Dying Matters Awareness Week is an annual campaign led by Hospice UK, encouraging organisations across the country to open up conversations about death, dying, and grief.
The aim is to break down the stigma surrounding these topics, making it easier for people to talk, plan, and support one another.
The theme for 2025 is The Culture of Dying Matters, running from 5th–11th May. This year’s focus is on how different communities and cultures across the UK experience, talk about, and navigate death and bereavement—while also recognising what unites us in these experiences.
Every culture and faith has its own traditions and beliefs around death and dying. But at the heart of it all, the emotions we feel—grief, loss, sadness—are universal. While we may express them in different ways, we all share the impact of losing a loved one.
Scientific studies have shown that while grief is deeply personal, it is also something we all experience, regardless of our background, age, or beliefs. How we talk about and process it may differ, but we are all connected by the emotions it brings.
This Dying Matters Awareness Week, we’re exploring how communities and cultures across the UK approach conversations about death, how they grieve, and what ultimately brings us together.
Because the Culture of Dying Matters.
Did you know?
Hospice UK asked 10 people from different faiths, cultures and backgrounds some questions about death and dying.
• Some believe that death, and grief, connects them to their ancestors.
• Some say that death is intertwined with their faith, and some say it isn’t.
• Some believe that it is important to spend time with the body of the person who has died.
• Some say that remembering the deceased is one of the most important things you can do after they have died.
• But many say that death and dying is still not talked about as openly as it should be.
To support this important campaign, we have compiled a list of useful and informative resources that you can access freely:
🧒 Recommended Films & Books for Children:
The Hare Shaped Hole by John Dougherty
🎙️ Podcasts:
Access The Dying Matters Podcast on Spotify
📚 Books:
Living with the Dead by Professor Laura King
The Soul of Rumi by Coleman Barks, Jalal Al-Din Rumi
Every Time I Find the Meaning of Life, They Change It by Daniel Klein
A Gift for the Bereaved Parent by Zamir Hussain
The Untethered Soul by Michael Singer
💛 Pendleside Hospice Blog Articles:
Stuart Finds Strength in Supporting Others
Neil's Compassionate Journey with Pendleside Hospice
Sarah and Her Family Launch Light Up a Life in Memory of Her Dad
💻 Hospice UK Blog Articles:
Seven Ways to Help Cope with Grief at Christmas
3 Tips for Talking about Death and Dying at Work
Remembering My Dad Through Drawing
How Art Can Help Children Express Grief
Information and Support:
Ataloss offers a national signposting service to help bereaved people find local, specialist and national support. ataloss.org
Child Bereavement UK provides information and support (including a helpline) when a baby or child of any age dies or is dying, and when a child is facing bereavement. childbereavementuk.org
Compassionate Employers is Hospice UK’s workplace support programme, helping organisations and their employees to build an open, compassionate culture to support staff through grief, caring responsibilities, or a life-limiting illness
hospiceuk.org/compassionate-employers
Cruse Bereavement Support is a national bereavement charity, which provides support, advice and information to children, young people and adults when someone dies. cruse.org.uk
The Good Grief Festival is a community of people talking about grief in a refreshing and honest way, with virtual talks, workshops and webinars held at online festivals through the year. Goodgrieffest.com
Please help spread the word.
It’s not easy, but sharing your stories and experiences can help create spaces for people to talk openly about death, dying, and grief.
Bereavement support is available at Pendleside Hospice, for both adults and children, living in the Burnley and Pendle areas. If you need to get in touch, please contact our Family Support & Bereavement Team on 01282 440 102.