Festival 2024
The To Absent Friends festival took place across Scotland from 1-7 November 2024.
It was an opportunity to remember, to tell stories, to celebrate and to reminisce about people we love who have died. To Absent Friends, a People’s Festival of Storytelling and Remembrance is an opportunity to revive lost traditions and create new ones.
Below is a list of the events that took place.
Family
Organised by Scottish Families Affected by Alcohol and Drugs
Monday 4 November 2024, 1:00 PM - 4:00 PM
The Barracks, Stirling, Forthside Way, Stirling, FK8 1QZ
These sessions are open to families receiving support from SFAD
Bereavement through substance use is more complicated because of the nature of the death. When a death is drug-related or alcohol-related it is more challenging for families because of stigma. Families receive stigmatising responses from people rather than understanding and support. This leaves families feeling shamed when they talk about the person who has died which makes grieving more complicated. Isolation is common and bereavement groups and supports are not always suitable for families experiencing loss through substance use. Families tell us that meeting in person makes a huge difference and they want more opportunities to come together. As part of the ‘To Absent Friends’ week, we are holding an event to bring families together. There will be an opportunity to take part in some creative activities, but other than that we want to get together to support one another and remember loved ones.
Dochas Carers Centre Death Cafe
Organised by Dochas Carers Centre
Monday 4 November, 5:30pm - 7:30pm
Dochas Centre, Campbell Street, Lochgilphead
This activity is open to the local community.
Dochas is joining the To Absent Friends Festival that takes place across Scotland from 1-7 November 2024. It is an opportunity to remember, to tell stories, to celebrate, and to reminisce about people we love who have died.
Why not come along and bring something that reminds you of a loved one who has died (an object, a picture, a poem or a reminiscence). Everyone is welcome to come and share their views or just listen, in a safe and non-judgmental environment.
Tea, coffee and cake will be served.
Image credit: Dochas Carers Centre
Seasons of Change
Organised by NHS Greater Glasgow & Clyde Planning Your Care
4th and 8th November 2024, 12 noon -1.30pm
Online (MS Teams)
This event is open to the public.
This is an informal, contemplative session to help people reflect on loss, grief and bereavement. Everyone is welcome to attend. The session will play on a continuous loop on MS Teams, restarting every 30 minutes between 12pm – 1.30pm on the Monday and Friday day. This is an experiential workshop to give participants an easy way to start thinking about what’s important to them and those around them.
You can register for either date – the link for joining the session will be the same.
Click here to register for 4th November
Click here to register for 8th November
Image credit: Jenny Watt
To Absent Friends Afternoon Tea - a remembrance and storytelling event for all
Organised by Creating Converations CIC and Annexe Communities
Monday 4th November 2024. 1.30 - 3.30pm
The Annexe, 9 Stewartville St, Partick, G11 5PE
This event is open to the public.
This event will be a safe space for all members of the local community to share their memories and stories of loved ones who have died. Attendees are encouraged and welcome to bring small items or photos that remind them of their loved ones to talk about or if they wish they can make the first page of a memory scrapbook. The event will also have a memory tree where attendees will be invited to add their memories or even the names of the loved ones they wish to remember. There will also be Afternoon Tea cakes, tea and coffee. Everyone is welcome and no booking is required.
This event is supported by a To Absent Friends small grant.
Photo credit: Tallulah Photography
Remembrance Lunch
Organised by Kinghorn Community Centre
Monday 4th November, 12.30 pm -2.30 pm
Rossland Place, Kinghorn, KY3 9SS
This event is open to the public.
This remembrance lunch is an opportunity to meet and remember absent friends, to tell stories, share photographs, to celebrate and reminisce about people from Kinghorn we miss.
Join us for a plate of soup, a cake and a cuppa while we chat.
This event is supported by a To Absent Friends small grant.
Find us on Facebook: Kinghorn Community Centre
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