Leeds Dying Matters Week | 8-14 May 2023

4th April 2023

Event

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 #DyingMattersAtWork.

Stigma around grieving, and a lack of understanding about what it means to be ill and what happens when you’re dying, mean that too many of us are struggling to cope when faced with life’s inevitable challenges. And the workplace is no exception. 57% of employees will have experienced a bereavement in the last five years (Hospice UK, 2022) and every day, more than 600 people quit work to look after older and disabled relatives (Carers UK, 2019). And yet, fewer than one in five managers feel as comfortable as they could supporting someone they manage with a bereavement. We spend so much of our lives at work – and we shouldn’t have to hide our experiences of death and dying from our colleagues, our peers, or our bosses.

Keep in touch

Dying Matters Awareness Week will be promoted across social media with relevant messages and information links using hashtags #DyingMattersLDS23 and #DyingMattersAtWork

2023 Leeds Events*

For the fourth time, Dying Matters Leeds opened a Community Grant Fund for groups across the city to apply for up to £1,500 to hold an event during Dying Matters Week. Leeds Bereavement Forum has administrated the grants on behalf of the Dying Matters Leeds Partnership. Please see details of all events happening during Dying Matters Week below.

Thursday 4 May

Dying Matters ‘Let’s talk about it’, Coffee Morning | 127 Woodhouse Street, Leeds LS6 2PY | 11am-12.30pm

This will be a drop-in event for Caring Together members and other local people to call in to the office and have space to talk in a relaxed and informal way about dying, death and bereavement and for making plans for tomorrow, for the end of life and living for today. There will be a solicitor on hand for some basic information and advice about planning for death and dying. This will include a Q&A session on Lasting Power of Attorney, Making a Will and Living Wills. It will also cover ways of starting conversations with family and friends about ‘Last Wishes.’ There will be basic refreshments available and subsidised, accessible transport will be available to those who require it.

Tuesday 9 May

Hamwattan Centre Coffee Morning | Apna Centre, 5-11 Hares View, Leeds LS8 4LH | 10am-12pm

A coffee morning at Hamwattan Centre where people can come and talk about dying, death and bereavement. We will provide information and encourage conversations on topics such as things to do before you die, supporting bereavement, writing a will and planning for future care. We aim to provide a relaxed and welcoming environment where everyone can have open and honest discussions on a topic that is often stigmatised or overlooked.

West Leeds Dying Matters Week Collective | a selection of events running from Tuesday 9 May until Friday 12 May | contact [email protected] for more information.

Things that matter to me at End of Life | Ramgarhia Board Gurdwara, 8-10 Chapeltown Road, Leeds LS7 3AP | 11.30am-12.30pm

This event will be repeated on

  • Wednesday 10 May | Sumangal Group | 11am-12pm
  • Thursday 11 May | Hamari Yaadain Group | 1pm-3pm
  • Friday 19 May | Beetey Din Group | 10.30am-11.30am

LeDeR: Living Healthy and Dying Well** | Leeds City Centre Hub, Floor 2, Merrion House, Leeds LS2 8DT | 1pm-3.30pm

Email [email protected] or call Forum Central on 0113 242 1321 for more information.

Memorial Mandala Workshop** | Studio 6, North Light Arts Centre 31 Potternewton Lane Leeds LS7 3DD | 7pm-8.30pm

After a grounding meditation, we’ll join together to build a mandala in loving memory of those who are no longer with us. Using objects from nature, flowers, photos and mementos, we’ll mindfully remember our loved ones in a safe and sacred space. The session will be run by Becky Brereton, Art Psychotherapist and Reiki Master and Eva Lake, Holistic Therapist & Soul Doula.

Wednesday 10 May

Good Grief Guiseley | Guiseley Theatre, The Green, Guiseley, Leeds LS20 9BT | 10.30am-1pm

We would like to invite the community of all ages to pop into Guiseley Theatre bringing their ideas, stories and creativity, to share their special family recipes, their memories and experiences of food. Of course tea, coffee and cake will be available!

Building upon conversations and creativity from the peer support Good Grief Guiseley cafes and online support group where we have shared memories and experiences associated with loved ones, bereavement and food. Special and ordinary meals, tablecloths made and used by grandparents, shared cups of tea, the changes that may happen following loss, socially and in eating and shopping habits.

We plan to capture some of these stories and recipes in print. Also transferring these memories into pieces of visual art – a giant tablecloth made using mixed media of embroidery, painting, photographs, printing,words and poetry.

Belle Isle Senior Action Dying Matters Awareness | 26 Broom Crescent, Belle Isle, Leeds LS10 3JN | 11.30am-2pm

We are planning to host an afternoon for 40-50 older people to attend and receive advice on: writing a will; recording their funeral wishes; planning their future care and support; consider and discuss registering as an organ donor; and talk about telling their loved ones about their wishes. We also plan to screen some Dying Matters Films to help people to think about and face addressing the issue of dying, which can be difficult for people to wan to talk about.

