Dying Matters Awareness Week 2025: A Time to Reflect on the Culture of Dying
Each year, Dying Matters Awareness Week provides a timely and vital opportunity to bring conversations about death, dying and bereavement into the light. In 2025, the week runs from the 5th to 11th May, and the theme is one that resonates deeply across all aspects of our sector: ‘The Culture of Dying Matters’.
Hosted by Hospice UK, Dying Matters has grown into a nationally recognised campaign aimed at helping people talk more openly about dying, death, and grief, and to take simple steps that can make end-of-life experiences more compassionate and informed. Whilst it may surprise some to learn that this campaign began back in 2009, the founding idea was simple but powerful: to challenge the taboos surrounding death and encourage honest, supportive conversations.
Over the years, Dying Matters has become much more than a campaign week. It has evolved into a movement that encourages individuals, communities, and professionals to reflect on how we talk about dying and how that, in turn, shapes our experiences at life’s end. For many of our members, whether working in cemeteries, crematoria, or bereavement services, this movement aligns closely with the values of dignity, openness, and care that we champion every day.
What Does ‘The Culture of Dying Matters’ Mean to You?
This year’s theme invites us to consider not just whether we talk about death, but how we do so. Culture, in this sense, encompasses everything from beliefs and practices to policies, workplace environments, and interpersonal attitudes.
We therefore encourage all ICCM members to take some time during the week to reflect on what this culture looks like in your setting. How do the people who access your services experience conversations about dying? What unspoken norms or expectations influence your work? And importantly, what could be done differently to create a more open, inclusive, and supportive environment?
These are big questions, but they are at the heart of meaningful change. Your reflections can help move our collective understanding forward and ensure that death and dying are treated not as topics to avoid, but as natural and important parts of life.
Share Your Stories
We know that many of you will be marking Dying Matters Awareness Week through events, talks, exhibitions, or quiet reflection. We would love to hear about them. Please consider sharing your activities, stories, or reflections with us so we can highlight the range of meaningful work taking place across the sector. We’ll be compiling a selection to feature in a future ICCM Journal article, showcasing the creative and compassionate efforts of our members.
Find Out More
To learn more about the campaign, visit the Dying Matters Awareness Week homepage here:
👉 Dying Matters Awareness Week | https://www.hospiceuk.org/our-campaigns/dying-matters/dying-matters-awareness-week
If you’re wondering how to get involved, or what steps you can take — as an individual or an organisation — take a look at the helpful guide on:
👉 What You Can Do Now | https://www.hospiceuk.org/our-campaigns/dying-matters/dying-matters-awareness-week#content-menu-24782
As professionals working so closely with death, we are in a unique position to lead by example. Let’s use this week not only to engage our communities, but also to examine and evolve the culture within our own walls.
Together, we can continue to ensure that dying — and talking about dying — truly matters.