No should have to die alone.
Every year thousands of people spend their last days of life in a hospital bed without any visitors.
This Christmas we are raising funds to help support people facing the end of life. Your donations will help us set up teams of volunteers to sit with dying patients in hospital. These butterfly volunteers will read to patients, talk to them, or simply hold their hand.
Our aim is to raise £1,000, which could help bring companionship to 200 people facing the end of their life in hospital.
More than 40% of deaths occur in hospital. Thousands of these patients receive no visitors. Despite the best will in the world, the overstretched ward staff don’t have the time to sit and provide emotional support, so many people spend their last days of life alone in a hospital bed, watching the clock.
The Anne Robson Trust
Our charity was set up to tackle loneliness at the end of life. Following the unexpected death of Anne Robson, her daughter began working with NHS trusts to help improve the experience of patients at the end of their life. She discovered that a small team of volunteer visitors can make a huge impact to patients dying in hospital. In 2018 she founded the Anne Robson Trust, to reach more patients and support the people they will leave behind.
The solution
We help hospitals to set up and run a team of volunteers to visit patients dying on the ward.
This is a simple, cost-effective solution that creates local volunteering opportunities, and means people receive companionship, support, and a hand to hold when they need it most.
If you can help us turn every bauble on our tree purple, it will unlock a £200 bonus donation kindly provided by Your Plans UK to help meet our £1,000 target.
How can your donation help?
- £5 - a visit for a lonely patient dying in hospital.
- £20 - help us support someone over the phone who is losing a loved one.
- £80 - multiple visits to a patient and support for their family members.
Notes
The Christmas tree bauble image will be updated at the end of each working day - you will not see an immediate change.
Any funds raised over and above our target will be used in our work bringing kindness and compassion to people facing the end of life, and supporting those they will leave behind.