HOSPICE staff are set to get people talking about death, dying and bereavement as part of a national campaign week.
In May, a team from St Richard's Hospice will hit high streets in Worcester and Evesham with a blackboard – asking shoppers to write down what they hope to achieve, or be remembered for.
The activities, which will run in Evesham on Tuesday, May 9, and Worcester on Thursday, May 11, are part of Dying Matters Awareness Week.
The week aims to help people ask questions about end of life care issues, such as planning a funeral or coping with bereavement.
Alice Spearing, engagement officer at the hospice, will be out with the 'Before I Die' board, accompanied by the family support team.
"We are hoping the board will create a buzz on the high street and start conversations around death, dying and bereavement," she said.
"About 1 per cent of the UK population dies each year, which means about 5,000 people will die in Worcestershire this year, and each of those deaths will affect many more people in different ways.
"Talking about death can be a bit awkward at first, but it is something we all have to face. Talking about death makes it easier to plan for and to deal with when it happens."
The theme for this year’s Dying Matters week is 'What Can You Do' – and is aimed at challenging people to take action, such as making a will or caring for a dying relative.
Claire Henry MBE, chief executive of the National Council for Palliative Care and the Dying Matters coalition, said: "We should not be afraid of talking about death, I know that everyone has questions and concerns, its good talk about it as we can all get our plans in place and then get on with living."
Research from ComRes, commissioned by Dying Matters in 2016, only 32 per cent of people in the West Midlands had made a will, while just 25 per cent had discussed their funeral wishes.
For more information about the week, which runs between Monday, May 8 to Sunday, May 14, visit dyingmatters.org
For more information about St Richard's Hospice visit strichards.org.uk
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