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Demystifying Death Awards 2023

Good LIfe, Good Death, Good Grief is pleased to announce the shortlist for this year's Demystifying Death Awards.
The Awards recognise pioneering work that shines a light on death, dying and bereavement in Scotland.
The Awards are run by Good Life, Good Death, Good Grief, a charity-led initiative working to make Scotland a place where people help each other through the difficult times that can come with death, dying, loss and care.
Rebecca Patterson, Director of Good Life, Good Death, Good Grief said:
"Lots of people are dedicated to improving experiences of ill health, dying and bereavement in Scotland. Often, work is done behind the scenes, over a period of many years, with gradual impact. We really wanted to draw attention to some of this work, that often goes under the radar, but which is gradually changing culture and experiences of death, dying and bereavement in Scotland.
"There are six categories of awards, aiming to encompass the huge variety of contexts where people are making a difference: from people taking action to build more supportive communities, to those working to encourage forward-planning for declining health, to action being taken at a policy level to encourage system-wide change.
"We particularly wanted to recognise creative or innovative activities, and those working to increase understanding of death and dying among the general public. We also hope to highlight the important contribution that public figures can make, and are pleased to highlight the contribution of Janey Godley, Greg Wise and Cariad Lloyd through the Celebrity Champion category."
The Awards Shortlist has been announced in the run-up to Demystifying Death Week (1-7 May), which is about shining a light on death, dying and bereavement in Scotland. All kinds of events are taking place during the week, including film screenings, talks, planning sessions, remembrance events, discussions, death cafes, author events and much more. A list of events here: Demystifying Death Week Events
Awards Shortlist
Inspiring Community Award
This award celebrates communities working to support each other through the difficult times that come with death, dying, loss and care. The shortlisted candidates are:
North Berwick Compassionate Community
Pushing up the Daisies
No-one dies alone Ayrshire
Read more about the shorlisted candidates here: Inspiring Community Award shortlist
Promoting Planning
This award recognises endeavours to encourage forward planning for declining health, dying and death, whether relating to practical, legal, financial or medical matters. The shortlisted candidates are:
The Daisy Chain by Pushing up the Daisies
ReSPECT in Scotland
NHS Greater Glasgow: Planning Your Care
Read more about the shorlisted candidates here: Promoting Planning Award shortlist
Creative Innovation
This award celebrates unusual, innovative or creative ways to promote knowledge and understanding around death, dying or bereavement. The shortlisted candidates are:
St Columba's Hospice Child and Family Service
University of Dundee Comic Studies Department
Dying in the Margins
Read more about the shorlisted candidates here: Creative Innovation Award shortlist
Progressive Policy
An award to recognise a campaign or policy that that will improve experiences of living with illness, dying or bereavement in Scotland. The shortlisted candidates are:
Childhood Bereavement Network: Cohabiting Parents and Bereavement Benefits
Social Security Scotland - Funeral Support Payment and BASRIS
Marie Curie No-one Should Die in Poverty Campaign
Read more about the shorlisted candidates here: Progressive Policy Award shortlist
Increasing Understanding
This award celebrates work that increases knowledge, skills or understanding relating to death, dying or bereavement among members of the public The shortlisted candidates are:
Faith in Older People
Good Grief Festival
Kathryn Mannix
Read more about the shorlisted candidates here: Increasing Understanding Award shortlist
Celebrity Champion
An award recognising an outstanding contribution made by a public figure towards raising awareness of living with serious illness, dying, death or bereavement. The shortlisted candidates are:
Janey Godley
Greg Wise
Cariad Lloyd
Read more about the shorlisted candidates here: Celebrity Champion Award shortlist
Blog series
You can read blogs by all the shortlisted candidates here: Demystifying Death Awards Blog
Winners
The winners will be announced During Demystifying Death Week, 1-7 May.
Demystifying Death Week 2023

