Festival 2022
The To Absent Friends festival will take place across Scotland from 1-7 November 2022.
It is an excuse to remember, to tell stories, to celebrate and to reminisce about who have died.
Check out some of the events taking place below, and please get in touch if you'd like us to add your event to the listing below.
Treasured Possessions Make Memories
Organised by Kilbryde Hospice
Taking place at Kibryde Hospice Kafé from November 1-7, 2022.
Our treasured possessions make memories. For this very reason, in Absent Friends Week 2022 in partnership with Palliative Care Scotland, Kilbryde Hospice are holding two events – an Absent Friends Coffee Morning, and a ‘Treasured Possessions Make Memories’ exhibition.
Our ‘Treasured Possessions Make Memories’ exhibition will be displayed in Kilbryde Hospice’s Kafé throughout Absent Friends Week and will showcase possessions left behind by lost loved ones, as well as the memories encapsulated in them. Those whose possessions will be displayed were asked to submit photographs of an item that has been passed down to them by a relative or friend who has died, no matter how much time has passed. Our doors for this event are open to all who wish to attend.
The coffee morning, held on the 2nd of November in the Kafé, will allow those who have lost a loved one to reminisce about the time shared, memories made, and experiences felt when together, and to also convene with others who can empathise with their situation. At Kilbryde Hospice, we know first-hand how our loved ones can live on in our conversations, and we hope that everyone in attendance will be able to experience this too. We welcome you to join us for a morning of tea, poetry, light music, and a chance to remember loved ones lost.
If either of these things interest you, then everyone at Kilbryde Hospice would love to see you there. If you require more information, please contact the fundraising team at fundraising@kilbrydehospice.org.uk.
Photo credit: Kilbryde Hospice
Remembering Absent Friends
Organised by Breathe Easy Clackmannanshire
The event will take place at 1.30pm on Thursday 10th November in St. Mungo’s RC Church Hall in Mar Street, Alloa.
This will be a moving celebration of the lives of our members who are no longer with us, attended by our members, their families and friends
We will have an embroidered cloth with the names of all the members we have lost and this will be on display along with photographs of our members who have recently died.
After the formal part of our meeting, we will be entertained by local musicians and singers who have agreed to donate their time.
Refreshments will be served and everyone will hopefully enjoy an afternoon of remembrance and celebration of those who are no longer with us.
Photo credit: Breathe Easy Clackmannanshire
To Absent Friends
Organised by Action Porty
Sunday 6th November 2022 from 2:30pm - 4pm
Meet on beach, foot of Bellfield Street, Edinburgh
Eventbrite page to register.
Join us for a festival of storytelling and reminiscence celebrating the lives of our loved ones who have died.
This incredibly powerful event is now in its third year. The sharing of stories, anecdotes and photographs with each other follows the oral traditions of many cultures throughout the world, and offers the opportunity for healing and remembrance.
This is a free event held on Portobello Beach. There will be ample opportunity to commemorate, loved ones while sitting around mini-campfires enjoying some warming refreshments.
No matter where you are on your grief journey, you are welcome.
Please remember to be prepared for all weather conditions and bring along something to sit on for your own comfort.
Photo credit: Action Porty
All Strong Forever
Organised by All Strong Scotland
This event will be taking place on Sunday 6th November, at All Strong on Scott Street, Perth, at 12pm.
All Strong Forever is a remembrance event which will allow our community to share stories of bereavement, while celebrating the memories of departed loved ones. Everyone will have the opportunity to share their stories, memories and experiences of processing grief. We will enjoy some sandwiches, tea and coffee, and paint stones with whatever words or design resonates and is meaningful, and these can be taken home by participants. We will also be creating messages and designs on leaves to then hang on our specially made remembrance tree. Finally we will cut the All Strong Forever cake, and have a slice as we chat and highlight any reflections or valuable points we have gained in the process.
Photo credit: All Strong Scotland
Objects of Remembrance
Organised by Possobilities
The Objects of Remembrance project will take place at the Possobilites, a disability centre in Possilpark (G22 5ST).
Members of the club will be invited to bring in objects which remind them of loved ones who have passed. As a group, each individual will have time to talk about their object and who it reminds them of.
The intention of this is to open up conversations about death and grief, both as a personal and collective experience. A way of coming to terms with losing a loved one, the parts which move on and the parts which stay with us.
This will be followed by members being invited to choose a coloured ribbon to tie around our memorial tree in our sensory garden, both as an act of remembrance and healing.
This borrows from the tradition of a clootie well, where in pagan times, offerings in the form of cloth, ribbon, ect were made to nature. The project will be led by local artist Coire Simpson, who works part time at Possobilites. She hopes this project will be of value to both our members who have vocalized the loss of a loved one and particularly help those who struggle to communicate their personal experience.
https://www.facebook.com/possobilities
Image credit: Coire Simpson and Gregg Elliot
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