Dying Matters Awareness Week 2026
Running from 4-10 May, this year the week's theme is 'Let’s talk about Death and Dying'.
Every year, people around the country use Hospice UK’s Dying Matters Awareness Week as a moment to encourage communities to get talking in whatever way, shape or form works for them.
This year the week’s theme is ‘Let’s talk about Death and Dying’.
At St Nicholas Hospice Care, we believe that talking about death and dying is one of the most important conversations we can have — but for many, it’s still a difficult one to start.
It is the mission of Dying Matters Awareness Week to help break down the stigma and taboo around these conversations. And that’s something we’re proud to support, not just during the week, but every day in the care we provide.
As a Hospice that supports people from all walks of life, we understand how personal and unique these journeys can be. That’s why we’re committed to creating safe, compassionate spaces for people to talk about death and dying in a way that’s meaningful to them.
This Dying Matters Awareness Week, we invite you to join the conversation.
Come and speak to our teams
Our team will be at our Barton Road shop in Bury St Edmunds, Haverhill Hub and Mildenhall shop.
As part of Dying Matters Awareness Week, three of our shops will be hosting relaxed, informal drop‑in events where people can find out more about St Nicholas Hospice Care, the support we offer locally, and gently explore this year’s theme, Let’s talk about death and dying.
There’s no pressure to join conversations or share personal experiences – whether you’re simply curious, want to pick up some information, or would like to ask a question, you’re very welcome to pop in and find out more.
We’ll be sharing Dying Matters Awareness Week resources and encouraging people to start conversations. We’ll use conversation starter cards which include a series of questions. There are no right or wrong answers to the questions.
Please come along and say hello, we’ll be at our:
- Barton Road shop, Barton Road, Bury St Edmunds on Tuesday, 5 May, from 10am-3pm.
- Mildenhall shop, Mill Street, Mildenhall on Wednesday, 6 May, from 10am-3pm.
- Haverhill Hub, Camps Road, Haverhill on Thursday, 7 May, from 10am-3pm.
GraveTalk session
St Nicholas Hospice Care resources and leaflets
Please click here to be taken to a selection of the Hospice's leaflets
Resources created by Hospice UK
Please click on the links below to access leaflets:
Getting organised before you die
Being a good listener when you talk about dying
How to talk about death and dying
Talking about dying if you or someone you know has dementia
Support and advice suggestions from Hospice UK that could be useful
Dying Matters Awareness Week, which is organised and run by Hospice UK, signposts to several resources and organisations which may help.
Please click on the links below to view their resources.
(These are third-party resources, not created by St Nicholas Hospice Care).
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.
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
Cruse Bereavement Support is a national bereavement charity, which provides support, advice and information to children, young people and adults when someone dies.
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 throughout the year.
The Planning Ahead tool leads you, step by step, to think about your own values and the things that matter most to you in life and in dying. It will explain some of the treatment decisions that may lie ahead and ask you to think about whether the length of your life or the quality of the way you live matters more to you.
Hospice UK’s guide to end-of-life care provides clear and concise guidance about what to expect, what to ask, and where to get support when you or a loved one are facing end-of-life and bereavement.