DEATH is the one thing no one can escape, yet few people feel comfortable discussing it.

So a group of Swindon firms decided to get together to give people of all ages a chance to learn how they can get their affairs in order should Death come knocking.

Hosted by St John’s Church in Haydon Wick, the session offered advice for financial planning as part of Dying Matters Awareness Week.

“I want people to be able to discuss dying, it is a way of nature that so many people fear and will refuse to talk about,” said Robert Young, estate planning consultant for Asset Guardian Co Ltd.

“If people take away the taboo of it, they will have a more relaxed approach which will help them when sorting out their affairs.

“Once they have sorted out their will and lasting power of attorney they will be able to stress less and enjoy the rest of their lives, with the knowledge that their family will be taken care of.”

More than 50 people went to the coffee afternoon and he was delighted with the turnout.

“It was fantastic and it benefits everyone, I hope they went away feeling more open to the subject and realised how vital it is to get everything sorted,” he said.

“It is going to happen to all of us one day, so why not plan for it and get on with enjoying your life, imagine having that weight and pressure lifted from your shoulders.”

Aimed at people from the age of 30 through to retirement, the event offered information about will writing, pensions and funeral services with input from Chilvester Finance and Pearce Funeral Service.

Dying Matters is a coalition of groups and organisations over England and Wales that was formed with the idea of helping people to talk more openly about death, bereavement and making life easier for families left behind.

It currently has more than 32,000 members.

Led by the National Council for Palliative Care, which was set up 25 years ago at the request of the government to advocate for end of life care, it works with communities to get people to have the uncomfortable conversations, get plans in place and provide practical support.

It says changes in society's attitude towards death have led to a lack of openness and affected the range of support and care services available to patients and their families, and even affected people's ability to die where and when they wish.

Every year in May it hosts a range of events from educational programmes to help open end of life discussions with children, death cafes, exhibitions and even a death fair.