It is Dying Matters Awareness Week

Dying Matters Awareness Week, led by Hospice UK, runs from 4 to 10 May.

It is an opportunity to encourage all communities to get talking in whatever way, shape or form works for them.

Death, dying and bereavement affect us all. Yet 27% of people find it hard to talk about death with family or friends, and 30% bottle their feelings up. If we don’t talk about death and dying and bereavement, it can be harder to cope and make decisions, either for ourselves or our loved ones, when the time comes.

The mission of Dying Matters is to break down the stigma and taboo of talking about death and dying. But sometimes, it’s hard to know where to start.

This Dying Matters Awareness Week is focusing on the importance of conversations about death and dying – with family, friends, employers, anyone in your life – helping people to get the conversation started.

More information and useful resources including podcasts, recommended reading and tools to help you plan ahead

Published: May 1, 2026