Pop-up “ bereavement cafe” will encourage end of life planning

The charity will be at the library in Riverside House next Tuesday (9) and Thursday (11) from noon to 6pm and on Wednesday from 10am to 3pm.

It is part of Dying Matters Awareness Week, which aims to have more people talk about what they want to happen at the end of their lives — and make plans early.

Tracy Bell, clinical governance lead at the hospice, said: “We have seen many times at the hospice that talking about their hopes, fears and wishes gives our patients relief and peace of mind and we have championed the campaign’s important message over the years by staging events at the hospice. 

“Now we also want to take that message out into the community to reach more people.”

The cafe will provide a relaxed and informal setting in which to discuss the subject, with volunteers baking cakes for visitors.

Specialists from the hospice’s range of support services will attend, including ward and day hospice staff, community nurses, the Hospice @ Home team and bereavement counsellors.

Dying Matters is led by the National Council for Palliative Care umbrella charity and has 32,000 members.