Opportunities Fund supports Kingston's first Death Cafe

Posted Thursday 26 June 2014

Kingston University's Opportunities Fund supported the town's first Death Café as part of the 5th Annual Dying Matters Awareness Week.

Taking place at the Rose Theatre cafe on 13 May, it gave people the chance to meet over tea and cake to discuss their opinions of life and death.

Our Surrey based participants included a mix of men and women from across the age spectrum all contributing to a thought-provoking, intimate and exhilarating conversation about:

• Death and what it means: What is death? How are we to understand it? In what ways does our background and experience shape our perception of death?
• Our own death: How best to prepare for it? How to let others know of our wishes? Who the funeral is for? What do we think about organ donation? 
• The death of a loved one: How do we deal with bereavement and grief? How do we continue our bonds with the dead? How do we support others in grief?

At the end of the discussion, the Dying Matters ‘5 things to do before I die' postcards were circulated, prompting us to think about our life and legacy and allowing for some soul-searching.

In the participants' own words, the Death Café was informative, enlightening, reassuring, positive, mindful and thought-provoking. Below are what some of the participants said.

• ‘It helped me to feel less apprehensive of what lies beyond the grave!'

• ‘It is interesting and intimate to discuss with other people their experiences of, and concerns, regarding death and dying. I do not think it has affected my own feelings but do think that other peoples' experiences have given me things to consider'.

• ‘It transformed my life. I wish my parents could attend one too'.

A second Death Café in Kingston is on the cards; details to be confirmed soon.

About the Opportunities Fund

If you would like to donate to the Opportunities Fund, you can make a donation online. If you would like to know a little more, contact the Annual Fund manager Jason Barlow on 020 8417 3112 or at j.barlow@kingston.ac.uk.

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