Aim To reach out to more people during Dying Matters Week, enabling those who may be marginalised at end of life the opportunity to record their thoughts, wishes and experiences on film around death, dying and bereavement.

Method

• Work collaboratively with partners to achieve a local Dying Matters coalition;

• Hired ‘The Diary Rooms’ camper van for three days during Dying Matters Awareness Week;

• Scope of local area, who did we want to reach out to?;

• Range of craft activities and resources available in addition to recording videos.

Results

• Funding received from commissioners;

• Approximately 50 stories heard and recorded (awaiting edited video and numbers at time of abstract);

• Visited two learning disability community venues with The Diary Rooms camper van. Adapted room for those unable to access the camper van. Two people communicated through ‘eye speak’ communication devices and impromptu Death Café hosted outside;

• Visited areas of multiple deprivation, BAME communities, college and hostel;

• Collection of video stories to share and learn from.

Feedback ‘Thank you for including us in the tour. Our residents really enjoyed your visit’ (Hostel manager)

‘Reflecting about our own thoughts and wishes for death and dying. An uplifting afternoon’

‘A thoughtful and reflective afternoon for us all’

‘People are more comfortable with talking and showing their grief. I have spoken with my children about death, my mother and mother in law have died from cancer, so they are aware they are slightly different from their peers who have a Nan in their lives’.