Emma Warner, Specialist Nurse Practitioner for St Barnabas Hospice
St Barnabas Lincolnshire Hospice are encouraging the Boston and Spalding community’s to talk openly about death, dying and bereavement
St Barnabas Lincolnshire Hospice has announced plans to host a series of activities in Boston and Spalding during Dying Matters Awareness Week.
The annual awareness week, which runs from 9 to 15 May, urges people to talk more openly about dying, death and bereavement and make plans for the end of life.
Emma Warner, a Specialist Nurse Practitioner from the local community will be facilitating a story-time with nursery children, hosting a stall in the town centre and encouraging the ‘Big conversation’ at a cheese and wine evening.
Emma said: “We have a whole host of events planned throughout the week and we are hoping that there will be something to appeal to all ages within our community. We really want to encourage everyone to start having open and honest conversations about what is important to them in life and death.
“Asa hospice it is our responsibility to help facilitate these conversations and provide an environment where it is OK to explore the many facets associated with what is often a taboo subject.
“The story time at the nursey allows for social change to be driven from a young age and helps to educate our children that death is as much about life as being born. Having honest but appropriate conversations with people of all ages is vital in helping to shape the perceptions of our future generations.”
During the week St Barnabas Hospice will be encouraging people in Boston and Spalding to join their county-wide initiative to create ‘Lincolnshire’s Big Bucket List’ and share their hopes and dreams.
Emma concludes: “We hope that the events we have planned during Dying Matters Awareness Week will help to break down the barriers which are often associated with this sensitive subject.
“We are aiming to get as many people as possible to have conversations about dying, death and bereavement and that our events will prompt them to continue these conversations when they return home.”
The timetable of events:
Monday 9th May
• 10am – 3pm Awareness stand at Asda, Lister Way, Boston PE21 8EQ
Tuesday 10th May
• 9am – 3pm Awareness stand with Butterfly Hospice Trust at Johnson Hospital, Spalding Road, Pinchbeck PE11 3DT
• Storytime at a nursery in Boston
• 6.30pm – 9pm Cheese and Wine evening, Green Lane, Boston PE21 9NB
Wednesday 11th May
• 9am – 4pm Awareness stand with Butterfly Hospice Trust at Pescod Square, Boston PE21 6QX
Thursday 12th May
• 10am – 12noon Day Therapy social group, Boston Hospice, Green Lane, Off Red Cap Lane PE21 9NB
Friday 13th May
• 10am – 4pm Awareness stand with Butterfly Hospice Trust at Pilgrim Hospital, Sibsey Road, Boston PE21 9QS
Saturday 14th May
• 8am – 4pm Market Stall at Boston Market