National Grief Awareness Week is an annual event led by the Good Grief Trust. This year it takes place from 2nd to 8th December 2024 and is all about shining a light on people, places, and projects that help people through some of the most difficult times in their lives.

It is dedicated to raising awareness about grief, supporting people who are grieving, and promoting a better understanding of the grieving process.

It acknowledges that grief is a natural response to loss and encourages empathy and compassion for people who are grieving, aiming to break the stigma surrounding this challenging part of human experience.

How to take part in National Grief Awareness Week 2024

National Grief Awareness Week is a dedicated time for people, organisations and communities to come together in a meaningful way to support those who are grieving and work towards breaking down the barriers surrounding grief. Here are some ways to get involved:

• Encourage people to share their experiences with grief, either through writing, art, or discussions can help others feel less alone in their grief journey.
• Look out for and share information about local or online grief support events which can provide information and a supportive community for people who need it.
• Offer your time and empathy to listen without judgment.
• Use social media and other platforms to share information about National Grief Awareness Week, including resources for support.
• Support organisations dedicated to helping individuals cope with grief and loss.

Grief and Cinema

Grief Awareness Week shines a light on experiences of grief, a universal but deeply personal experience.  Film and cinema can provide opportunities to raise awareness, support education and broaden understanding about grief, and ignite important discussions about how we look after each other. Find some highlighted films on this page, along with resources to support the wellbeing of cinema audiences.

We have collated some guides to help you to increase and improve access for disabled, d/Deaf and neurodivergent people in your organisations, whether that be for audiences at the cinema or for employees.

Cinemas across the country currently offer specific accessible screenings, such as subtitled, audio described, BSL interpreted, relaxed environment, autism-friendly, and/or dementia-friendly screenings.

UK events

Your Local Cinema lists many subtitled and audio-described screenings

Accessible Screenings UK also list autism-friendly, subtitled and audio-described screenings

International Day of People with Disabilities is the annual celebration of people with disabilities. This year On 3 December 2024, the theme is “Amplifying the leadership of persons with disabilities for an inclusive and sustainable future.”

We call on domestic and international public health officials, political representatives, advocates, supporters, and every citizen in every community, to learn from the experiences of disabled people, and push for more meaningful investments into the socioeconomic building blocks which will reduce the barriers faced by people with disabilities in every community.

Disabled representation in cinema continues to be a struggle, as we see very few authentic depictions that don’t play to the hero or tragedy tropes so often associated with disability on screen. Our ask of the film sector is to see more varied characters and stories about disability, to hire more disabled talent into production, distribution and exhibition roles in film, and to support any workers with access needs with compassion and care, so they can progress and have jobs for life in the industry.

As regards exhibition, at Inclusive Cinema, we seek to see as many subtitled, audio-described and relaxed screenings made available across the UK for those with access requirements as there are for those without access requirements.

Useful sources for accessible screenings

Your Local Cinema lists many subtitled and audio-described screenings

Accessible Screenings UK also list autism-friendly, dementia-friendly, subtitled and audio-described screenings