A YORK hospice and the city’s “Before I Die” festival have joined forces to put on a series of events encouraging people to be more open about dying, death and bereavement.

St Leonard’s Hospice is joining Advance Decisions Assistance and Last Wishes Funerals, Briar House and the Healing Clinic in York, for a celebration of Dying Matters Awareness Week next month.

The hospice’s Emma Johnson said: “We want to encourage people to get their affairs sorted out whilst fit and well, and then get on with living life to the full. We don’t want people to be nervous about talking about death and dying, and events such as this go some way towards breaking the stigma surrounding these topics.”

Events during the week of May 8 to 14 will aim to provoke discussion and give advice on a number of small things people can do to make it easier when the time comes.

There will be discussions on things like power of attorney, where people would like to be cared for at the end of life, music at funerals, “bucket lists” and gifts to leave in wills. There are also sessions planned on assisted dying, helping bereaved children, and making advanced decisions about your end of life choices.

The hospice will also be promoting its annual Make a Will Week, with solicitors giving their time for free in return for donations to the hospice. Details at www.stleonardshospice.org.uk.