Demystifying Death Week 2025
Taking place across Scotland from 5-11 May, Demystifying Death Week is about shining a light on death, dying and bereavement in Scotland. We are encouraging people to get involved by holding in-person and online events that bring death, dying and bereavement into the limelight.
Below is a list of events registered so far - these pages will be updated over the coming weeks. If you are organising an event that you’d like us to feature, please get in touch.
It Takes A Village exhibition - Health & Social Care Moray
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Organised by Health & Social Care Moray
5-9 May
Elgin
This event is open to the public.
There is an old African proverb –‘It takes a village to raise a child – meaning, children need the input and support of their whole community to grow into well-rounded adults. But doesn’t it also ‘take a village’ to support someone who is dying?
The Scottish Partnership for Palliative Care has worked with award-winning Glasgow based photographer, Colin Gray, to produce this powerful and challenging series of portraits and personal stories. It Takes a Village explores the idea that as people’s health deteriorates, care and support comes in many guises.
We will be displaying the It Take A Village exhibition for the public to view. There will also be information stalls to find out more about local organisations’ services, and speakers on topics such as end of life, Power of Attorney and wills, funeral arrangements, and bereavement support.
Photo credit: Colin Gray
Sharing Words 2025
Organised by Scottish Independent Celebrants Association
5 - 11 May
Online
This resource is for funeral celebrants and the general public.
There are many very familiar and traditional poems and readings for Funeral and Memorial Services and often these are the most appropriate choices because of their familiarity.
However, there are also times when, as celebrants, we would like to suggest words that may be written specifically for the person who has died, or poems/readings which are very fitting, but not always associated with funerals.
As part of our contribution to Demystifying Death Week in 2024, SICA invited members to submit words that they had written themselves, or that have been used for a service for a particular person, and which felt ‘right’ for the occasion.
The aim was to encourage all of us to be more creative, to look beyond the more familiar and conventional words, to quote from unexpected and unusual sources, to be more confident in our own skills in writing, and to support families to find words that are most fitting for the person they have lost.
We decided to revisit this project for Demystifying Death Week, 2025 by asking some of the contributors to record their readings and we share these audio clips on our website.
“Much Ado About Dying” film screening
Organised by The Absent Friends Space
Friday 9 May, doors at 5:30, film starts at 6pm. Q&A follows.
Edinburgh College, Milton Campus, auditorium space in their CR:8 suite, Edinburgh EH15 2PQ
This event is open to the public. Booking in advance is required.
Much Ado About Dying is a documentary by Simon Chambers about his experience as a carer for his dying uncle, eccentric actor David. This is an honest, intimate, funny and heart-wrenching film, focusing on Simon and David’s journey together and the reality of death and dying.
Join Life Celebrant Loretta Dunn for a special presentation of the film for Demystifying Death Week.
Doors open at 5:30pm. The event commences at 6pm with a short introduction, followed by a Q&A after the screening. There will be refreshments available.
Book your free place here.
Image credit: Cosmic Cat Films
Book Group meeting to discuss “Ashes To Admin"
Organised by Humanist Society Scotland’s Book Group
8 May, 7:30 - 8:30pm
Online via Zoom
This event is open to the public. Book your free place here.
Discussing ‘Ashes To Admin: Tales from The Caseload of a Council Funeral Officer’ by Evie King
‘Ashes to Admin’ lifts the coffin lid on some moving and unexpected personal life stories. Sometimes tragic, as with the case of an unidentified woman found on a beach buried without even a name, but often uplifting and occasionally hilarious.
Ultimately, Evie discovers that her job is more about life than it is about death, funerals being for the living and death being merely a trigger to rediscover life and celebrate it against the odds. This is hosted by Humanist Society Scotland. All welcome and free to participate in.
For more information and to book your place: https://www.humanism.scot/events/book-group-ashes-to-admin-online/
Having conversations that matter: Palliative Care Psychology
Organised by NHS Grampian Chaplaincy Department
Thursday 8 May, 12:30pm
Online via MS Teams
This session is open to the public.
A series of talks and educational sessions have been planned for the week by the NHS Grampian Chaplain. These will all take place on Teams and cover everything from Power of Attorney and funeral planning to spiritual care at the end of life and support for grieving children.
You’re invited to this online talk about palliative care psychology.
Register here.
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