Demystifying Death Week 2023 will take place from 1-7 May 2023.
demystifying death week is about shining a light on death, dying and bereavement in scotland.
#demystifydeath
People usually want to do the right thing when someone they know is caring, dying or grieving. But often they can feel awkward offering help, or worry about making things worse.
People can have questions about serious illness or death. But often they don't know who to ask.
Making plans when you’re healthy means there is less to think about when you’re ill. But often people put off making plans until it is too late.
demystifying death week is about giving people knowledge, skills and opportunities to plan and support each other through death, dying, loss and care.
find out more about dd week
Each year, organisations and individuals across Scotland organise events to mark Demystifying Death week. All kinds of events take place, from death cafes to film nights, exhibitions to craft workshops, seminars to lunches.
You can view the (ever growing!) list of events here: Demystifying Death Week Events
Would you like to be involved with this year's Demystifying Death Week? Find out more and get involved.
Photo Credit: George Hiles
Demystifying Death Week 2023

Demystifying Death Week 2023 will take place from 1-7 May 2023. Small grants are available and nominations are open for the Demystifying Death Awards. Read on for more information.
demystifying death week is about shining a light on death, dying and bereavement in scotland.
#demystifydeath
People usually want to do the right thing when someone they know is caring, dying or grieving. But often they can feel awkward offering help, or worry about making things worse.
People can have questions about serious illness or death. But often they don't know who to ask.
Making plans when you’re healthy means there is less to think about when you’re ill. But often people put off making plans until it is too late.
demystifying death week is about giving people knowledge, skills and opportunities to plan and support each other through death, dying, loss and care.
find out more about DD Week
Each year, organisations and individuals across Scotland organise events to mark Demystifying Death week. All kinds of events take place, from death cafes to film nights, exhibitions to craft workshops, seminars to lunches. Find out more here.
Would you like to be involved with this year's Demystifying Death Week? Find out more and get involved.
small grants
A small grants fund has been set up to support organisations to put on events as part of Demystifying Death Week. Apply for up to £250, by 15th March.
More about the grants, as well as the application form and guidance, is available here.
demystifying death awards
The Demystifying Death Awards celebrate those working to make Scotland a place where everyone can help when someone is caring, dying and grieving.
Read more about how to nominate a person, project or organisation here.
Demystifying Death Week Small Grants

Come along to an informal session to find out more about Demystifying Death Week grants, and get some inspiration about events you could host.
Demystifying Death Week is about giving people knowledge, skills and opportunities to plan and support each other through death, dying, loss and care. The next annual Demystifying Death Week will take place across Scotland from 1st - 7th May 2023.
There is an opportunity for organisations and community groups to apply for small grants of up to £250 to help support the organisation and running of events for the week.
Come along to an informal session to hear more about the funding process and get some inspiration about events that you could host.
The session will take place on Wednesday 22nd February 2023, 3.30pm - 4.30pm on MS Teams.
Whether you work in care home, 3rd sector, public sector, community organisations or are looking to do something with friends and neighbours, everyone is welcome!
If you are interested you can register via this link - https://link.webropolsurveys.com/EP/872761943ECC41A4
More information about the small grants scheme is available here: DD week small grants scheme 2023
Photo by micheile dot com on Unsplash
Winter get-together

With an exceptional line-up of local and international speakers, Caring, Dying & Grieving: Encouraging and Supporting Action in Communities took place on Thursday 1 December at the Renfield Centre in Glasgow. More information about this sold-out even, including speaker presentations, is available here: weblink
To be the first to hear about upcoming events, sign up for our newsletter by joining GLGDGG here: sign up for GLGDGG newsletter
The Scottish Compassionate Communities Network is for people and organisations who want to get involved in practical work to build compassion in their own community, with a particular focus on improving people's experiences of deteriorating health, death, dying and bereavement. The network provides opportunities for people to come together and share learning, experience, ideas and motivation. It is free to join the network and you can sign up here.