FUNERAL homes across Oxfordshire are opening their doors to the community throughout next week.

The Midcounties Co-operative Funeralcare will host coffee mornings at 11 branches across the county from Monday until Saturday.

The initiative is part of Dying Matters Awareness Week and tries to dispel some of the myths and fears around dying and funerals and help people plan for the future.

People can understand the process of planning a funeral and how to approach conversations around death and bereavement.

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Jason Timms, 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.”

Branches in Oxfordshire will host events at the following times:

  • Coffee and a chat at The Midcounties Co-operative Funeralcare Didcot – 13th-17th May, 10am-12pm
  • Coffee and a chat at The Midcounties Co-operative Funeralcare Banbury – 13th-17th May, 11am-3pm
  • Coffee and a chat at The Midcounties Co-operative Funeralcare Chipping Norton – 14th May, 10am-2pm
  • Coffee and a chat at The Midcounties Co-operative Funeralcare Headington– 15th May, 10.30am-12pm
  • Coffee and a chat at The Midcounties Co-operative Funeralcare Abingdon – 15th May, 10.30am-2.30pm
  • Coffee and a chat at The Midcounties Co-operative Funeralcare Kidlington, Reeves & Pain – 15th May, 11am-1pm
  • Coffee and a chat at The Midcounties Co-operative Funeralcare Faringdon – 15th May, 11am-3pm
  • Coffee morning at The Midcounties Co-operative Funeralcare Oxford, Abingdon Road, Reeves & Pain – 15th May, 10am-12pm
  • Coffee and a chat at Green Pastures Christian Nursing Home, Banbury – 16th May, 11am-1pm
  • Afternoon tea at The Midcounties Co-operative Funeralcare Blackbird Leys – 17th May, 1.30pm-3.30pm
  • Afternoon tea at The Midcounties Co-operative Funeralcare Oxford, Hendred Street – 17th May, 2pm-4pm