The COVID-19 crisis prompted us to think a bit more about death and what it means for us. It also provided an unparalleled opportunity to place the importance of talking about dying, death and bereavement firmly on the national agenda.
But it’s crucial we don’t feel alone with these thoughts. As a trusted space in the community, libraries can help support people to have conversations around loss, grief and legacy. Please scroll to the end of the page for our Death Positive Library events.
Redbridge Library Service is the UK’s first Death Positive Library Service.
Death positivity is an emerging philosophy that reframes the way people view death and encourages people to speak openly about death, dying and grief.
Death positivity is about making the most of life, reducing the impact that our deaths have on the environment, and allowing those who are dying to do so with greater dignity and comfort.
Since 2017, Redbridge Library Service has been exploring creative ways to help people talk about death and grief by using books, films, arts, and tea and cake! We host regular events and have curated book collections on all aspects of death, dying and bereavement.
Our service has led the way in creating a national framework and has inspired other libraries across the UK and Northern Ireland to become death positive.
The Death Positive Library is a collaborative research project which explores the concept of Libraries as death positive spaces, by using libraries as safe and trusted spaces to start supportive conversations about death, dying and loss. If you’d like to find out more follow us on social media
Good Grief Cafes
Redbridge Libraries are proud to collaborate with Creating Conversations CIC to host a monthly Grief Café at Wanstead Library, a welcoming and confidential space to connect, reflect, and share.
Whether your experience of loss is recent, anticipated, or long ago, the Grief Café offers a supportive environment to explore thoughts and feelings around grief. You’re invited to join others in conversation, or simply listen—there’s no pressure to speak.
There is no set agenda or theme; each session is guided by the voices in the room. While this is not a counselling service, it is a space for mutual support among those navigating grief.
Sessions take place on the 3rd Thursday of each month and are delivered by Creating Conversations CIC & Redbridge Libraries Death Positive Library Project.
The session starts promptly at 6.30pm. Unfortunately, we are unable to accommodate latecomers as this disrupts the session too much. We thank you for your understanding.
This Grief Café is funded to support residents in the London Borough of Redbridge and those with a Redbridge GP, but everyone is welcome to participate for FREE – so join us for refreshments and a friendly supportive ear.
Wanstead Library Grief Café’s will be held from 6.30pm to 8.30pm on:
- Thursday 18 September
- Thursday 16 October
- Thursday 20 November
- Thursday 18 December
Redbridge Day of the Dead Festival
A family friendly arts festival celebrating life and a time to remember loved ones no longer with us. Our last annual Day of the Dead Festival is took place on Thursday 31 October at Wanstead Library and Friday 1 November at Redbridge Central Library.
Watch our video clip below of Day of Day Festival from 2023:
Hear about the impact of our Day of the Dead festival within the Redbridge community:
Tickets for the Afterlife – Online Quiz
Tickets for the Afterlife is an interactive experience developed in collaboration with Death Positive Libraries. Explore a range of choices for what to do with your body, memories and legacies that span the past, present, and future of death and dying.
Book/Support List
We have put together a wider book list around the topic which you can view below. Please be aware that not all of these titles will be available as eBooks through Redbridge Libraries.
Support websites for death, dying and bereavement can also be found below.
Current NHS bereavement support packs are also included:
- How to prepare for the death of a friend or relative: helps understand what to expect when someone is near the end of their life, provides tips on practical care and information on where to go for further support.
- What to do if a friend or relative dies: provides practical advice on areas such as arranging a funeral, looking after an individual’s personal affairs and caring for their pets.
- Where to go for bereavement support: includes contact details of local, national and specialist organisations to reach out to for support at any stage of the grieving process.
Funded by the Carnegie UK Trust, Wellcome and the Wolfson Foundation through Engaging Libraries Phase 2 programme.