Dying Matters Week
Dying Matters Week 2026
Dying Matters Week is a nationwide campaign run by Hospice UK. Each year people around the UK use this week to encourage their communities to get talking about death and dying in whatever way, shape or form works for them.
May 4th – 10 th
Dying with Grace is delighted to be putting on events in Totnes and Bovey Tracey for the 3rd year running. We are hosting a series of workshops and talks, a death cafe, a space to remember our loved ones, as well as meditation, poetry and song, the RedEarth playback theatre, and the Moorheart Threshold Singers. These events aim to promote awareness of the choices and support available at end of life, and to facilitate more people engaging in conversations about death and dying. Our vision is to weave together a program of information, creativity, and beauty.
On this page, you will find the schedule of the week for our local area in South Devon, as well as more details for each event and how to book (if necessary).
Dying with Grace Events
Schedule of Dying Matters Week
Monday 4th – TLC with Jo Swift in Ashburton
Tuesday 5th – Dying Matters in Bovey Tracey – View Flyer
Wednesday 6th – Dying Matters in Newton Abbot
Talk and Death Café
(Funeral and wake options 10–11, death café at 11.30–1pm)
Email Cathy for details:
Cathy@cathypennicott.co.uk
Wednesday pm – Heart & Soul open afternoon at Riverstone at 3pm
Wednesday evening – Let’s have dinner and talk about death with Jo Swift
Thursday 7th evening – Dying Matters in South Brent
Friday 8th – Singing from the Heart in Totnes – View Flyer
Friday pm – Paignton Death Café – View Flyer
Saturday 9th & Sunday 10th – Dying Matters in Totnes – View Flyer
Dying Matters Totnes 2026
Friday – St Mary’s Church
10 – 4 Singing from the Heart in St Mary’s Church with Andrew Clark (by donation)
Saturday – The Old School Hall, The Mansion (free event)
11.30 – Welcome ritual and poetry to open the space
12 – 1.30 – The stages of dying and how to be with someone at each stage – interactive discussion, with Tasha Kalisher
1.30 – 2.15 – Lunch (there’s a lovely café and courtyard downstairs)
2.15 – 3 – Compassionate care after death with Heart & Soul Funerals
3.15 – 4 – Q&A with Nickie Aven and Sarah Parker addressing the often unspoken fears, anxieties and vulnerabilities at end of life, and in facing one’s death
4.15 – 5 – Death meditation with Anne Oversee
5pm – Moorheart Threshold Singers
Closing ritual
6pm – End
7pm – RedEarth Playback Theatre @ Bogan House
Sunday – Birdwood House (free event)
10.30 – 11.30 – Morning Death Café for everyone – a space to come and chat over tea and cake about all things death and dying
11.45 – 1 – Rebecca Collett – End of Life Planning: Wills, LPAs, Advance Statements / ADRT and other death admin
1.30 – 3.30 – Death Morris Dancers (from Exeter) – creative workshop
4 – 7 – A Space for Grief and Beauty – Grief Tending Ceremony with Sarah Parker & Amie Roberts
For more details of any of the programme please email info@dyingwithgrace.co.uk