Dying Matters Awareness Week
Monday May 4 - Sunday May 10 2026
Let’s Discuss Death at Bethnal Green Library and in Tower Hamlets Cemetery Park
Dying Matters Awareness Week is an annual event organised by Hospice UK . Let’s Discuss Death worked in collaboration with Tower Hamlets libraries and the Tower Hamlets Cemetery Park and offered 4 days of free events for the community, aimed to encourage and support people to think and talk about end-of-life matters, death and grief.
The Programme of Events
All events were free for the community.
Tower Hamlets Cemetery Park
Park Manager, Ken, led two guided walks around the cemetery park - he told us about the history of this very special urban woodland as well as the stories of a few of the 350,000 humans buried there. Alongside the human history, we also learned about some of the other species who make this park their home, and how the cemetery park’s fabulous team of volunteers work all year round to nurture this space.
Bethnal Green Library
Two days of events were hosted at Bethnal Green Library. These included:
Between Conflict and Connection: Navigating Family Dynamics at end-of-life. A workshop and facilitated conversation.
Everything You Wanted to Know About Funerals (but were too afraid to ask). A talk and Q&A
Life, Death and Biscuits: Inspiring stories from a Critical Care Nurse. A talk and Q&A
Planting Through Grief: Explore Grief Through Nature. A creative workshop
Planning for the Inevitable: Learn what you can do to prepare for your death. A talk and Q&A
Companion Voices - traditional songs sung at the bedside of the dying.
On Saturday 9th May, the events at Bethnal Green Library were made accessible to all ages with workshops for all humans aged 5 or older. A multi-generational audience came to participate. The workshops included:
Where Love Lives: Explore the meaning of home and grief together. A creative workshop.
Planting Through Grief: Explore Grief Through Nature. A creative workshop based on the same ideas as the event on Thursday, but pitched so that children can also participate.
Throughout the day, a dedicated space was made available for quiet reflection and refreshments. There will also be stalls run by the following organisations:
People were also able to browse and borrow a curated display of death and grief-related books, both fiction and non-fiction, in the main library.
Feedback included:
“This was such a strong experience of human connection, vulnerability and safety”
“The world needs more spaces like this to discuss, share, and hold the heavier feelings and experiences life brings”
“This event was crucial to my healing process. Thank you so much for bringing a space of intention and care to the community!”
“I attended all the sessions - I have no words to express my gratitude and to say how wonderful everything has been”
Contact us
Interested in finding out more?
Do you have ideas for events we should be part of or should create?
Do you have any questions?
Please reach out and we’ll be in touch as soon as possible.