10th to 16th May is ‘Dying Matters Awareness Week’, a national initiative with the aim to help people talk more openly about dying, death and bereavement, and to make plans for the end of life.
This year the theme for the week is ‘Remembering those we love’.
Working with Guernsey Museums and Galleries and the Sunflower Project an installation will be in Candie Gardens for Dying Matters Awareness Week. Members of the public will be invited to tie a ribbon onto the installation to remember a loved one. This can be an person or a treasured family pet.
Lottie Barnes, HSC’s Arts Culture and Health Manager said: “We know it is difficult for people to talk about death, dying or bereavement. But we also know if we talk about these matters openly, we can grieve properly.
“Children in particular find it hard to talk about the concept of death and I am delighted we have been able to work with the Sunflower Project this year. The installation at Candie Gardens will give us all the opportunity to remember those we love, noting the impact COVID-19 has had on us all this past year.”
Charlie Cox (CEO of Youth Commission for Guernsey and Alderney) said “We are delighted that the Sunflower Project is involved in Dying Matters Week this year. We love to work collaboratively with projects in the community and really appreciate the support of Linda Le Vasseur Hospital Chaplain and Lottie Barnes at the PEH including us in this event.”
Denise Ozanne (Sunflower Project, Bereavement Worker) said “We have been very aware of the impact that Covid 19 has had on families dealing with loss over the last year. In some cases, visiting a seriously ill loved one or attending a funeral has required many additional stresses on the whole family. In many cases no one could attend funerals and at other times only one person could attend and then had to isolate at a time when being together is most valuable.
“I feel this has taken something away from our grieving process and left many people struggling. I am sure there are many children and young people who would really value being able to create something special to remember a loved one and share those special memories.”
