Death Café
Join us for life-affirming conversation, tea and cake!
Our Death Café at St Joseph’s Hospice offers a friendly, informal space to talk about dying and loss, whatever feels right for you. It’s open to everyone, including staff, volunteers, patients and families, and members of the public.
We hold regular Death Cafés at St Joseph’s Hospice multiple times a year.
Please check back for the next event date.
What happens at a Death Café?
People arrive at the Hospice and are greeted by our team in the space where the Death Café takes place. You’ll be offered tea or coffee, along with plenty of delicious cakes and biscuits. Once everyone is settled and seated in small groups (usually around 3-6 people per table) a member of our team will explain what the Death Café is and what you can expect from the conversation.
The Death Café isn’t counselling or a support group, it’s an open space where people can share their thoughts and feelings with others. The conversation centres around death and dying, with prompt cards on the tables if you’d like a bit of help getting started. Most often people take turns sharing their experiences of loss or dying while others listen closely and there’s no pressure to speak if you don’t want to. During the session, people may reflect on the lives of those they’ve lost, sharing joyful memories, or talk about their own life and what it means to them.
Can anyone come along?
Anyone can come along to Death Café at St Joseph’s Hospice. Our Death Café is open to everyone whether you’ve experienced loss, are feeling curious or simply want to listen.
Do I need to register to attend?
No need to register! Just come along to St Joseph’s Hospice when the next event is scheduled.
Do I need to speak about things that are sensitive to me?
There’s no agenda and no pressure to speak. Just open conversation and listening. By talking openly about death, many people find they gain a deeper appreciation for life and a greater sense of connection to others. Death Café is open to everyone whether you’ve experienced loss, are feeling curious or simply want to listen. You do not need to share anything you don’t wish to.
Can I drop in to the session?
Death Café is not a drop-in event. We do ask that you please turn up in time for the session start.
Feedback from Death Café attendees:
“It was both moving and enlightening to share and listen to the experiences of others! Death is an important subject, it’s part of life and something we can talk about.”
“The Death Café was very useful and interactive which has encouraged me to attend more sessions.”
“Death Café was a unique and intimate space to listen and reflect. The event was well run and thought-provoking.”
“It was very upbeat for a sad subject, thank you for all the good conversations with others this event started.”
