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Joan Bakewell discusses all things digital legacy for her ‘We Need To Talk About Death’ series. The episode can be listened to here

The call for speakers and papers for the Digital Legacy Conference 2018 will begin in January 2018. The next conference is due to take place in June 2018.

Ian Bond of Higgs and Sons Legal speaking on behalf of The Law Society

Information about the Digital Legacy Conference 2018 is coming soon.

Thank you for attending… what an incredible day!

The Digital Legacy Conference addresses, highlights and celebrates work that is being carried out in areas relating to digital legacy and digital assets. Read a review from this year’s conference below:

Read the full review by clicking here

Thank you to our wonderful sponsors and speakers

Digital Legacy Conference 2016 was free to attend took place thanks to the kindness of St Joseph’s Hospice, Seddon Smith Accountants and Leverton & Sons.  We would like to thank the following speakers who contributed their time and expertise:

⏳ James Norris – Digital Legacy Association & DeadSocial.

⏳ Jane Harris Edmonds – Beyond Goodbye.

⏳ Dr Mark Taubert – NHS Wales & Velindre Cancer Centre.

⏳ Gary Rycroft – Dying Matters & Jospeh A. Jones Solicitors.

⏳ Peter Billingham – Death Goes Digital.

⏳ Evan Carroll – Your Digital Afterlife.

The Digital Legacy Conference is an annual, not for profit conference ran by: The Digital Legacy Association. This year it took taking place during Dying Matters Awareness Week.

All of the photos can be viewed here https://www.facebook.com/pg/DigitalLegacyAssociation/photos/?tab=album&album_id=245304605825006 

You can now register for a free ticket and join the event on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/events/1631936163737680/

Millions of people in Britain risk missing out on having their end of life wishes met and leaving their affairs in a mess for their families to sort out because they haven’t planned for their death, according to a new study released by the Dying Matters Coalition.

Today’s ComRes research, released to coincide with Dying Matters Awareness Week (18-24 May) finds that although the majority of us think it is more acceptable to talk about dying now than it was 10 years ago, discussing dying and making end of life plans remains a taboo, as a majority think that people in Britain are uncomfortable discussing dying, death and bereavement.

• Although a third of British adults (32%) think about dying and death at least once a week, 72% of the public believe that people in Britain are uncomfortable discussing dying, death and bereavement.
• Only 35% of the public say they have written a will, 32% that they have registered as an organ donor or have a donor card, 31% that they have taken out life insurance, 27% that they have talked to someone about their funeral wishes and 7% that they have written down their wishes or preferences about their future care, should they be unable to make decisions for themselves.
• Just 18% of British adults say they have asked a family member about their end of life wishes.
• Amongst parents who had children under 18 living with them, less than a third (28%) say they had written a Will, risking wishes about who would look after the children and inheritance not being met. Just 40% of parents who had children under 18 living with them said they had ever taken out life insurance.

Despite this failure to talk about dying and plan ahead, 71% of the public agree that if people in Britain felt more comfortable discussing dying, death and bereavement it would be easier to have our end of life wishes met.

The research also finds that the majority of people (79%) agree that quality of life is more important than how long they live for.  Only 2% of over 65s disagree that their quality of life is more important to them than how long they live for. Just 13% of people surveyed said they would like to live forever and only 8% said they would like to live to over 100. The most common age at which people would like to die is 81-90 (27%). Despite the fact that life expectancy is on the rise, only 6% of people aged over 65s want to live to over 100.

When asked about factors to ensure a good death, being pain free was the most important option, chosen by a third of people (33%), followed by being with family and friends (17%), retaining your dignity (13%), being cared for and able to die in the place of your choice (6%), being involved in decisions about your care, or if you are not able to for family and friends to be involved (6%) and having your religious/spiritual needs met (5%).

The survey also finds that three-quarters of people (75%) agree that providing end of life care should be a fundamental part of the work of the NHS, with almost two-thirds (62%) agreeing that end of life care should be a priority for the new Government.

