THE Dudley community are being encouraged to speak openly about dying, death and bereavement when Mary Stevens Hospice hosts an event as part of national ‘dying matters’ week.

During the event this Saturday (May 14), members of the public can speak to the hospice’s bereavement and nursing teams as well as representatives from Stourbridge’s H Porter & Sons funeral directors, Silks Solicitors, Jordans Solicitors, and Dudley Council’s registry office.

They will be on hand to answer questions around creating a will, what care is available for bereaved family members and loved ones, how to arrange a funeral and all other questions surrounding what happens in the event of a terminal illness or death.

Dan Malin, from Mary Stevens Hospice, said: “We know how difficult it can be to talk about these sorts of subjects, however Dying Matters exists to encourage us all to ask the tough questions, which do come up when faced with the very real prospect of death, or the death of a loved one.

“If the hospice and the organisations we work closely with can offer some clarity in a time where the road ahead looks anything but clear, then we owe it to our community to do so.”

The session will run between 9am and 11am at the Thomas Robinson Building (former Lye & Wollescote chapels), in Cemetery Road, Lye.

For more information about the drop-in session, call Mary Stevens Hospice on 01384 377 778, or email dan@mshfundraising.co.uk.

Dying Matters is a national coalition, which includes 32,000 members from across England and Wales which seeks to create an open environment where people can speak openly and comfortably about death.