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Demystifying Death Week 2026

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.

Demystifying Death Week takes place across Scotland from 4-10 May 2026. If you are organising an event that you’d like us to feature, please get in touch.

Below is a list of events happening across Scotland and online for Demystifying Death Week:

Children, dying, loss and grief

Organised by NHS Grampian’s Spiritual Care Team

Thursday 7 May, 12.00 - 1.30pm

Online via Microsoft Teams

This event is open to the public. Please register in advance.

NHS Grampian’s Spiritual Care Team is hosting a series of free, online webinars with a range of panel speakers as part of Demystifying Death Week 2026.

This webinar is about children, dying, loss and grief. Speakers include Marcia Dean of NHS Grampian and Louise Esson.

Each webinar is running at two different times to make it easier for as many people as possible to attend. If you have any queries, contact gram.realisticmedicine@nhs.scot.

Find out more and register here.

Image credit: Sergey Zolkin via Unsplash

Practical Steps for Life, Loss, and Everything in Between

Organised by Orka Living

Thursday 7 May

Online

This activity is open to the public. Please register in advance.

Julia Jamieson, Orka Living professional organiser, will be sharing info and tips for demystifying death through the week on her Facebook page. She’ll also be hosting a free online session on Thursday 6 May.

Join Julia for a free online session to help you prepare for the future and make things easier for your loved ones.

As part of Demystifying Death Week, this session offers gentle, practical guidance on planning ahead - from life admin to personal wishes. Together we can help you take the small steps today that will make a big difference later.

Find out more and register here.

St Columba's: online talk with Woven Farewell Coffins

Organised by St Columba’s Hospice Care Compassionate Communities Team

Thursday 7 May, 2026

Online

This event is for St Columba’s staff and volunteers

Staff and volunteers from the Compassionate Communities team at St Columba’s Hospice Care are invited to an online talk with Woven Farewell Coffins who create handmade woven coffins from sustainable Willow. Woven Farewell also offer the opportunity to learn to craft your own coffin or one for someone close to your heart.

Image credit: Woven Farewell Coffins

Death - the conversation we keep avoiding

Organised by Peace Out CIC

Thursday, May 7 - 1:30 PM - 3:30 PM

Abbot House, Dunfermline, Fife

This activity is open to the public. Please register in advance.

Join Peace Out as we open up conversations about death, dying, and what matters most. A gentle, practical workshop open to all.

Most of us know we should talk about our wishes for the end of life, but we don’t always know how to begin.

So we put it off.

And when the time comes, families are often left guessing, trying to make decisions without knowing what their loved one would have wanted.

Peace Out workshops offer a calm, supportive space to explore these conversations, without pressure, without formality, and without needing to have all the answers.

What we’ll explore together:

What happens in Scotland when someone dies
Thinking about your own wishes
Starting the conversation
Gentle Planning Guide

About the facilitators

Beverley Bryant is a celebrant, and death educator. Her work centres on helping people approach end-of-life conversations with warmth, honesty, and humanity — making space for both practical planning and personal meaning.

Lesley Anne Martin is a death educator co-facilitating the session as part of the Peace Out initiative.

This workshop is funded by the Carnegie Dunfermline Trust

Find out more and register here.

Play, Puzzle and Plan: Community Games for Demystifying Death Week

Organised by Strathcarron Hospice’s Compassionate Communities Team, Glasgow School of Art’s School of Innovation & Technology, and Good Life, Good Death, Good Grief

7 May 2026, 2-4pm

Strathcarron Hospice, Fankerton, Falkirk

This event is open to the public. Please register in advance.

This interactive games event will feature opportunities to play games designed to help players think about issues relating to death, dying, caring and bereavement, and learn about them in a hands-on way.

Games featured will include: