£800,000 for social action projects that support people at end of life

29 Dec 2014 01:22 PM

Seven social action projects will provide support to people at the end of their lives, and to their families, thanks to new funding.

The Cabinet Office has awarded more than £800,000 to 7 social action projects across the country providing compassionate support to people at the end of their lives and to their families.

Through the projects volunteers will help to tackle loneliness and isolation, which people at the end of their life can often experience. Volunteers will provide companionship and emotional support, as well as practical support to help people reconnect with their own communities.

Support offered by winning projects includes providing transport to community groups and teaching people how to contact distant family members online.

Hospice UK, the national charity for hospice care, will manage the fund, which will support:

Volunteers will also be able to provide advice and signpost people to other guidance they might need. A number of the shortlisted projects will work with groups who have difficulty accessing support. For example, St Joseph’s Hospice will work with specific black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) communities in East London and Aquarius in the West Midlands will support people with alcohol-related liver disease.

The impact of the successful social action projects will be evaluated by theInternational Observatory on End of Life Care at Lancaster University and the Institute for Volunteering Research. The evaluation will make an important contribution to the evidence base for the impact of social action in this area.

Minister for Civil Society Rob Wilson said:

I am delighted to announce the recipients of the Social Action End of Life Fund. Often medical appointments, care needs and financial considerations can obscure the emotional needs that people face at the end of their lives.

These projects are great examples of how we can use volunteers within communities to make sure that nobody feels alone or unsupported, helping people live with compassion and dignity.

David Praill, Chief Executive of Hospice UK, said:

All of these valuable projects harness the power of volunteers to provide befriending and practical support for people approaching the end of life and their families. People facing this situation can often feel very isolated. This type of support can help them feel more connected and can make all the difference to their wellbeing and quality of life.”

Social Action End of Life Support Fund projects