Water cremation in the UK
Scotland is now the first part of the UK to introduce water cremation, with regulations approved and the option officially available from 2 March 2026. The Scottish Government has confirmed that funeral directors can now offer the process, and the first procedures are expected to take place this summer. For many, this may be the first time they have heard about water cremation. Here are our FAQs to help you understand how it works and why someone might choose it.
Interview with a pathologist: what happens during a post-mortem examination
We were delighted to have the opportunity to speak to Chris Meehan, Consultant Histopathologist at the Royal United Hospital in Bath about his work on post-mortems. For some, the topic of autopsies is taboo; a subject too uncomfortable to approach. For others, it’s a fascinating, though slightly squeamish reality. So what are Chris’s thoughts on post-mortem and public perception?
Valentine’s Day: Sex, intimacy and relationships at the end of life
When someone is living with a terminal illness, nearly every part of life can shift, including how they feel about their body, their sexuality, and their relationships. Studies have shown that many patients nearing the end of their lives have expressed that sex and intimacy are essential to them; however, it is often overlooked by healthcare professionals and not commonly discussed.
Being a Compassionate Companion
Albert recently qualified as an integrative counsellor, focusing on loss and grief, and considers himself part of the death-positive movement. In our latest blog, Albert explains his role as a volunteer Compassionate Companion, and what the experience means to him.
London Month of the Dead: spooky soirées and morbid musings
Stephen Coates is the co-creator of London Month of the Dead, a fascinating festival of talks, tours and events about death and mortality, running throughout October. In our latest blog, we find out all about this scintillating series and why Stephen and Suzette Field launched their annual festival of the dead.
Becoming a death doula
Mangala Holland is a death doula in training, having completed a foundation course with Living Well Dying Well. Having worked in the sexual wellness world for 12 years, she is no stranger to journeying with people through tender, challenging and intimate times. In our latest blog we ask her why and how she became a death doula.
The history of death masks: faces of the departed
Throughout history, humans have longed to remember the dead—not just in spirit, but in form. Among the most haunting and intimate expressions of this desire is the death mask: a cast taken from a person’s face shortly after death. From Tutankhamun to Lenin, let’s take a look at death masks through history.
Assisted dying in the UK: compassion or manslaughter?
As MPs voted in favour of Kim Leadbeater’s Private Member’s Bill on Assisted Dying, we delve deeper into the issues of assisted dying and explore opinions on both sides of the debate.
A Halloween Ode to Brompton Cemetery
Inspired by a Halloween stroll around Brompton Cemetery, London, Part of Life penned a poem to shine a light on the beauty to be found behind cemetery walls.
Demystifying body donation
Body donation is the act of giving your whole body after death to a medical school or research institution for use in education, research or training. So why do people choose to donate their bodies and how can you do it?
Doctors and death: A Dose of Grief
According to research, nearly 80% of doctors have experienced a distressing patient event in the last year, and many go on to suffer from depression, anxiety, and PTSD. Two Melbourne medical students, share how unprepared they felt to deal with the inevitable deaths of patients and how they are tackling this important issue.
Is death really taboo?
Sue Brayne has an MA in the Rhetoric and Rituals of Death and is an end-of-life researcher and she is the author of The D-Word: talking about dying.
In this blog for Part of Life, Sue explains how her work with the Death Café movement has led her to believe that talking about death is no longer the taboo it once was, but what we lack is the understanding of how to talk about death and dying.
Wild swimming and grief
Increasing numbers of studies are connecting the power of nature to wellbeing, pain management and peace at end of life. At Part of Life, we understand that nature can be a solace for mental suffering, be it anxiety, depression or grief.
There are many ways to connect with nature to access its mental health benefits. One popular method to immerse oneself in nature is wild swimming.
Burial customs from around the world
In the western world, though our funerary practices are evolving, we are most familiar with two methods to dispose of the dead: burial and cremation. In other parts of the world, the treatment of the dead and disposal of remains can vary enormously, with vastly differing rituals and beliefs.
A Good Goodbye
What makes a good goodbye? We invited independent funeral celebrant, and ex-social worker, Susanna Watson to share her thoughts on what elements make for a good funeral send off.
Cemetery Photography
Ever heard of Taphophilia? We approached tombstone tourist, Madame Cimetière, to share her love of cemetery photography and discover more about this respectful and beautiful art form.
Dr. Kate Woodthorpe on the future of grief
Part of Life spoke to Dr. Kate Woodthorpe, Co-Director of the Centre for Death and Society (CDAS) at Bath University, about how she came to work in death studies and where she believes the future of grief is heading.
‘Get Mortal’ - Dead Good Parties
We are sisters, Katy and Lindsey Vigurs (Vigurs rhymes with tigers). We are the founding directors of DEAD GOOD, a not-for-profit, arts-based death education company that aims to end taboos around all things death and dying. We have deliberately introduced a bright, bold and quirky vibe to the death education scene in the UK.
My Grief Playlist
Study beats, Saturday night party hits, hardcore workout anthems maybe, but a Grief Playlist? As part of National Grief Awareness Week, guest blogger, Amy Jackson shares her top five songs to grieve to. Listen along, share your top tunes and visit our Part of Life Playlist.
Children need to know
As part of Children’s Grief Awareness Week (16-23 November), we asked We Hear You’s Chair Of Trustees and Dorothy House Psychological Support Lead, Anne Montague to provide some useful tips for how to support children through grief.