Town Council hosts country’s first “Good Endings Fair”
Not everyone gets married, but we all die. So Buckingham Town Council thought it was very worthwhile organising a fair to get people talking more about their plans for their own demise or the death of a loved one.
On 8 September, the Council will be hosting the country’s first ‘Good Endings Fair’ in the town centre Community Centre from 10am until 1pm. All are welcome.
“We have more than a dozen organisations signed up to share their expertise with members of the public” said Town Mayor, Cllr Jon Harvey. “Everyone will have chance to talk about their plans. We know how hard it is when people die without a will for example or when people find they cannot afford a funeral for their loved one. These are all problems that can be solved with a little bit of forethought”
The event is all about making it easier to talk about this difficult subject well in advance of the emotional turmoil which happens when someone close dies. “There are so many more choices than I was aware of” said Amanda Brubaker, Town Council Events Coordinator, “it makes so much sense to think and talk about these ahead of time”.
Beth Heale, Personal Funeral Adviser at The Midcounties Co-operative Funeralcare, said: “We are delighted to be involved in Buckingham’s Good Endings Fair. We recognise that everyone is unique and we all have different preferences and budgets. That is why we believe in providing choice and flexibility when it comes to planning a funeral, including pre-paid plans that can give additional peace of mind. The Good Endings Fair is a great way of giving people further information on all of the options available to them. We’ll be on stand throughout the day and will be happy to answer any questions Buckingham residents may have.”
“Even if just one or two people leave the event better prepared perhaps with a list of people to contact should the worst happen, this fair will have been worth it”, said Cllr Harvey. “This is all part of Buckingham Town Council’s commitment to making the Town an even better place in which to work, study, play, visit and live (and indeed die)!”
There is still space for more providers and services to be represented at the Fair. Please contact Amanda if interested.
For more information on all this event see Buckingham Town council’s web site www.buckingham-tc.gov.uk.
Contact: Amanda Brubaker, Events Co-ordinator, Buckingham Town Council, 01280 816426 or events@buckingham-tc.gov.uk
Editors Notes:
Longer article below from which you might want to use some copy as well.
Most people will be able to recall a time when a close friend or relative died and how difficult it was to make any sensible decisions for a significant while. Some people will know how hard it is to wrestle with deep grief while having to make important decisions about the practical matters connected with someone’s death. Typically, we don’t talk about these matters enough until we have no choice.
Buckingham Town Council has decided that perhaps we can a help a little by arranging a “Good Endings Fair”. The Community Centre will be filled with people and organisations who help to administer arrangements and provide support before and just after someone dies. There will be funeral directors present, naturally. But there will be other people too representing churches, celebrants, solicitors, crematoria, natural burial sites, funeral plan providers, financial and health advisers, grief counsellors and voluntary organisations, among others.
The focus will be on preparing for the end of life, and helping challenge taboos around talking about death & dying. We hope the event will encourage family discussions towards the aim of achieving ‘as good a death’ as possible for everyone.
The Town Council talked to lots of people about the idea before deciding to go ahead with it. Reactions from local residents and businesses, after an initial step back or a raised eyebrow, then quickly turned into very positive and enthusiastic support. Most people, of all ages, recognise it does make sense to do a little forward planning. Afterall, we all die sometime and sadly some people die well ahead of their time.
We know of people who are parents who don’t have a will or a statement about what should happen to their children in case they die. There are many people who worry lots about the cost of funerals. There are others who have strong views about what should happen if they become seriously ill but have never committed these views to paper. And so forth.
So we do hope that lots of local people will come along where they will be given an information folder and the opportunity to meet the various people and organisations present. The Town Council’s ambition is that everyone will leave with a little more understanding of how death and dying can be better prepared for, and more knowledge of some of the choices available.
Buckingham Good Endings Fair:
Saturday 8 September 2018 from 10am to 1pm in the
Buckingham Community Centre
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