On the first Friday of every month, Salisbury Death Cafe will take place upstairs at the Salisbury Playhouse. It aims to allow people to explore their thoughts and feelings surrounding death without the fear of judgement.
The group is inspired by Jon Underwood’s creation of the Death Cafe movement in 2011, which was based on the Swiss ‘Cafe Mortel’ concept.The initiative will take place monthly at the playhouse (Image: NQ)
Celebrant Amanda Brockway said: “People have asked me what on earth is a Death Cafe?
“We just want to provide a forum where people can talk openly about death. There is no agenda and no pushing of any belief system.
“Death is something many of us don’t like to think about or don’t know how to talk about. We are seeking to normalise conversations about death. It’s not at all morbid though.
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“The death cafe movement encourages reflection on life’s finite nature and to make the most of our time.”
There is no cost to attend – all that is asked is that participants buy their refreshments from the Salisbury Playhouse café.
Celebrant Mel Gordon said: “We want to take the topic of death out of the dark. It’s not bereavement counselling; it’s just a chance to chat, enjoy refreshments and share thoughts and fears. We aim to break the silence around death.’’
The Salisbury Death Cafe welcomes everyone and there is no need to book in advance. It is expected to run between 10.30am and 11.30am.
For more information about the Salisbury Death Cafe, contact: info@amandathecelebrant.co.uk, Jackiedeakin@hotmail.com or hello@melgordoncelebrant.co.uk
If you would like any help with bereavement, loss or mental wellbeing, here are some helpline numbers: Call the Samaritans on 116 123 or go online at samaritans.org ; Child Bereavement UK 0800 028 8840 childbereavementuk.org; Cruse Bereavement Care 0808 808 1677 cruse.org.uk ;Survivors of Bereavement by Suicide (SOBS) 0300 111 5065 uksobs.org