Event in Ashburton aims to open up conversations about death

A new event in the Devon town of Ashburton is inviting people to talk more openly about death, dying and end-of-life planning.

The event will take place at St Andrew’s Church Hall on Saturday 10 May, running from 10am to 3pm.

District nurses, a palliative care consultant, a local undertaker and a solicitor will be on hand to answer questions and offer support during the day, which has been organised as part of the national Dying Matters campaign led by Hospice UK.

Anna Dunscombe, a local district nurse who is behind the event, said the aim was to offer a warm, welcoming space to discuss a subject that many find difficult.

“A lot of our job in the community nursing team is about supporting people and their families at the end of their lives," she said.

“We know how difficult it is to face death, and to talk about it; the event is all about making the inevitable a little easier and less frightening.

“There will be lots of free tea and cake on offer throughout the day, as well as soup at lunchtime; we will even have coffin cakes!”

Alongside Ms Dunscombe and her fellow district nurses, the event will include Dr Sarah Human, a palliative care consultant at Rowcroft Hospice in Torquay, Totnes-based undertaker Ru Callender, and solicitor Emma Oakley.

A panel discussion styled as a “Question Time”-style Q&A will take place between 12 noon and 1pm, chaired by local writer Sophie Pierce.

“By calling it Coffin Conversations we want to lighten the gloom around death a little," said Ms Dunscombe.

“The whole point of the day is to try and remove some of the great taboo around this subject which is something we all fear but which of course comes to us all.

“Everyone is welcome, either to drop in or stay for the whole day, and there is absolutely no question that cannot be asked either publicly in the Q and A session or privately during the day.

“We are open to questions on anything from ‘will the Government take all my money?’ to ‘how will I know when I am dying?’”

The event is being held as part of Dying Matters Awareness Week, a national campaign run by Hospice UK to encourage more open conversations around end-of-life experiences.

Chris White, Senior Digital Marketing & Campaign Manager at Hospice UK, said: “Talking about death and dying is never easy, but it’s vital. Honest and timely conversations can ensure that people get the support they need and help loved ones better understand their wishes. We want everyone to feel empowered to have these conversations.”