As Kim Leadbeater’s Bill on Assisted Dying enters debate in the Commons, it’s a timely moment to reflect on our attitudes to death and bereavement. 59% of adults in the UK believe society still doesn’t talk enough about death and dying (Ref 1), and many of us are unsure how to support someone who’s been bereaved (Ref 2).
Last month's 'Good Grief Weston': a Festival of Love and Loss, produced by Super Culture in collaboration with the University of Bristol and the Weston-super-Mare Community network, provided just such an opportunity. A new film about the festival featuring people who took part as well as experts on death and grief, such as Julia Samuel MBE and Dr Rachel Clarke, is launched today [29 November].
Professor Lucy Selman from the University of Bristol, explained: “We started Good Grief Festival to provide opportunities for people to come together and talk, reflect and learn about grief and death. Through normalising and presenting different perspectives on these subjects, we hope to encourage connection and reduce social isolation towards the end of life and in bereavement.”
'Good Grief Weston' featured over 30 events across North Somerset, gently engaging people of all ages and walks of life in a creative programme designed to open up inclusive conversations.
The diverse programme offered multiple touchpoints, with content including immersive theatre, music, film, book clubs, gardening, cooking, talks from health professionals, creative offers in the high street, bespoke activities at Weston General Hospital and a public discussion on assisted dying involving Dan Aldridge, MP for Weston-super-Mare.
Mr Aldridge, said: "As part of the Good Grief Weston festival, I hosted a consultation event at Weston Museum about assisted dying in partnership with Weston Hospicecare, where many people from all walks of life shared a range of poignant and heartfelt stories and viewpoints.
"We heard from those providing compassionate end of life care, to individuals with terminal illness and families who have faced difficult final moments with their loved ones.
"The debate surrounding assisted dying is one of the most challenging issues we face as a society, touching on deeply held beliefs about life, death and human dignity. Good Grief Weston highlighted how creative events can frame a non-judgemental space to talk about these difficult and emotionally charged social issues."
Vitally, the Festival both encourages reflection and conversation about grief and death while connecting people to support networks and community resources where they live. Weston Hospicecare partnered with 'Good Grief Weston' by providing ‘Listening Ears’, ensuring safe spaces at each event. Hospice Director of Patient Services John Bailey is passionate about the need for more open discussion about death and dying, so that people feel more empowered to make informed choices at difficult points in their lives.
John said: "Why is it we find it so difficult to talk to each other about what worries we have about dying and those left behind? Good Grief Weston events, including the discussion on assisted dying, has helped people to feel empowered and confident to talk about death, to ask questions of each other, and to listen and address what we and our loved ones would like to happen when death comes and in bereavement.”
As the renewed debate on assisted dying brings conversations around death and bereavement to the fore, let's take the opportunity to examine our existing systems, beliefs and attitudes so that we can all make informed choices and live more connected and compassionate lives.
Beyond the festival, ongoing events throughout the year keep the conversation rolling. Coming up during national Grief Awareness Week (Dec 2 - 8) is Solène Weinachter's dance piece 'After All', which is paired with a grief cafe event. Tickets and more information at https://superculture.org.uk/listings/after-all-by-solene-weinachter/
Ref 1
https://www.mariecurie.org.uk/globalassets/media/documents/policy/policy-publications/2024/n401_padd_report_final.pdf
Ref 2
https://www.co-operative.coop/media/news-releases/helping-communities-to-care-for-the-grieving-co-op-and-cruse-launch-new
Further information
About the Centre for Academic Primary Care, University of Bristol
The Centre for Academic Primary Care (CAPC) at the University of Bristol is a leading centre for primary care research in the UK, one of ten forming the NIHR School for Primary Care Research. It sits within Bristol Medical School, an internationally recognised centre of excellence for population health research and teaching. Follow on Bluesky: @capcbristol.bsky.social, X: @capcbristol and LinkedIn.
Super Culture
Super Culture is a North Somerset arts organisation based in Weston-super-Mare, specialising in creative placemaking and community participation. We deliver an inclusive, year-round cross-arts programme, co-creating and sharing outstanding arts and cultural experiences that excite and inspire, embedding culture and creativity at the heart of everyday life.
Super Culture (registered as charitable organisation Theatre Orchard Projects Ltd) has been joyfully working in and with North Somerset communities since 2007, and became an Arts Council National Portfolio Organisation in 2018. For more information visit the Super Culture website at https://superculture.org.uk.
The Weston-super-Mare Community Network
This network, led Lucy Selman, Professor from the Centre for Academic Primary Care and Palliative and End of Life Care Research Group at the University of Bristol, was established in 2022 and aims to tackle inequities and reduce social isolation in end-of-life care and bereavement. The network brings together, as equal participants, people with lived experience, health and social care providers, and people providing community assets, including arts and culture initiatives, academics and public health experts. To find out more about the Weston-super-Mare community network and how to get involved, see https://wsmcommunity.blogs.bristol.ac.uk/
The Coastal Community & Creative Health Project
Coastal Community & Creative Health is a three-year project focussed on three coastal areas of England which have significant health inequalities but are rich in community assets: Blackpool, Weston-super-Mare and Hastings. The project brings together the NHS, local authorities, researchers, voluntary and community organisations and residents together to tackle health inequalities. It focuses on three mental health priority areas in coastal towns: young people’s mental health, substance misuse, and life-limiting illness and bereavement. The project is led by Prof Lucy Selman and Dr Barbara Mezes, Lecturer in Clinical Psychology at the Institute of Population Health, University of Liverpool.
The project is funded by the Arts and Humanities Research Council via the mobilising community assets to tackle health inequalities programme, which aims to improve health through access to culture, nature and community. The projects in the programme seek to tackle entrenched and long-standing health inequalities in some of Britain’s poorest communities. For more information, see: https://www.bristol.ac.uk/news/2024/february-/coastal-communities.html
