The All Ireland Institute of Hospice and Palliative Care (AIIHPC), which NI Hospice is a member of, is inviting the public to help shape the future of palliative care services here by joining its national volunteer group, Voices4Care.

In this UN International Year of Volunteers, it is particularly significant that AIIHPC is expanding Voices4Care and encouraging new members to join and to become a part of a community working together to help to improve palliative care across the island of Ireland. This global recognition of volunteering highlights the vital role volunteers play in strengthening communities and improving services – a role that is central to the work of Voices4Care.

Voices4Care was established to ensure that the personal experiences of patients, carers, families and community members directly inform the development of palliative care services, education, research and policy. By sharing their insights, volunteers play an important part in shaping improvements that benefit people across Ireland.

AIIHPC is now seeking new members who are:

• People living with a life-limiting illness who may have palliative care needs
• Current/former carers, or family members of a child or adult with palliative care needs
• Individuals with a strong interest in palliative care within their community

Palliative care is not only for people who are living with cancer, it benefits people with a wide range of conditions, such as advanced heart, lung, liver and kidney disease and neurological conditions such as Motor Neurone Disease and Dementia.  

Palliative care focuses on helping people with life-limiting illnesses to achieve the best possible quality of life as their illness progresses. It supports individuals and their caregivers with their physical, practical, social, emotional and spiritual needs. Palliative care helps people with serious illness to live as well as possible for as long as possible, and it benefits people of all ages.

Roger Kennedy, Programme Director, Strategic Planning and Performance Group, Department of Health, said: “We would like to hear from people with palliative care needs, their carers, and interested citizens who want to be part of something that can make a real difference in palliative care across Northern Ireland. Voices4Care members are an integral part of our regional Palliative Care in Partnership programme and make an important contribution to influencing and shaping palliative care research, policy, and service development.

“Improving support and services to meet the needs of people approaching the end of their lives and those important to them is the essence of what we do and the experience and insight the Voices4Care members bring ensures our work is mindful of what is most important to those receiving care. We are very grateful to the members who have shaped our work to date and look forward to welcoming a new cohort of volunteers to provide new challenge, perspective and ideas moving forward.”

Linda Cooper, a member of Voices4Care, said: “I’ve been a member of Voices for Care since 2022 when our dad died. We wanted to be part of something important in his memory. So far we have been able to influence palliative care delivery by ensuring the correct medications are available in the patient’s house when they are needed. This is an amazing and well needed development, and we were part of it. One voice can make a difference. Let’s hear your voices for care please.”

David Kavanagh, Programme Manager, Policy and Engagement, AIIHPC, added: “Voices4Care is a great opportunity for people to share their lived experience for the benefit of others. It is important that membership of Voices4Care is reflective of the population and so we would encourage people with experience of palliative care for a range of conditions.

“It is a flexible volunteering role, where members can contribute as much or as little as feels right for them. Volunteers can use their voice and perspective to influence service design, research, policy and wider awareness of palliative care. In this International Year of Volunteers, we recognise the extraordinary impact our volunteers make through their generosity and insight, and we warmly welcome new members who want to help shape the future of palliative care,” Mr Kavanagh said.

Further information about joining Voices4Care is available at www.aiihpc.org/voices4care.

Those interested in discussing the opportunity can contact David Kavanagh at +353-86 834 1281 or email volunteer@aiihpc.org.

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