Speaking today, Claire Henry, Chief Executive of the Dying Matters Coalition said:

“We need to change the nation’s approach to dying, so that all of us become better at making our end of life wishes known and asking our loved ones about theirs. Talking about dying and planning ahead may not be easy, but it can help us to make the most of life and spare our loved ones from making difficult decisions on our behalf or dealing with the fallout if we haven’t got our affairs in order.”

Professor Mayur Lakhani, a practising GP and Chair of the Dying Matters Coalition added:

“There are encouraging signs that talking about dying is becoming less of a taboo than previously, but too many people are continuing to avoid facing up to their own mortality and are not putting plans in place. The public and health professionals alike need to become more comfortable talking about dying and discussion options for end of life care. We know that many people have strong views about their end of life wishes, but unless they talk about them and plan ahead they are unlikely to be met.” 

Timeout recently added The Digital Legacy Conference 2015 as a ‘Thing to Do’ in London this summer…..

• If you still need a ticket head over to: http://digitallegacyconference.com/free-tickets
• Timeout Listing: http://www.timeout.com/london/things-to-do/digital-legacy-conference-2015

Below is the (rough) running order for the Digital Legacy Conference 2015. It is subject to change and alterations…

• 2pm, doors open – Tea and coffee is served. Music

 3pm Start

• 3.10pm ⇝ Introduction by Master of Ceremonies, Jack Rooke
• 3.20pm ⇝ Introduction by the curator of the RSVP Funeral Invitation Exhibition, Jo Shears
• 3.25pm ⇝ Introduction by James Norris, Founder of DeadSocial and the Digital Legacy Conference.
• 3.30pm ⇝ Evan Caroll, Afterlife: A Retrospective
• 3.50pm ⇝ Sheldon K. Goodman, Cemeteries & Social Media
• 4.10pm ⇝ Dr Mark Taubert, Social media use at the coalface of palliative patient care

4.10pm – Short break, drinks are served

• 4.30pm ⇝ Jack Rooke welcome back / poem
• 4.40pm ⇝ James Norris Digital Death, we need to switch on before we switch off
• 5.10pm ⇝ Andréia Martins, Virtual Wakes in Brazil
• 5.30pm ⇝ Ian Bond, Digital Estate Planning & UK Law

5.50pm – Networking break, drinks are served

• 6.10pm ⇝ Jack Rooke – GOOD GRIEF! How the web helped me make a show about my dad’s death.
• 6.30pm ⇝ Jayne Galinsky, Continuing bonds (virtual seminar – via video)
• 6.50pm ⇝ Dr Korina Giaxoglou, Everywhere I go, you’re going with me: sharing significant moments of life and death in Web 2.0 mourning
• 7.10pm ⇝ Olly Clabburn, MND Diagnoses & Creating a Legacy
• 7.30pm ⇝ Selina Ellis Gray, Remains in the System

7.40pm ⇝ Jack Rooke, Thank you, music & close

• 7.50pm – Networking & last orders at the bar

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8.20pm – 8.30pm close

Head over to a the local pub…(maybe http://bartcr.com?) Suggestions welcome!

Funeral invitations came into use in the 17th century and originally functioned as admission tickets because space in the church and at the funeral feast was limited.  The invitations were incredibly ornate and depicted classic symbols such as hour glasses and skulls.

RSVP is a fresh look at this tradition.  It is a collection of work made in a number of different mediums and styles by 25 international artists.

‘Home’ by Benjamin Phillips

We are delighted and very excited that RSVP will be taking place the first annual Digital Legacy Conference.

Artists exhibiting their work

• Paul Koudounaris
• Pia Interlandi
• Mr Mead
• Dan McCarthy
• Katie Brookes
• Katie Jade Hawker
• Alexa Cach
• Ross Head
• Tabi Electric
• Miriam Byroade
• Rosie Lea
• Claire Spake
• Naomi Wilkinson
• Matt Warren
• Benjamin Phillips
• Tomasin Cuthbert
• Jason Tolmie
• Adam Stenhouse
• Anna Litchensteiger
• Miu Hatano
• David Buchler
• Jen Garmston
• Tasmin Halward
• Grace Helena
• Charlotte Hawke

Tickets for the Digital Legacy Conference (and the RSVP – An Exhibition of Funeral Invitations) are free but limited. They can be attained at http://digitallegacyconference.com/free-tickets