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.
Scottish International Storytelling Festival - Tree of Memory: Honouring the Elders
Organised by the Scottish International Storytelling Festival
Scottish Storytelling Centre, 43-45 High Street, Edinburgh EH1 1SR
These events are open to the public and ticketed.
The theme for this year’s Scottish International Storytelling Festival is “Bridges Between”. The festival includes four events entitled “Tree of Memory: Honouring the Elders”, at which storytellers will celebrate the memory of elders important to them, and invite attendees to honour their own absent friends.
Essence of a Memory Exhibition
Organised by Glasgow Life Libraries
1st – 14th November 2024
The Mitchell Library, 201 North Street, Glasgow G3 7DN
This exhibition is open to the public.
As part of this years’ To Absent Friends Festival, The Mitchell Library will be displaying the Essence of a Memory exhibition.
Wee Write Family Day Event – Helen Kellock, “Out to Sea"
Organised by Glasgow Life Libraries
Saturday 9th Nov 2024, 11:30am – 12.30pm
Mitchell Library, 201 North Street, Glasgow G3 7DN
This activity is open to children 4+ and their families. Please register in advance.
As part of this years’ Wee Write Family Day, part of Glasgow’s Book Festival for Children and Young People, Glasgow Libraries are hosting a session with Helen Kellock.
Remembering...
Organised by Inverclyde Royal Hospital Spiritual Care Department
1-7 November
Dining Room on Level B, Inverclyde Royal Hospital, Greenock
This activity is for Inverclyde Royal Hospital staff.
Following an information event held in Demystifying Death Week (around the Bereavement Charter Mark), during Absent Friends Week, in November, Inverclyde Royal Hospital are providing an information stall of what support and resources are in place for bereaved staff.
Song-writing & Recording Workshops: A Tribute to Our Friends in Music
Organised by SoundBite Music & Food Co.
1-7 November
SoundBite, 270A Cumbernauld Road, Glasgow G31 2UL
These workshops are open to the local community of musicians and artists.
Join us for a special week of song-writing and recording workshops from 1-7 November at our studio in Glasgow’s East End. As a social enterprise dedicated to supporting aspiring musicians and creatives, we’re hosting a project that will bring together up to 25 local musicians and artists to collaborate on a meaningful tribute to friends in the industry who have passed away in recent years.
Remembering Absent Friends and Loved Ones
Organised by NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde (Royal Alexandra Hospital chaplaincy)
1st-7th November 2024
Royal Alexandra Hospital Staff R&R Hub
These sessions are open to RAH staff.
Join us at the staff Hub from the 1st to the 7th of November, 2024, for a special event dedicated to remembering and celebrating the memories of our loved ones. This thoughtful initiative is hosted by the spiritual care team at the Royal Alexandra Hospital, and offers a serene and supportive space for all NHS staff to come together in reflection and connection.
Thank You for the Days
Organised by the NHS Lanarkshire Spiritual Care and Wellbeing team
Monday 11th of November – Friday 15th of November
At University Hospital Hairmyres, University Hospital Monklands and University Hospital Wishaw.
These days are open to staff, patients and visitors.
“When you are grateful, fear disappears and abundance appears”.
Remembering Absent Friends and Loved Ones
Organised by NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde (Royal Alexandra Hospital chaplaincy)
1st-7th November 2024
Vale of Leven Hospital sanctuary
These sessions are open to Vale of Leven Hospital staff.
Join us at the Vale of Leven sanctuary from November 1st to November 7th, 2024, to remember and recognise our loved ones.
Remembrance Supper Evening
Organised by Walton Court Residents Social Club
Sunday 17th November
Walton Court, Giffnock, Glasgow
This event is for Walton Court residents
We have arranged for a social club get together on Sunday 17th November 2024 within our residents communal lounge to remember “Absent Friends”.
To Absent Friends Music Installation at St Columba’s
Organised by St Columba’s Hospice Care
1-7 November
St Columba’s Hospice, Edinburgh
This event is for the St Columba’s community.
At St Columba’s Hospice Care we acknowledge the vital role of music in our connections and aim to commemorate ‘To Absent Friends Week’ by collecting song titles and brief excerpts of lyrics which are meaningful to you and evoke memories of your loved ones.
Remembrance and Reflection
Organised by Rowan Alba CARDS Community
Botanic Gardens, Edinburgh
This activity is for Rowan Alba’s CARDS Community.
Rowan Alba’s Remembrance and Reflection event takes place in Edinburgh’s Botanic Gardens.
Mexican Day of the Dead
Organised by No One Dies Alone, Wigtownshire (A listening ear project) in collaboration with Guid Grief7th November 2024 A Listening Ear, 2 Monument View, Leswalt, Stranraer, DG9 0JJ This event is for the Guid Grief community.
