Death and Dying
Practical information to support our regular ‘Death Cafe’ conversations about death, dying and making the most of life!
In response to positive BOPF member feedback, we run regular ‘Death Cafes‘ (find out more and join us by clicking on the link). Death Cafe is a global movement that invites people of all ages to drink tea, eat cake and talk about death in a friendly and open setting.
Often attendees ask for and share practical information. We’ve included some of the resources below so they can be found in one place. There are lots of organisations offering free information and support that you may find useful.
Thinking about death and dying can bring up lots of different emotions. The resources below can be helpful, but how or if you use them will depend on your unique situation. If you don’t have everything as organised as you would like right now, please try not to worry. If you would like to talk about any of the content on this page with one of the BOPF team, please email projects@bopf.org.uk
Bereavement support
Organisations in Bristol that provide bereavement support (Bristol City Council)
Good Grief resources and directory of organisations offering support in the UK
Good Grief Festival believe that sharing experiences and bringing grief and loss out into the open can help us find solace and support together. Living with grief can be incredibly tough – mentally, emotionally and physically – but having the right knowledge and resources at the right time can make a big difference.
General information
Thinking about end of life information guide (AgeUK)
This guide offers practical and emotional guidance that can help you when preparing to make decisions about the end of your life, it includes: how to start conversations with family and friends, making a will, planning your funeral, writing an advance statement of wishes.
Making a will
UK Government advice about making a will
Money Saving Expert information about cheap and free wills
Free Wills offers free simple Will writing online.
Free Wills Month (October 2025) is when charities offer people aged 55 an over the opportunity of have simple Wills written or updated free of change using solicitors in selected locations across the UK. Will Aid is a similar offer in November. Both of these schemes hope that you will leave a donation to the charity in your Will, but it is not a requirement.
A letter of wishes is a document which accompanies your will and provides guidance to the people dealing with your estate after you’ve passed away. This guide by Legal and General talks about how and why you might want to put your farewell wishes into writing.
Lasting power of attorney (LPA)
UK Government information about the two types of LPAs
A lasting power of attorney (LPA) is a legal document that lets you (the ‘donor’) appoint one or more people (known as ‘attorneys’) to help you make decisions or to make decisions on your behalf.
This gives you more control over what happens to you if you have an accident or an illness and cannot make your own decisions (you ‘lack mental capacity’).
There are two types of LPA
- health and welfare
- property and financial affairs
You can make one type or both and you can fill in the paperwork yourself, with your attorneys.
Applying to register an LPA costs £82 unless you get a reduction or exemption (including if you get the Guaranteed Credit element of the State Pension Credit).
Money Saving Expert information about your options completing an LPA
Living wills (advance decisions)
What is a living will (advance decision)? (AgeUK)
A living will – also known as an advance decision – is legally binding and allows you to choose and explain which medical treatments you don’t want in the future.
How we can help – Compassion in Dying offer free support (including a living will template) to help you or you loved ones make informed choices, start honest conversations about death and dying, and record and revisit your wishes whenever you want, for free.
Bristol has adopted the ReSPECT process that creates personalised recommendations for clinical care and treatment if there’s an emergency in the future that would leave you unable to discuss what’s important to you. Find out more about the ReSPECT process.
Funeral planning
Funerals can cost less at the point of need than through a funeral plan. The Money Saving Expert website, talks through different options.
Money Saving Expert information about pre-paid funeral plans
Planning a funeral is not just about the money. Some ‘Death Cafe’ attendees have talked about different funeral options that are important to them, or that they wish they had known about when planning a funeral for a loved one. Divine Ceremony are Bristol-based funeral directors, whose aim is to support and empower families, friends and individuals to celebrate life, at the end of life, in whatever way they choose. They run their own evening Death Cafes.
Another option important to some people is considering donation of your body to a medical school.
Donating your body to a medical school (Human Tissue Authority)
Donating your body to a medical school is a valuable gift. Your donation will become an important resource for training healthcare professionals or for research.
Inheritance tax
Inheritance tax information from Which
Organising your home
It can be hard to know when and how to declutter, and it can be even harder to go through the decluttering process. For those who are considering decluttering, or are looking for advice on the process, this article is filled with advice on how to know when it’s time to start and decluttering tips for doing so safely.
We Care Home Improvements – Making space, help with hoarding
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