Dying Matters Week in the Northern Trust
Talking about death can be a difficult prospect for many of us but people don’t have to face this alone.
Dying Matters Week is a national campaign, led by Hospice UK. It aims to break down the stigma surrounding death and help people feel more confident to talk about dying, grief, and bereavement. The Northern Health and Social Care Trust wants to highlight that support is available to help start these conversations.
During Dying Matters Week (May 5-11), the Trust is working alongside Compassionate Communities NI and Libraries NI to encourage people to have open and honest conversations about death, dying, and end of life care. As part of this, a number of different events will be held in local libraries to help to start these conversations.
Coleraine Library will officially become a Death Positive Library, alongside those in Cookstown, Magherafelt, Draperstown, and at the Northern Regional College (Ballymena and Newtownabbey). Death Positive Libraries offer a range of books around death, dying, and bereavement.
Sharon Williams, Project Manager at Compassionate Communities NI, said: “We know that talking about death doesn’t make it happen sooner, but it does make it easier to deal with when the time comes. We are providing resources for Coleraine Library, to help people in our community start those difficult but essential conversations. There are now 15 Death Positive Libraries in Northern Ireland. Our ambition is that every library, and therefore every community, has access to these important resources.”
Alongside the library resources, the Northern Trust has also helped develop some new booklets designed to support people to manage the challenges around death. The resources focus on children and young people, adults with learning disabilities, and those preparing for the death of a loved one.
Alison Craig, Northern Trust Macmillan Palliative Care Service Improvement Facilitator, said:
“Like many things in life, open and honest communication can have a positive impact, but it can be difficult to know where to start.
“During Dying Matters Week, we want to encourage timely and meaningful conversations, while reassuring people that they don’t have to face these discussions alone.
“Our Death Positive Libraries have been very well received, and we also have a range of excellent resources tailored to meet different people’s needs. The resources have been chosen to help people talk, listen, and plan with confidence and compassion.”
Here is a quick guide to the new resources.
When Someone Dies – for people with learning disabilities
Too often, conversations about death are avoided with people with learning disabilities because others are afraid of causing upset or don’t know how to approach the subject. However, this can leave people feeling isolated in their grief.
Developed by the Northern Trust’s Specialist Palliative Care and Learning Disability Working Group, the toolkit uses accessible language and images to support understanding and emotional processing following a bereavement. It also includes guidance notes for carers, staff, and families, helping them approach conversations about death openly and confidently.
Supporting Children and Young People Through Grief and Bereavement – a resource for parents and carers
Produced by the Regional Trust Bereavement Coordinators, this booklet supports parents and carers as they help children and young people through grief and loss.
It aims to:
- explain how children and young people of different ages understand death;
- offer practical advice on talking to children about a death;
- support families in helping children say goodbye, attend funerals, or decide about seeing the person who has died;
- give guidance on responding to children’s feelings, behaviours, and questions;
- provide ideas for memory making, including memory boxes and keepsakes;
- signpost to further bereavement support services.
Overall, it is a compassionate and practical guide to help families feel more supported during an extremely difficult time.
What to Expect When Someone is in Their Last Days and Hours – information for families and carer givers
When someone is dying, it can be a very worrying and upsetting time for families and loved ones. Having clear information can help reduce uncertainty and distress.
Developed jointly by palliative and bereavement professionals from the Northern and Belfast Trusts, this booklet explains the common physical and emotional changes that may occur when death is expected. It also offers practical advice on how families can help, when to seek additional support, and reminds carers to look after their own wellbeing.
Connect North drop-in sessions
Continuing with the library theme, Connect North will host two drop-in sessions during Dying Matters Week aimed at connecting people to services and support opportunities within their local communities.
The sessions will take place on Tuesday 5 May at:
- Larne Library (10am–12 noon)
- Rathcoole Library (10.30am–12.30pm)
The events are free and open to anyone interested in finding out more about services offering practical, social, or emotional support.
For further information about bereavement support in the Northern Trust go to www.northerntrust.hscni.net/services/bereavement-services/
Additional information can be found at www.compassionatecommunitiesni.com
1st May 2026
