Care Forum Report: Children and young people's palliative care - Findings of the south west voluntary sector providers reference group

The report can be found here

 The conclusion follows here:

Since the publication of "Better Care, Better Lives" in 2007 many services for children and young people with life-limiting conditions and their families have developed positively as a result of improvements to the funding regime and better communication between agencies. The improvements that have been made are not on a secure footing owing to economic instability and organisational restructuring.

Communication, transparency, inter-agency and cross-agency working, localised and tailored services and child and family-centred care packages all go some way towards improving the quality of life for children and young people with life-limiting illness and their families.

The testimonies of families at our Square Table showed that at the heart of palliative care services there is an individual child or young person and a family. It is support from the statutory sector and VCS that can make a real difference to their quality of life.

This report demonstrates that the need for meaningful dialogue between the VCS and the statutory sector has never been greater if the needs of children, young people and their families are to be at the centre of future care planning and funding.

Nearly one in five local authorities are cutting staff or operating budgets across England, despite being funded from the dedicated school's grant 

NDCS has launched its Save Services for Deaf Children campaign by publishing information received so far about cuts to education services for deaf children in 2011/12. 

Our map gives details here.  

More information is also available at:

http://www.ndcs.org.uk/news/ndcs_news/ndcs_map_shows_local.html

Communities who feel unheard due to illness, older age, or disability to be given a voice through digital media thanks to Media Trust 

Media Trust will open applications for its second Community Voices scheme on Monday 16th May. Community Voices is a one-year UK-wide project funded by Nominet Trust, which aims to inspire, engage and empower communities who feel disadvantaged, isolated, or voiceless, with the confidence, skills, and access to resources and funding that will enable them to make a meaningful difference to their lives using digital media.  

This year's scheme will focus on communities who feel voiceless due to long-term illness, older age, or disability. It will support communities, from the grass roots upwards, to run media projects addressing their own specific circumstances, enabling them to better access public and peer support services, and empowering them to have a voice and get it heard.

Community Voices aims to showcase various ways of utilizing digital media to make a difference, whether communities are brand new to digital or already have experience but require additional support. Communities who face isolation or disadvantage due to disability, older-age or long-term illness can apply for funding, training and expertise from digital professionals alongside collaborative support at a local level.

Community Voices is funded by Nominet Trust and delivered by Media Trust. Applications for support can be made online or by email, post, telephone or in person. The closing date for applications is Midday on Monday 13th June.

You can apply for the scheme, or get further information here or call the Community Voices team at Media Trust on 020 7871 5656.