Leeds Gate Flower arranging session | 12pm-2pm

We will deliver six flower arranging sessions in total which will involve Leeds Gate members taking part in learning how to flower arrange alongside being involved in conversations more openly about dying, death and bereavement, and to make plans for the end of life.

Thursday 11 May

Planning for End of Life** | Studio 6, North Light Arts Centre 31 Potternewton Lane Leeds LS7 3DD | 10am-11am

In this session, you will be reminded about the things you know need organising before you die, and you’ll be introduced to some new things that you probably never thought about. Planning for the end of life doesn’t need to be depressing and it isn’t a job that should wait for the end of life. Death planning can bring what’s important into focus, and can lead to a better life in the here and now. When the time (inevitably) comes, some of the hard work is already done. The session will be run by Eva Lake, Holistic Therapist & Soul Doula.

LeDeR: Living Healthy and Dying Well** | Leeds City Centre Hub, Floor 2, Merrion House, Leeds LS2 8DT | 1pm-3.30pm

Email [email protected] or call Forum Central on 0113 242 1321 for more information.

Mosaic Making Workshop | Seagulls Reuse, 103 Kirkstall Road, Leeds LS3 1JL | 6.30pm-9pm

Let’s Talk About Loss will be taking part in a private mosaic making workshop with the aim of creating artwork to remember our loved ones who have died. Participants will be encouraged to discuss their loved ones and their feelings as we work to create our memorial pieces. Soft drinks and snacks will be provided.

Friday 12 May

Dying Matters in Leeds Partnership at the White Rose Centre | White Rose Shopping Centre, Dewsbury Road, Leeds LS11 8LU | 11am-3pm

Come and find out more about Dying Matters initiatives in Leeds. We’ll be just outside Sainsburys waiting for your queries ????

Rothwell Rhubarb Tarts WI, Lets Talk About Dying Cafe | St Mary’s Catholic Church Hall, Stybank Lane, Rothwell, Leeds LS6 0EP | 11am-4pm

Rothwell Rhubarb Tarts WI has invited local professionals, including solicitors, funeral directors, celebrant, representatives from local GP practices, Respect advisors, end of life care organisations and also an organisation who care for pets once their owner has passed . They are there to give advice and will bring literature. We will provide refreshments, including hot & cold drinks, biscuits and cakes.

What Do You Want to Know About Death? | Bridge Community Church, Rider Street, Leeds LS9 7BQ | 1pm-3pm

This event organised by Leeds Involving People is for the Deaf community and will provide them with accessible information that they can understand and about the processes surrounding end of life. For example:

  • the benefits of making a will
  • how to say if you want/don’t want to be an organ donor
  • setting up power of attorney and what that means
  • who you need to tell and how to do that (eg stopping pension payments, the person’s bank etc)
  • how to organise a funeral
  • how to get an interpreter for a funeral
  • sharing your own wishes with your family and friends

The facilitator for the event is from the Deaf community, so understands personally the barriers and frustrations people face. In addition, we would like to share with them what support is available for people who have been bereaved, including mental health support and ways to capture and hold on to good memories.

Dealing with Death through Writing | Farsley Parish Church, New Street, Old Road, Farsley, Leeds LS28 5DJ | 1pm-2pm

This session is part of the West Leeds Dying Matters Week Collective, in this one-hour creative writing workshop, participants will explore the theme of death and how to deal with it through writing. Whether it be the loss of a loved one or a personal reflection on one’s own mortality, writing can be a powerful tool for processing and expressing complex emotions. During the workshop, participants will be guided through different writing outputs, and they will learn about the unique structures and techniques used in each form and have the opportunity to experiment with writing in each style. Through writing prompts and guided exercises, participants will gain ideas and inspiration for creating their own written works on the theme of death. To book your free place visit Eventbrite.

Talk it to Death** | Quaker Meeting House, Roundhay, Leeds LS8 2BW | 7pm-8pm

‘Talk it to Death’ is a safe space to join with others to discuss and reflect on death, dying and related subjects. In this group, you will be invited (without pressure) to share your stories and experiences, and to respectfully and non judgementally witness the stories of others. The session will be run by Eva Lake, Holistic Therapist & Soul Doula.

Saturday 13 May

Exploring the emotion of grief** | Studio 6, North Light Arts Centre 31 Potternewton Lane Leeds LS7 3DD | 10am-11.30am

During this session, you will be guided to get creative, using art materials in a gentle way to support your nervous system and connect to self expression. You will have time to flow at your own pace before being invited to lay down, get cosy and receive a group energy healing. The session will be run by Becky Brereton, Art Psychotherapist and Reiki Master and Eva Lake, Holistic Therapist & Soul Doula.

Tuesday 13 June

Event to remember, celebrate and reflect on our friend Azhar

Provide a private space for People in Action members to share their memories of Azhar, and what he meant to our group. To allow members to celebrate and commemorate his life together as a group, and reflect on and process their feelings in regard to their loss. To let Azhar’s family know that he is not forgotten.

*Please note: All details correct at time of going to print. Please check with organisers to confirm

** Independent events not funded by Dying Matters Leeds