People and communities
Walsall Council empowers residents to talk about death during Dying Matters Week
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Walsall Council is inviting residents across the borough to have open conversations on death, dying and bereavement to raise awareness of Dying Matters Awareness Week.
Dying Matters Awareness Week, which takes place between Monday 4 and Sunday 10 May 2026, is an annual campaign led by charity, Hospice UK, which aims to reduce the stigma and fear surrounding the topic which can often still be seen as taboo.
The theme for the awareness campaign this year is ‘Let’s talk about Death and Dying’. A research poll1 from 2025 found that 27 per cent of people find it hard to talk about death with their families and friends and 30 per cent bottle their feelings up.
“ If we do not talk about topics like death, dying and bereavement, it can be much harder to cope when we experience them.
“Breaking down barriers in discussing death can be life-changing and liberating as it helps us make informed decisions about our end-of-life. This is something we want to encourage everyone in Walsall to talk more openly about with their loved ones. “
Walsall Council has a dedicated bereavement service that manages seven cemeteries across the borough and runs Streetly Crematorium. The department provides burial and cremation services, memorial options, and practical advice for those bereaved following a death. To find out more about the help and advice they can offer, visit the Deaths and Funerals webpage.
Events and activities are taking place across the UK to mark Dying Matters Awareness Week. To find out more about the Dying Matters Awareness Week campaign, visit the Hospice UK website, Hospice UK website.
1This research is from polling commissioned by Celebration Day in 2025. As referenced on Hospice UK website.
