The Dying Matters Coalition: Progress and future plans

What is Dying Matters? • A national coalition set up by the National Council for Palliative Care in 2009 to encourage the general public to talk more openly about dying, death and bereavement, and to make plans for the end of life

• Anyone can join the coalition for free, whether as an individual or organisation. Membership is broad and varied, including

Hospices Care Homes Solicitors NHS Trusts Social Care Staff GPs Funeral Directors CCGs Academics Carers Charities Will Writers Businesses Nurses Faith Groups Individuals and many others...

Why talk about dying?

People in Britain risk not having their end of life wishes met. New ComRes research released for the start of Dying Matters Awareness Week 2014 found: • Just 36% of people say they have made a will • 29% have let someone know their funeral wishes • 6% have written down wishes or preferences about the care they would want • 21% have talked to someone about their own wishes • 34% are on the Organ Donor Register

What we do Resources and information

Awareness raising events

Media engagement

Partnership working

Talking about it - online • 16,000 Twitter followers • 2,800 Facebook page likes • Regular blog posts from staff, friends, partners, professionals and more • Social media as a real conversation, not just a way to promote Dying Matters’ work

Awareness Week 2013: Impact

13th-19th May 2013 Dying Matters: Be ready for it • Over 370 events run by members • More than 30,000 leaflets and other resources sent out • Widespread media coverage, including The Times, Daily Telegraph and Guardian, plus BBC TV and radio • Over 50,000 page views on dyingmatters.org during the week • Final Tweets online campaign supported by Stephen Fry, Alastair Campbell, Louise Mensch and more

#finaltweets 6.5m followers

Goodbye, it’s been fun. Sorry to leave the party early.

81,000 followers

Of your charity, pray for the repose of my soul. I hope to see you all again. With love, Louise

77,000 followers

Damn – I had one more idea. Oh well, it's been great snapping everybody. Bye Baby,I'll miss you. X

38,000 followers

I’m sorry.

Glad I have gone before Fiona. Probably couldn't cope without her. To kids, be happy but change

the world. Ashes at Turf Moor

1,000+ mentions for Final Tweets 306 Final Tweets submissions

260,000 followers

Awareness Week 2014 12th-18th May 2014 Dying Matters: You only die once #YODO • New materials and resources to support the week • Awareness Week online hub with advice on holding events, leaflets and posters to download, and a calendar of Awareness Week activities • Supported by media activity and new survey findings plus new film “Playing Dead” • Member events in all areas of the country • While There’s Still Time, the second Dying Matters writing competition now open

Making a real difference Percentage of people in the UK who had:

• This represents an extra 400,000 people aged 55-75 talking about, and planning for, the end of their lives • We are making progress but there’s still a lot more work to be done

..discussed their end of life wishes

..made a written plan

2009

2012

34% 38%

27% 31%

5 key things you can do 1 Organise events and activities to promote Dying Matters, during Awareness Week or throughout the year - let us know what you are planning so we can promote and feed back

2 Order Dying Matters resources - clear information that's accessible to the public

3 Make your end of life wishes known - and ask others and your family and friends

4 Act as Ambassadors for Dying Matters - spread the word, work with us, tell your story, encourage others to join and get involved

5 Tell us what more we can do to support your awareness raising work