↑ dying matters

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dying matters: connecting through grassroots arts to support disadvantaged ethnic minority women in bradford  

A groundbreaking project is bringing together arts, culture, and healthcare to address the profound challenges faced by multiply disadvantaged ethnic minority women navigating dying, death, and grief in Bradford. 

Led by The Leap, WomenZone, and Dr. Jamilla Hussain—a local palliative care consultant—in partnership with Hospice UK, the initiative aims to tackle inequities in access to hospice and end-of-life services. By using arts and creative workshops, the project creates safe, culturally sensitive spaces for women to explore and share their experiences. 

Research has long highlighted enduring inequalities faced by minority ethnic groups when dealing with death and bereavement. These challenges are even greater for women living at the intersection of poverty, language barriers, and disability.  

In 2022, the "Uncovering" programme—supported by Hospice UK, The Leap, Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, and WomenZone—successfully empowered Pakistani women to form a bereavement support group. The initiative revealed the systemic barriers these women face and underscored the urgent need for meaningful dialogue, understanding, and action to address inequities. 

 

 

Rubina Khalid, Chief Executive at WomenZone said 

We had previously delivered a project at WomenZone, funded by HOSPICE UK, to understand how Pakistani communities, particularly women, cope with the death of a loved one. This time, we partnered with Bradford Leap and NHS palliative care to bring together diverse organisations across the "death system" in Bradford. The aim was to facilitate direct discussions with women about their experiences and foster network/relationship building” 

Building on these insights, the new project aims to develop a systemic support model by fostering connections between women and diverse organisations within Bradford’s "death system." Through this initiative, women will have opportunities to share their stories, engage in dialogue, and build networks that can inform more equitable end-of-life care. 

Artist Shy Burhan has lead a series of six workshops, using culturally relevant and accessible creative methods to facilitate discussions and empower women to share their experiences. The workshops focused on intersectional challenges, particularly around access to hospice and bereavement services. 

The project has culminated in a touring exhibition, showcasing the artwork created by participants. This exhibition will offer powerful insights into the experiences and needs of Pakistani women facing death, dying, and grief, amplifying their voices and fostering awareness. 

 

Dr. Jamilla Hussain said  

“We know access and quality of care at the end of life is not equal and fair. We need to ensure those on the margins have their voices and stories heard and that services meet them where they are at. This project aimed to set this in motion through workshops on topics that mattered to Pakistani women and in partnership with people and services across Bradford there to support them” 

 

Shy Burhan, the Bradford artist leading the creative aspects of the project said  

“I was delighted to play a small part as an artist to continue the very important conversation around the health and resource inequities faced amongst Bradford’s elderly Pakistani women. I designed workshops that enabled them to use a creative activity as an outlet to express how they felt about a certain topic they faced in their grieving processes. They were inspired as was I.”  

This collaborative project is a bold step toward equitable support for marginalised communities, setting a precedent for inclusive and compassionate end-of-life care. The learning from the programme will be shared with other health and wellness professionals around the country. Details of the touring exhibition will be posted on The Leap website. 

 


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