St Teresa’s Hospice is inviting the Darlington community to get talking about death, dying, and bereavement during this year’s Dying Matters Awareness Week (4–10 May 2026)
Every year, people around the UK use Dying Matters Awareness Week, led by Hospice UK, as a moment to encourage all communities to get talking in whatever way, shape or form works for them.
Death, dying and bereavement affect us all. Yet 27% of people find it hard to talk about death with family or friends, and 30% bottle their feelings up.* If we don’t talk about death and dying and bereavement, it can be harder to cope when we experience it.
The mission of Dying Matters is to break down the stigma and taboo of talking about death and dying. But sometimes, it’s hard to know where to start.
This Dying Matters Awareness Week is focusing on the importance of conversations about death and dying – with family, friends, employers, anyone in your life – helping people to get the conversation started.
Events and activities are taking place across the UK to mark Dying Matters Awareness Week. For more information, or to find out how to host your own event, visit the Dying Matters website.
For more information, contact media@hospiceuk.org / 020 7520 8263
Dying Matters is Hospice UK’s flagship campaign. It aims to create an open culture that talks about death and where people feel able to listen and support people who are planning for end of life, those who are dying and bereaved people.
Hospice UK and Dying Matters believe that everyone, no matter who they are, where they are or why they are ill, should receive the best possible care at the end of their life.
* Research from polling commissioned by Celebration Day in 2025
