BEING aware of death and planning for it is the focus of a week of activities organised by St Luke's Hospice.

This week is Dying Matters Awareness Week (10 to 16 May) and the week will focus on the importance of being 'in a good place to die'.

Throughout this week St Luke's will be encouraging everyone in the communities of Basildon and Thurrock to speak with their loved ones to discuss their wishes – whether planning a funeral, writing a will or making their end of life choices known.

St Luke's' Hospice VERVE project, launched in 2009, works to ensure equality of access and information around planning end of life care for the diverse range of communities living in the Basildon and Thurrock localities. VERVE works in unison with the Dying Matters.

VERVE is led by St Luke's Hospice but works collaboratively with statutory and voluntary sector agencies to promote and encourage people to talk about death, dying and making their wishes for end of life care known to loved ones and caregivers, before they become unwell.

Thus, allowing people to have choices, which can be the difference between being in a place you have chosen and having some control, or not been able to have any of your wishes fulfilled.

As we have seen over the last 14 months through the COVID-19 pandemic, it is never too early to have a conversation around end of life care planning. The Hospice's message is to "Get the end of life planning done, then make a bucket list of exciting things to do beforehand and enjoy!"

To find out more about the services or how you can help support the charity, visit the St Luke's Hospice website.