This week we opened our doors for a series of events to mark Dying Matters Week, the national campaign that aims to drive conversations about death, dying and bereavement.

Our first event explored mindfulness and meditation in theory and practice, discussing the art of kindness in the face of adversity. Our thanks go to Alan Hughes, a teacher of mindfulness and meditation with the Mindfulness Association, for facilitating the event.

On Tuesday evening, our third annual Death Café saw strangers engaging in courageous conversation - intimate experiences and perspectives on life’s great inevitability were shared in Trinity’s Mulberry Café over tea and cake.

Finally, our Creative Writing Showcase saw patients, their families, volunteers and staff share their inspirational poetry, stories and memoirs on experiences of life, love and loss. Watch Trinity staff member Pat share her poem "Swallows in Flight" below.

Going into Dying Matters Week, we wanted to bring as many new people as possible into the Trinity community engage them in the sometimes difficult, but important, questions about life and death. We were delighted to welcome in dozens of new visitors to Trinity and to answer their questions about what life is like inside a hospice.

Throughout the week our shops led the way in involving even more of the community in conversations about death and dying as they asked “what can you do in your community?”. Their interactive window displays got shoppers talking about the ways in which they can and do help break down taboos about death and support their local hospice at the same time.

Our social media community also got in on the conversation and answered the big questions around planning for and talking about death. Take a look at some of the highlights from Trinity’s social feeds below.

Patients, their families and supporters have reflected on an 'honest', 'joyful' and 'creative' week that sparked important conversation in tackling the taboo of talking about death and dying. If you joined us for an event or got involved in our shops or online, thank you.

Although Dying Matters week is nearly over, we want to keep the conversation going. If you want to keep up to date with all of the news and opportunities to get involved at Trinity, you can sign up to our mailing list through the link below.