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London's had a cat café, an owl café and a cereal café, now the city could be getting its first ever death café. Catchy, huh?
'Death Café' might sound like the name of a particularly angsty emo band, but it's actually a growing worldwide concept that hopes to encourage people to talk about death more openly.
In Western society, the idea that we are probably going to die one day is often shaken off as something to be whispered and afraid of. In fact, 60 percent of people are so determined to ignore the fact that life is finite that they die without a will. But the organisers of Death Café argue that learning more about dying can improve our mental health and our perspective on life.
The first pop-up Death Café launched in 2011, and since then there have been more than 2,400 around the world. Now organisers are trying to crowdfund London's first ever permanent café. The space will hold poetry, music and film events and act as a community centre where you discuss your fears about dying over coffee and cake.
According to organisers, its purpose is 'to increase awareness of death with a view to helping people make the most of their (finite) lives.' They're trying to raise £250,000 to fund the venture, which will be not-for-profit and community funded. They're selling shares for a minimum investment of £50.