A training seminar described by care professionals as ‘empowering’ and ‘informative’ is taking place again on Wednesday 15 September due to popular demand.

The end-of-life care planning training course from Bristol Memorial Woodlands, in partnership with training provider Gentle Dusk, is aimed at care professionals and can be accessed for free via Zoom.

End of Life Care and Bereavement expert and founding director of Gentle Dusk, Mireille Hayden, will lead the training which is open to care home staff and managers and other care workers who work with families every day.

She said: “The programme of bereavement and end-of-life care workshops I have been delivering with Bristol Memorial Woodlands have proved extremely popular and we are now receiving calls from local care homes to book more dates.

“Front-line staff and leaders have really appreciated the supportive programme which opens up conversations and provides staff with greater understanding and confidence in addressing the issues around these taboo subjects.

“The half-day session is free and organisations or individuals can sign up and tune in virtually. Previous attendees have said the skills learnt were helpful in their day-to-day work and provided a positive outlook on end-of-life care planning.

“Bristol Memorial Woodlands started these workshops as a way to connect with others in the end-of-life sector and they are fast becoming not only a funeral venue but a leading voice in the death and dying community.”

Bristol Care Homes has already provided its staff with the training. Tania Bartholomew, Group Care Quality Manager, said: “Gathering information about our residents’ end of life plan is a really important part of what our care staff do.

“This training explains the importance of knowing residents’ wishes, sharing those wishes with the right people and ensuring they are carried out with dignity.”

Bristol Memorial Woodlands is a 100-acre site in Alveston offering environmentally-friendly woodland burials. Trees and wild flowers are planted around the plots where loved ones are laid to rest and the area is managed by a charitable trust to ensure it will be open forever for future generations to visit.

If you would like further information or to book a training programme please contact Ella Abbott - ella@memorialwoodlands.com.

For more information about our work, training and events please visit www.gentledusk.org.uk and www.memorialwoodlands.com