Thursday 03 May 2018
Thinking about, and talking about, our own end of lives and the end of the lives of the ones we love can be scary, sometimes painful and uncomfortable at times - but also exciting, invigorating and utterly joyful at others. One thing is for sure, it feels better doing it together in the open.
'Going Out with the Tide' is a project initiated by a group of people, from diverse backgrounds, living and working in Guernsey who feel that death, dying and bereavement are things that we are pretty rubbish at talking about and we would like that to change. 'Going Out with the Tide' is a natural extension of Dying Matters Awareness Week, a national initiative, which we have marked in Guernsey for the last five years.
Lottie Barnes, Culture, Arts and Health Manager, HSC explains more:
'We have all known someone who has died, someone who has been bereaved and someone who will miss us when we're gone. And yet nearly all of us struggle with thinking about, planning and talking about death, especially with the people we love the most. As part of Dying Matters Week in Guernsey we are creating a festival, called "Going Out with the Tide", to make the space and time for these conversations.'
'A programme of events will take place across the Island from 14th- 21st May and there's something to interest everyone. "Going Out with the Tide" is about us as a community engaging with the difficult stuff together, in the hope we will be enabled to be more open about death and learn how to support the bereaved more effectively.'
Anyone who would like further information about this project can call Lottie on 725241 ext 4132 or email lottie.barnes@gov.gg
