Together for Short Lives

Together for Short Lives
Name	Together for Short Lives
Type	Charity
Founded	1999
Location	Bristol, United Kingdom
Area served	United Kingdom
Focus	Children's palliative care

Together for Short Lives is a UK-based charity focused on supporting children with life-limiting and life-threatening conditions and their families. Founded through the merger of regional organisations, it works with health services, hospices, and policy makers to improve palliative care for children across England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland. The charity partners with clinical networks, professional bodies, and voluntary organisations to develop standards, guidance, and direct support services.

History

The organisation was established in 1999 following consolidation among children's hospice groups in the UK, reflecting trends seen in the evolution of Macmillan Cancer Support, Royal National Lifeboat Institution, and Save the Children. Early collaborations involved NHS trusts such as Great Ormond Street Hospital and regional hospice providers including Martin House Hospice and Helen & Douglas House. During the 2000s it engaged with national policy developments like the Children Act 2004 and initiatives from the Department of Health and devolved bodies such as the Scottish Government and Welsh Government. Influences on practice came through partnerships with professional institutions like the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health and research bodies including the National Institute for Health and Care Research.

Mission and Activities

The charity's mission emphasises improving quality of life for children and families affected by life-limiting conditions, aligning with standards promoted by organisations such as World Health Organization, Royal College of Nursing, and UNICEF. Core activities combine direct family support, workforce development, research facilitation, and guidance production used by clinical teams at institutions like Alder Hey Children's Hospital and Birmingham Children's Hospital. It contributes to clinical networks including the Children's Hospices Across Scotland model and interacts with service commissioners within NHS England and health boards in devolved administrations.

Services and Programs

Programmes have included family helplines, peer support, professional training, and bereavement resources developed with partners such as Barnardo's, Sue Ryder, and local hospices like Acorns Children's Hospice and CHAS (Scotland) hospices. Training initiatives have been delivered in conjunction with academic units at University College London, University of Edinburgh, and King's College London. The charity has supported service models exemplified by Hospice UK and influenced clinical pathways used by paediatric teams at Leeds Children's Hospital and Royal Manchester Children's Hospital.

Fundraising and Partnerships

Fundraising draws on public appeals, corporate partnerships, philanthropic trusts, and community events similar to campaigns run by Comic Relief, BBC Children in Need, and Sport Relief. Corporate supporters have included firms in retail and financial services, and collaborations with cultural institutions such as the National Trust and media partners like the BBC have raised profile. The charity works alongside major grant-makers including The National Lottery Community Fund, Children's Investment Fund Foundation, and charitable foundations like the Wellcome Trust on specific projects.

Advocacy and Policy Work

Advocacy efforts have targeted instrumental policy arenas including the House of Commons, parliamentary committees, and NHS commissioning frameworks. The organisation has submitted evidence to inquiries and worked with legislators from parties represented in the UK Parliament and devolved legislatures to shape guidance on children's palliative care, interfacing with statutory instruments and health strategies issued by bodies such as NHS Scotland and Northern Ireland Executive. It has collaborated with clinical guideline developers like the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence and contributed to reports by think tanks and charities including King's Fund and Nuffield Trust.

Governance and Funding

Governance is overseen by a trustee board drawn from sectors including health, law, and commerce, reflecting governance practices shared with charities such as Oxfam, The British Red Cross, and The Prince's Trust. Funding streams include donations, corporate giving, legacies, grants from trusts and foundations, and service contracts with statutory bodies like Clinical Commissioning Groups and NHS commissioners. Financial oversight aligns with reporting expectations set by regulators such as the Charity Commission for England and Wales and charity accounting standards.

Impact and Recognition

The charity has influenced service provision, workforce competencies, and family support models cited in academic journals and policy reviews alongside research from institutions like University of Oxford, University of Cambridge, and University of Manchester. Recognitions and partnerships have linked it with awards and fundraising events affiliated with organisations such as Royal Society, BAFTA, and national media campaigns. Its work has been referenced in parliamentary debates, professional curricula, and guidance used across paediatric services, contributing to a national profile among charities including Marie Curie and St John Ambulance.

Category:Children's charities based in the United Kingdom