We would like to invite Carers to a Death Cafe hosted by the bereavement team at Carers Leeds. This will be held on Tuesday 6^th May at 10.30am to 12pm in Mill 6, Mabgate Mills. We will provide cake and refreshments.

We are hosting this event in dying matters weeks this year – https://www.hospiceuk.org/our-campaigns/dying-matters/dying-matters-awareness-week

The mission of Dying Matters week is to hold events annually and raise awareness in breaking down the stigma and taboo of talking about death and dying.

This Dying Matters Awareness Week in May 2025, is focusing on how different communities and cultures in the UK feel, talk about, and deal with death and dying – and what brings them together.

What is a Death Cafe ?

Death Cafes in my experience are not depressing or morbid events. Instead, they are a safe welcoming space to be curious about death and dying, and have free flowing, natural conversations with one another in a supportive environment.

Please note that a death cafe is not bereavement support but a space to talk openly about death and dying for ourselves and for those we care for.

If you have recently experienced the death of someone close to you or you are currently struggling with grieving then please do contact the Carers Leeds Advice Line for support.

Context to the Death Cafes movement 

The founder of the Death Cafe movement was a British man called Jon Underwood who held the first Death cafe from his home in 2011. His movement has grown since then to change cultures around death and end of life awareness not just in the UK but around the world. Sadly, Jon died suddenly in 2017 and his legacy continues – significantly contributing to breaking taboos around talking openly about death and dying. Jon had a natural curiosity and passion about talking openly about death and valuing living well in the present moment.

What Happens At A Death Cafe?

At a Death Cafe people, often strangers, gather to eat cake, drink tea and discuss death. Their objective is ‘to increase awareness of death with a view to helping people make the most of their (finite) lives’. A Death Cafe is a group directed discussion of death with no agenda, objectives or themes. It is a discussion group rather than a grief support session. Death cafes encourage interesting, unstructured conversation about death and dying and are there for anyone who is curious and open to talking about death and dying in life affirming way.

Death Cafes are always offered:

• On a not for profit basis
• In an accessible, respectful and confidential space
• With no intention of leading people to any conclusion, product or course of action
• Alongside refreshing drinks and nourishing food – and cake!

Come Along

If you are curious to experience a death cafe for the first time or if you have past experience of attending a death cafe, we would love to welcome you to Carers Leeds Death Cafe. The cafe will be facilitated by the Carers Leeds Bereavement Team.

Please note that numbers are limited so please contact our Advice Line to book a place by calling 0113 380 4300.

If you book a place and then are no longer able to attend, please let us know so we can offer your place to another carer.