FUNERAL homes around the borough will throw open their doors for coffee and chat this week in a bid to try and reduce the stigma around funerals and death.

The scheme will mark Dying Matters Awareness Week, which takes place from May 13 to 19.

Midcounties Co-operative Funeralcare will be hosting coffee mornings to help people understand the workings of the funeral home, the process of planning a funeral and the support services available, while also providing advice on how to approach difficult conversations around dying and bereavement.

Mark Brumfitt, Sector Manager at The Midcounties Co-operative Funeralcare said: “We want to raise awareness of the importance of discussing death with loved ones and putting all the measures in to ensure that, when the time comes, you are prepared. We know that one of the most difficult conversations anyone can have is about dying, and we want to provide guidance and advice to help people approach the subject.

“Supporting the awareness week offers people the opportunity to just drop in and ask questions, as well as chat to our colleagues and find out a bit more about what we actually do here. We want to help the local community feel more at ease with our industry and break down the fear lots of us have when it comes to talking about death.”

Coffee mornings will be taking place at the following Midcounties funeral homes:

Midcounties Co-operative Funeralcare Dudley, Salop Street – 13th-17th May, 11am-3pm

Midcounties Co-operative Funeralcare Sedgley – 13th-17th May, 11am-3pm

Midcounties Co-operative Funeralcare Coseley, J Hartlands & Son – 13th-17th May, 11am-3pm

Midcounties Co-operative Funeralcare Halesowen – 15th May, 10am-2pm

Midcounties Co-operative Funeralcare Stourbridge – 15th May, 11am-3pm

Midcounties Co-operative Funeralcare Kingswinford – 15th May, 11am-3pm