Dying Matters Week Community Events – 14-20 May 2018
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Every year in May, Dying Matters Leeds host an Awareness Week, which gives an unparalleled opportunity to place the importance of talking about dying, death and bereavement firmly on the local agenda. This year’s theme is ‘What Can You Do?’
The Dying Matters Leeds Partnership is a co-ordinated citywide campaign to open the conversation with local communities in Leeds about death, dying and loss and to enable people to plan for the last years of their life. This year for the first time Dying Matters Leeds opened a Community Grant Fund for groups across the city to apply for up to £200 to hold an event during Dying Matters Week. This year Leeds Bereavement Forum has administrated the grants on behalf of the Dying Matters Leeds Partnership. An Event Booklet is available to download which is also available in hard copy from Leeds Bereavement Forum.
2018 Events*
Saturday 12 May
Event | ‘What Can You Do?’ Café
Time | 10am – 2pm
Location | Roscoe Methodist Church, Francis Street, Chapeltown, Leeds LS7 4BY
Organisation | CASYL Caring and Sharing Your Loss (formerly Chapeltown and Harehills Community Bereavement Group)
More Information | revmarkharwood@gmail.com or 0113 262 2332
A special café to mark the start of Dying Matters Week in the heart of Chapeltown. Alongside a wide range of refreshments and live musical entertainment there will be:
- A variety of displays and information including a ‘Tree of Life’ covering the five key areas of Dying Matters Week (Will Writing, Funeral Planning, Care & Support needs, Organ Donation and Sharing Wishes with family
- The screening of Dying Matters films and input from the local funeral director and CASYL volunteers
- Quiet space for reflection and opportunities to talk to someone.
Tuesday 15 May
Event | Pet Therapy Day
Time | 10am – 3pm
Location | Leeds University Union, Lifton Place, Leeds LS2 9JZ
Organisation | Bereaved and Young Student Network
More Information | luubaysn@gmail.com
Relieve exam stress with Bereaved and Young Student Network (BAYSN) Pet Therapy dogs and puppies will be in Leeds University Union, for students who need a little respite from the books.
Tuesday 15 May
Event | Dying Matters Leeds Event
Time | 10am – 3pm
Location | Leeds Kirkgate Market, Vicar Lane, Leeds LS2 7HY
Organisation | Dying Matters Leeds Partnership
More Information | agefriendly@leeds.gov.uk or 0113 378 3831
Listen to a New Orleans Jazz Band, find out about wills, estate planning, lasting powers of attorney and end of life planning, colour a coffin, become an organ donor, sing along with a gospel choir and visit one of many information stalls.
Wednesday 16 May
Event | Mask Making
Time | 10.30am – 1pm
Location | 6-8 The Headrow, Leeds LS1 6PT
Organisation | Carers Leeds
More Information | susan.sutton@carersleeds.org.uk or 07539 101014
A creative art workshop led by artist, Alison Smith. Take a break and come and spend some time making a mask around the theme of death and dying. This could be a first step in letting your loved ones know your wishes and planning for future care and support.
Wednesday 16 May
Event | Death Café
Time | 11am – 12pm
Location | Chapel Allerton Library, 106 Harrogate Road, Leeds LS7 4LZ
Organisation | Leeds Bereavement Forum and Leeds Libraries
More Information | info@lbforum.org.uk or 0113 225 3975
At a Death Café people, often strangers, gather to eat cake, drink tea and discuss death. Death Cafés are an international movement dedicated to encouraging discussion about death and dying in a relaxed environment – a welcome opportunity to ask those awkward questions you always wanted to ask. At the Leeds Libraries’ Death Cafés, library staff will also be offering a vast array of books available to loan relating to death, dying and bereavement and free refreshments will be available.
Wednesday 16 May
Event | Passing On…
Time | 11am – 2pm
Location | Horsforth Library Ballroom, Town Street, Horsforth, Leeds LS18 5BL
Organisation | MHA Horsforth Live At Home Scheme
More Information | sally.metcalfe@mha.org.uk or 0113 259 1511
When your life draws to an end, what do you want to happen? Do your nearest and dearest know your wishes? Come along to ‘Passing On…’ and have a chance to discuss these and other questions you may have with the many exhibitors. Do you know how to make a memory box, do you want to start your family tree? Join in with our activities, speak to experts in this area and learn this and much more…
Wednesday 16 May
Event | Dying Matters – What Can You Do?
Time| 11am – 2pm
Location | 57 Cranmer Bank, Leeds LS17 5JD
Organisation | Moor Allerton Elderly Care
More Information | maria@maecare.org.uk or 0113 266 0371
Information and advice for older people about planning for death and dying; with ‘Ask a Funeral Director’ and information from a solicitor on Lasting Power of Attorney, making a will and Living Wills
Thursday 17 May
Event | Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust Dying Matters Awareness Week 2018 ‘What Can You Do..?’
Time | 10am – 2pm
Location | Gledhow Wing Reception, St James’ Hospital, Beckett St, Leeds LS9 7TF
Organisation | Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust – Hospital Specialist Palliative Care Team
More Information | claire.iwaniszak@nhs.net or 0113 206 4563
Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust Palliative Care Team will be hosting a Dying Matters stall in the main reception area of Gledhow wing – a main thoroughfare for staff and members of the public. The stall will have on display a range of publications, including a vast selection of Dying Matters materials, posters and organ donation leaflets. Visitors will be able to help themselves to Dying Matters themed cupcake and pen. Visitors will be encouraged to pledge on a post-it note ‘What can you do?’ and add it to a board. This activity will hopefully provoke some very interesting conversations.
Friday 18 May
Event | Dying Matters in Café Leep
Time | 10am – 2.30pm
Location | Café Leep, Unit A1, Unity Business Centre, 26 Roundhay Road, Leeds LS7 1AB
Organisation | Café Leep
More Information | manager@leep1.co.uk or 0113 243 9477
In the morning we will have a session to make memory boxes. In the afternoon we will be running a session on how to make a will, why it is important to make a will and to have support around the grieving process and offering some easy read booklets as handouts. This support is important to help the person with a learning disability understand the written content and also to give them the opportunity to talk about the person who has died, their feelings and to ask any questions they may have.
Saturday 19 May
Event | Dying Matters Leeds Event
Time | 10am – 2pm
Location | Ebor Gardens Community Centre, 93 Haslewood Drive, Leeds LS9 7PS
Organisation | Syrian Community of Leeds
More Information| alghofari2007@yahoo.co.uk or 07534 041697
Never die alone, the Syrian community of Leeds will support you and your family in the unfortunate event of having a death in your family. Know your rights and save your children’s future by writing a legal will and having a life insurance.
*Please note: All details correct at time of going to print. Please check with organisers to confirm.
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