Guid Grief launched in November 2023 with a Mexican Day of the Dead which attracted 40 adults with 5 accompanying children from right across the region as far as Dumfries! Mexican food was provided as were Mexican skull cookies and butterflies. There was face painting and the film Coco for the children. A candle lighting ceremony, a remembrance tree, mindful colouring and music were also provided as well as refreshments and cakes. The hall was decorated for the occasion which ran for two hours and was thoroughly enjoyed by all.
By working together with NODA, Wigtownshire we hope to open this event to more volunteers and participants and make it an annual event to celebrate absent friends, share stories and normalise death. Our community lacks bereavement support and due to its rural location, the community can struggle with isolation. By bringing our community together at such events we hope to build strong compassionate ties and encourage community members to support each other openly at times of grief.
To Absent Friends Workshop
Organised by the Margaret Kerr Unit, Borders General Hospital (NHS Borders)
7th November 2024
Margaret Kerr Unit, Borders General Hospital
This event is open to visitors to the Margaret Kerr Unit.
Hospital staff will be holding a workshop event in our palliative care unit on the 7th November for ‘To Absent Friends’. There will be information stalls with resources about support and remembrance.
Rainbow Glasgaroos x To Absent Friends festival: celebrating the memories of departed friends and ancestors
Organised by Rainbow Glasgaroos
Thursday 7th November, 6:30-9:30pm
Glasgow
This event is open to Glasgaroos members and community by invitation.
The Rainbow Glasgaroos is an LGBTQI+ basketball group that encourages physical exercise and mental wellbeing for its 100+ members, by creating a safe and free-of-charge space for weekly basketball sessions, at the City of Glasgow College. We fight social isolation and promote feelings of belonging by being inclusive of all genders, sexual orientations, ethnicities, abilities and fitness levels. We also develop LGBTQI+ community building by organizing social events, and inviting other local LGBTQI+ associations to our activities.
Forget Me Not Coffee Afternoon
Organised by Abbotsford Nursing Home
7 November
Abbotsford Nursing Home, 98 Eglinton Road, Ardrossan, North Ayrshire KA22 8NN
This event is for the Abbotsford Nursing Home community.
With thanks and the support of Absent Friends, we are able to organise a Forget Me Not Coffee Afternoon. The coffee afternoon will take place on the 7th November at 2.30pm. Residents, staff and relatives past and present will be invited along, giving them the opportunity to reminisce about residents who are no longer with us.
HIV Quilt Workshops
Organised by St Mary’s Episcopal Cathedral
3 sessions: 24th October, 7th November or 21st November, 10am-12:30pm
St Mary’s Episcopal Cathedral, Palmerston Place, Edinburgh EH12 5AW
This event is open to the public.
Has a loved one died due to HIV-related causes?
A celebration of life – Memorial Service
Organised by Burnlea House Care Home
Thursday 7 November
Burnlea House, 4 Burnlea Road, Largs
This event is for the Burnlea House community.
We felt as this was approaching the festive season – a particular nice time for remembering those who are absent and celebrating their life - colourful crystal ornaments would bring colour, joy and conversation about loving memories of each individual who lived in the Burnlea House.
The Mitchell Library Death Cafe hosted by Creating Conversations CIC
Organised by Glasgow Life Libraries in collaboration with Creating Conversations CIC
Thursday 7 November 2024, 5.45 - 7.30pm
Mitchell Library, 201 North Street, Glasgow G3 7DN
This event is open to the public. Please register in advance.
A Death Cafe is a safe, confidential and friendly space for people to come together and talk openly and honestly about death, dying, and making the most of our finite lives. Small groups sit around a table and conversation flows without agenda or direction. The conversation is led by the people in the group, and therefore, each session is unique.
Glasgow Southside Death Café
Organised by Glasgow Southside Death Club
Thursday 7th November 2024, 7.30pm-9.00pm
Finns Place, 167 Ledard Rd, Glasgow G42 9QU
This event is open to the public.
We are so thankful that we have been able to spend the last couple of years building a compassionate community that doesn’t shy away from conversations about death and dying. So come along to help us celebrate 2 years of our café which has helped countless people bust taboos and remember those we miss. Birthday cake will be available!
The Silent Run
Organised by Runforever SCIO in collaboration with HMPG and ACE Voices
Outside: 2nd November 2024 at Heathryburn School, Northfield, Aberdeen
and
Inside: 7th November 2024 at HMPG Peterhead
The 2nd November event is open to the public. The 7th November event is for prisoners at HMPG Peterhead.
“Not a race. A ritual for remembering, with no finish line.”
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