THE DATE for the next Death Café discussion group has been announced where people can talk about death and issues surrounding it.

The cafe, the first of its kind in the area, has no objectives, agenda or themes and is accessible to everyone.

The first cafe held last month coincided with Dying Matters Awareness Week 2017 and proved to be a success, with many people saying that they felt it benefitted them.

Rachel Yates, organiser of the Death Cafe, said: “We have no intention of leading people to any conclusion, product or course of action and offer a warm welcome, a listening ear, a bit of fun all with a cup of tea and a cake!

About the success of the first café, Rachel, 42, said: “Everybody seemed to have benefitted in some way and say they will keep coming so it looks good going forward.”

Kevin Winch, 57, who lives in Ashton under Lyme but works in Bury, attended the first Death Café and said he would be making it a regular occurrence.

He said: “My mother died two weeks ago and I didn’t know what to expect after, and still don’t really, but coming along to this made me feel like I have support from others.

“I feel like now that I have something that can help me see a better future whereas before I could not.”

“I had a smile on my face for the first time since it happened so that says it all really.

“I would recommend coming here to anybody. Anybody who perhaps has got a recent bereavement or know that it is going to happen in the future.

Jill Brady, aged 49, of Radcliffe Road, Bury, who works as a community champion for Asda, said: “My dad died three years ago very suddenly.

“It was horrible and I haven’t really been able to talk about it much. It is always there in the back of my mind but the Death Cafe has helped. Listening to other people here has made me realise that I am not on my own. I will recommend it to other people for sure.”

The death café is an international movement, which is well known in Europe, North America and Australasia. There are about 15 regular death cafes in the UK.

The cafe will take place at Cappuccino’s cafe in Red Bank, Lowe Street, on June 13 at 2pm.

For more information contact rachel.yates@makingspace.co.uk or telephone 07738 148 284.

People can also visit the death café website at www.deathcafe.com