more able to speak about death and more mindful of how it impacts the lives of others, we can each play our part in making sure that everyone has the love and support they need.
Knowing how to start a conversation about death is something that many of us may find we are struggling with, but there is nothing wrong with admitting this. Death can be such a difficult subject for many of us to tackle, especially when you consider that it is something that many of us will have no prior experience dealing with. If you then add in cultural factors that may make it harder to talk about death, or more difficult to make your peers from other backgrounds understand how you feel, it becomes even harder.
The 2025 campaign focused on cultural diversity and heritage with the end goal of removing barriers and showing everyone what makes us all human. To do this, the organisers focused much of their efforts on the following key areas:
The theme was all about promoting discussion and reflection in ways that people from different backgrounds felt comfortable with. As a result of this new focus, many people were able to gain insights into how friends and loved ones with different heritages and belief systems may be feeling. This then makes it easier for one-to-one conversations to be carried out in a way that is natural, understanding, and caring.
The focus on religion and culture could have gone in one of two directions. One option was to create an exhaustive list of rituals, practices, and traditions from around the world. While this might have offered some educational value, the organisers felt it could miss the point.
For the 2025 event, they wanted to recognise the difference, not dwell on it. The aim was to help everyone move beyond what sets us apart and focus instead on the shared human experiences that unite us. Participants spoke openly about the sense of loss, helplessness, and even abandonment they felt after losing a loved one. By sharing these feelings, the event showed how compassion, inclusion, and community support can make a real difference.
The way we feel when someone we love dies is how millions of others feel too. Often, it is only a lack of cultural or religious understanding that creates the illusion of difference.
We are all entitled to our own traditions. But it is important to recognise that grief, at its core, transcends culture, belief, and background.
Dying Matters Awareness Week will be back in 2026 and promises to direct the focus of every participant towards another thought-provoking theme. While it is yet to be announced, it may be something challenging, such as answering questions like, what is beautiful about death?
If you are empowered by the concept of the week and want to play a larger part in it in 2026, you may wish to consider organising your own event. Here are some popular suggestions that could help you:
If you feel emotionally able to contribute to the next event, you may find that it helps give you something to anchor to. Likewise, it might help you to process some of your deeper-lying emotions in a way that gives you some sense of closure.
There may be times when you want to provide a space where the whole family can gradually feel more comfortable with death and dying. Of course, a small child will not want to sit through a lengthy webinar, but there are plenty of interactive options you could take a closer look at:
If you are unsure how to proceed, you may find it helpful to talk through some of your initial plans and ideas with a couple of close friends. You may also find that working with them on this project gives you something to focus on that could help you find space to process some of your more complex emotions.
Not everyone will have the time or inclination to meet in person, but that does not mean they do not want to connect or open up. A simple local social media campaign, inviting people to join a group and share a photo of someone they love, could be all it takes to get started.
By encouraging people to share memories in a public way, you give them a chance to express themselves and share how they feel. Something as simple as this takes very little time to set up but could make a real difference to how people in your local area begin to heal.
You can find all of the Dying Matters Awareness resources from the 2025 edition online right now. Inside, you’ll find bereavement resources, planning guides, and community contacts that you can use to set up a local event in the weeks and months ahead. And if you are new to organising events, you may find plenty of sparks of inspiration that will guide the way you proceed in 2026.
Hospices, healthcare workers, and educators all have a role to play in the next Dying Matters Week, and they’re uniquely placed to make a difference. If you work in one of these areas, you may find that it helps you to offer the support and compassion you pride yourself on being able to deliver. For example, a closer look at cultural and religious nuances could help you to understand some of the less common entries from our guide to symbols of grief. Being proactive like this could help you to reach out and connect with even more people, all while gaining a greater understanding of what it means to be human.
The communal nature of grief is very much at the heart of the campaign and is something that the organisers have continued to return to each year. One of the ways they do this is by making it simpler and easier for people to talk about complex issues, such as end-of-life stages. By bringing people together who share experiences with one another, the organisers can show everyone involved the value of mutual support.
Knowing that you are not alone when you close your front door is something that can feel both liberating and empowering. For many of us, it starts with the creation of an open dialogue within communities that then fosters understanding and resilience. When people come together and talk about experiences they have in common, they often find that they can move far beyond cultural and religious barriers that would have otherwise kept them apart.
Starting sensitive conversations in safe, respectful ways is a skill in and of itself, and as with all skills, it can be practiced and improved relatively quickly. With this in mind, here are some simple, practical steps for normalising talk about death in everyday settings:
As well as the above, it’s important to choose your moment. If you feel comfortable speaking with a colleague, for example, it may be best to wait until it is just the two of you in the room or at a table in the lunchroom. Unwittingly putting someone on the spot by asking them sensitive questions in front of people they may not know particularly well is something that may cause stress and upset.
Options like our *prepaid funeral plans are designed to give you the time and space needed to make your choices about how others pay tribute to you. Thinking about your legacy and values at this time is something that may help you come to terms with what is happening. Of course, there may be days when you feel there is too much emotion to focus on these types of tasks, and that means it’s important to be kind to yourself. Here are some tools that you may find helpful at this point:
Reflecting on your own life is something that you may find challenging from an emotional perspective. This is perfectly understandable and is something that people from all faiths, cultures, and backgrounds routinely experience every single day.
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We hope that looking back at the 2025 edition and considering some of our Dying Matters Week ideas for the future has helped in some way. In our experience, while issues around death and dying are highly complex, talking about them is one of the best things many of us can do. It shows us that we are never alone, reminds us that what we are experiencing is deeply human and universal, and that we each deserve time and space to think through how we are feeling.
By taking a moment to think about the lessons many others have taken from 2025 and then looking ahead to the future, you may find that you can ground yourself in the moment. Alternatively, you may decide that you want to organise a local event next year that aligns with the latest theme. Doing so may give you something to focus on and show you that there are so many more people out there who are experiencing the same emotions than you ever could have imagined.
Dying Matters Awareness Week takes place every year, usually in early May. It’s a nationwide campaign designed to help people talk more openly about death, dying, and grief. The aim is to remove the silence and stigma that often surround these topics. Each year brings a different theme, encouraging people to reflect, share experiences, and support one another in ways that feel personal and meaningful.
The easiest way to get involved is by attending a local event. These gatherings are often welcoming, informal, and open to everyone. Sharing your own experience—whether it’s recent or something you’ve carried for years—can be a step towards healing. Speaking outside of your usual circle may also help you see your grief in a new light, giving space to emotions you might otherwise keep hidden.
Avoiding conversations about death often leads to isolation, both for the bereaved and those supporting them. When we talk openly, we break down the walls that keep us apart during difficult times. You might find that someone who seems ‘fine’ on the surface is going through something very similar. Honest conversation offers relief—for both of you.
Start small. Share something of your own, even just a thought or feeling. This creates space for others to respond in their own time. Asking direct questions too soon can make people feel exposed or uncomfortable. Let the conversation unfold naturally, and be ready to listen without needing to fix anything.
Events held during the week aim to make grief and loss feel less hidden. From talks and workshops to informal meet-ups, they create safe places for people to talk and be heard. When grief is acknowledged in a public setting, it becomes less isolating. People feel seen, understood, and more willing to support others going through something similar.
The campaign is led by Hospice UK, a charity with deep experience in supporting people at the end of life. Each year, they introduce a new theme to help spark conversations around a different aspect of death or bereavement. These themes keep the week relevant and help communities talk about things they might otherwise ignore.