A workshop designed to support people to open up about issues around death and dying is being held in Bristol on November 28.

The virtual Death Café, organised by funeral venue Bristol Memorial Woodlands, has been arranged after a similar event – held as part of Bristol’s Good Grief Festival in October – was a sell-out success.

The workshop will be run by health psychologist and bereavement expert Mireille Hayden who says the over-subscribed October event demonstrates the need for people to talk about these issues.

“The last Death Café we ran was our most popular yet with 68 people booked on and many more on a waiting list. The interest in the event prompted us to hold another closely after as it is clear that there is a desire to talk,” said Mireille, who has 20 years’ experience in the health service.

“We are aware that many people are being faced with difficult situations around end of life care during this Covid-19 pandemic, yet many will not have the opportunity to share their thoughts with others, not only because of confinement, but also because of the lack of openness in our society around these issues.

“Death Cafes are informal gatherings that provide time and space to talk about fundamental topics which are often avoided in everyday life yet affect us all.

“They are for people to get together to discuss the end of life, death and bereavement in a friendly, non-judgemental way in a directed discussion where there is no agenda, objectives or themes.”

Mireille, from Gentle Dusk, who has been running death cafés for five years, says many people have lost loved ones in the pandemic and not been able to be present at their end of lives.

The event is open to the public and healthcare professionals.

Mireille continued: “People are experiencing grief at a time when there is isolation and a lack of social support which has made the experience even more difficult.

“We hope people will find this session useful in expressing some of their feelings and we look forward to holding more similar events in the future.”

Bristol Memorial Woodlands, just north of Bristol, is a regional funeral centre where families can mourn their loved ones in a beautiful woodland setting. The venue was running a series of seminars and workshops on death and dying before the pandemic and is now holding events, such as this one, online.  

The Death Café will take place on Saturday 28 November from 10.30am-12noon. Places are free but limited. To book your space visit https://www.eventbrite.com/e/bristol-memorial-woodlands-death-cafe-tickets-126047915709

For more information about Bristol Memorial Woodlands visit www.memorialwoodlands.com