Death Cafe at the Cemetery Park

THIS EVENT HAS BEEN CANCELLED DUE TO AN ONGOING POLICE INVESTIGATION AT THE CEMETERY PARK

Please read as much as possible before booking. You need to bring your own snacks and drinks and wear comfortable clothes with plenty of layers in case of cold weather and closed shoes (trainers would be perfect). Dates for our activities book up quickly, but it's worth joining the waiting list as people do cancel.

Death Cafe at the Cemetery Park (in partnership with Upminster Death Cafe)

Death Cafe is a safe and open space to discuss death and dying with like-minded individuals. We aim to break down the taboos around death, providing an agenda and objective free discussion where topics are driven by who attends. 

The Friends of Tower Hamlets Cemetery Park and Upminster Death Cafe would like to invite you to join us to eat, drink and discuss death at our historic cemetery in the heart of the East End. Everyone welcome, of all faiths, no faiths and all backgrounds. 

There is no entry fee and this is all run in the hosts' spare time although any donations would be welcomed to help support the Friends of Tower Hamlets Cemetery Park in conserving and celebrating their historic cemetery and nature reserve.

Your hosts: Mortuary Gem works as an Anatomical Pathology Technologist in a hospital. She cares greatly about getting people talking more about death and the death positivity movement. You can find her blog at www.mortuarygem.com.

Rachel co-hosts with Gem and is a great advocate of the Death Cafe organisation.  Together they create a cheery atmosphere to discuss anything and everything death related.

BEFORE YOU DECIDE TO BOOK

1. Do not attend sessions if you or a member of your household/support bubble have COVID-19 symptoms. If you develop or display symptoms on the day, you will be asked to leave. Please check your symptoms and whether it’s suitable for you to volunteer.
2. Follow government guidance on travelling to the Cemetery Park. 
3. If you travel by bike, we can’t offer indoor storage. You can lock up your bike outside but within the Soanes Centre railings.

WHAT TO BRING

1. Wear closed shoes and comfortable clothing. Dress for the weather as we will be meeting outside.
2. Bring your own food and drinks (we'd recommend snacks, water and a thermos flask). Make sure it’s enough to last you for the duration - there will be access to drinking water, and we won’t be able to provide tea, coffee or snacks.
3. Bring your own hand sanitiser and a face mask if you have them.
4. You will only be permitted into the Soanes Centre or Lodge to use the toilet. There is nowhere to leave your belongings. Please do not bring anything you aren’t willing to carry with you.

ON THE DAY

1. Please arrive on time and go to the meeting area: in front of the Soanes Centre, E3 4PX, by the entrance on Southern Grove.
2. You will be asked to wash your hands before you start the activity.
3. Maintain two metres distance between other event attendees, general park visitors and our staff at all times. Please be respectful of others. The risk you are willing to accept is not the same as what others are willing to accept!
4. We will design activities to minimise the need for you to be close to each other and share materials. We will provide resources to clean tools if they need to be shared.
5. The Friends will collect contact information on attendees and they will be provided to national or local government Test and Trace services on request. Apart from Test and Trace, we will treat your data in accordance with our data protection policies.
6. You will be given instructions on the activities that you will be carrying out, general Health & Safety measures and COVID-19 specific controls. If you do not follow these instructions, you will be asked to leave.
7. While the Friends have put in place measures to reduce risks, all social and physical interactions carry a risk of COVID-19 infection. If you or a member of your household/support bubble have underlying medical conditions or concerns relating to becoming infected, please carefully consider whether you want to attend this event.

Click here for more information and to view our full COVID-19 policy and data protection policy.