Dying Matters Week at Rowcroft Hospice
Talking about death and dying can be difficult. It may feel natural to shy away from the topic – perhaps because it feels too painful, uncomfortable, or simply because we don’t know what to say. But having these conversations can make a significant difference – not just for ourselves, but for our loved ones too. By discussing our wishes, hopes and fears, we can bring clarity and comfort to those closest to us. That’s why Dying Matters Week (5-11 May 2025) is so important.
As part of Rowcroft’s End-of-Life Care Ambassador Programme, Joseph Clark-Skinner, Office Manager at Teign Angels, a homecare provider in Newton Abbot, is working to make Advance Care Planning (ACP) more accessible and less daunting. Joseph’s project uses creative tools to help people think about and share their wishes for end-of-life care. By making these conversations easier to navigate, he is helping individuals and families feel more confident about planning for the future.
Shining a light on Dying Matters Week
Led by Hospice UK, Dying Matters Week raises awareness about the importance of open and honest conversations about death, dying, and bereavement. This year’s theme, ‘The Culture of Dying Matters’, focuses on how different communities and cultures in the UK experience, talk about, and deal with death – and the common threads that unite them.
Why talking about death is important
Talking about death ensures our wishes are known and respected, easing future decisions for loved ones. It brings peace of mind, helps put affairs in order, and reduces uncertainty. For families, understanding a loved one’s end-of-life wishes offers comfort and allows for meaningful goodbyes. For those facing a life-limiting illness, openly sharing their wishes and fears can bring relief and reassurance.
Supporting change through the End-of-Life Care Ambassador Programme
Launched in 2018, our End-of-Life Care Ambassador Programme led by Rowcroft’s Education Team brings together professionals from different sectors to help improve and influence end-of-life care. Joseph shared with us how the programme is helping him to create meaningful change. As part of the programme, each ambassador designs a workplace project for Dying Matters Week. For Joseph, that project revolves around ACP – helping people feel more comfortable discussing their future care needs.
Joseph explains:
“With my project, one of the key things I want to focus on is making Advance Care Planning something people want to participate in, rather than putting it off because they feel it’s too difficult to discuss. It’s all about person-centred care – and the best people to tell us how they want to be cared for are the people themselves. And if they can do that in advance, before a time comes when they may no longer be able to, that’s invaluable.”
Encouraging conversations in a creative way
Joseph has been working on a range of tools to help start these important conversations, all contained in a guide called Talking for England. Inspired by various card games, fortune-teller games, and conversations with facilitators of various Rowcroft Education sessions, the aim of the guide is to get people ‘talking for England’ about what matters most to them.
“It’s still in its trial stage, but once it’s ready, I hope it’ll help people identify the starting point of their conversations,” says Joseph. “It explores various themes, some of which might not always be considered in Advance Care Planning, and encourages people to approach them in a way that best suits them. Planning for the future can be something we have fun with, and something we can use to find out more about ourselves and those around us. I hope this guide will be a useful tool for people to make their wishes and choices known.”
How can you get involved?
- Start the conversation – Take a moment to talk with your loved ones about your wishes for end-of-life care.
- Make a plan – Consider creating an Advance Care Plan, writing a will, or discussing funeral preferences.
- Use helpful resources – Rowcroft’s Planning for the Future Hub offers guidance, tools, and information to help you navigate end-of-life planning with confidence and ease.
- Join the conversation online – Follow #DyingMattersWeek and share your thoughts, stories, and questions. We’ll be posting throughout the week on our social channels, so stay connected!
- Reach out for support – If you’re unsure where to start, there are a range of useful organisations listed on Rowcroft’s Planning for the Future Hub.
Let’s talk
This Dying Matters Week, let’s start the conversation, support one another, and create a culture where talking about death isn’t something to be feared, but something that brings clarity and comfort – helping us to live more fully and with greater peace of mind.