It’s happening!
We are absolutely delighted to share that the Big Lottery Fund’s Silver Dreams programme in association with the Daily Mail has committed a further £1 million so that My Life, My Decision, can be rolled out across England.
The success in East London has shown why it is vital that people are made aware about their rights at the end of life and we are really looking forward to supporting service providers across the country.
Danielle Hamm, Director
My Life, My Decision is a unique outreach service as it takes a user-led approach in providing information for the public as well as training for professionals on how to support individuals in their end of life decision making.
We have through the pilot provided face to face support to over 100 vulnerable older people in East London to help them understand their end of life rights, raised awareness of end of life rights and choices with around 2000 East London residents, and given talks and training to over 600 health and care workers, supporting them to have difficult conversations about end-of-life rights with their clients.
Now, thanks to the Silver Dreams programme, we can in partnership with local Age UKs, extend this much needed out reach service across seven regions in England: East London, Hillingdon, Lancashire, Oxfordshire, South Lakeland, South Tyneside and Trafford. My Life, My Decision will provide:
- 1:1 & group sessions run by trained advocates so vulnerable older people can discuss end of life wishes in a supportive environment
- culturally sensitive end of life rights & choices information materials
- free Advance Decisions & support to complete Advance Decisions & Lasting Power of Attorneys
- training & support for older people who wish to become volunteer end of life rights & choices champions in their own communities.
- CPD accredited End of Life Rights & Choices training & staff induction packs for individuals & organisations working with older people.
- opportunities for learning via digital & print media, our networks and those of our partners, local & national events & action learning sets
- research and data around end of life rights policy & practice.
My Life, My Decision will also be working closely with five strategic partners, including Stonewall, the International Longevity Centre and Jewish Care to ensure it meets the needs of the communities it serves, and will be providing a training programme to a further 12 organisations across England.
It is such great news we are going to able to replicate and extend this service across England. For me, two of the most exciting elements of this Flagship project will be the involvement of older people in delivering the service and the national and local Older Person’s Steering Groups which will be overseeing delivery and development of the service.
Becky Brown, Programme Development Manager
Over the next few weeks and months as we set up this new national outreach service we will keep you updated via this blog, but do contact us directly in the meanwhile if you would like any further information.
Danielle, myself and the rest of the team want to say a huge thank you to all our delivery & strategic partners who have helped make this happen. We are really looking forward to working with you all.
Our delivery & strategic partners are Age UK East London, Age UK Hillingdon, Age UK Lancashire, Age UK Oxfordshire, Age UK South Lakeland, Age UK South Tyneside, Age UK Trafford, International Longevity Centre, Jewish Care, Stonewall, SubCo Trust and the Hampton Trust.
There are also 12 resource partners who will, as a result of the annual training & access to My Life, My Decision information materials, be able to signpost & raise awareness of end of life rights and choices with their clients. Our resource partners are Independent Age, Beth Johnson Foundation & Age UKs – Brighton & Hove, Camden, Ealing, Kensington & Chelsea, Leceistershire & Rutland, Lewisham & Southwark, Milton Keynes, Surrey, Waltham Forest & Westminster, and our Resource Materials Partner is National Council for Palliative Care.