Discover, Learn, and Engage
Explore our handpicked resources designed for those navigating end-of-life care, volunteers, and community members. Find guides, educational content, and stories to inform and inspire your journey with compassionate care.
Table of Contents
Films, documentaries & audio
Compassionate Communities Film with subtitles
Learn about the Compassionate Communities initiative in Suffolk, where volunteers support the elderly and those with life-limiting illnesses through companionship and practical help. This video highlights the importance of community involvement and open conversations on end-of-life care. Join us in making a difference.
Brené Brown on Empathy
What is the best way to ease someone's pain and suffering? In this beautifully animated RSA Short, Dr Brené Brown reminds us that we can only create a genuine empathic connection if we are brave enough to really get in touch with our own fragilities.
BBC Radio 4 - The Reith Lectures, Dr Atul Gawande - The Future of Medicine, The Idea of Wellbeing, Atul Gawande: Give people choices till the end of life
The Reith Lecturer says we should focus on giving people a good life till the very end.
Watch Dick Johnson Is Dead | Netflix Official Site
As her father nears the end of his life, filmmaker Kirsten Johnson stages his death in inventive and comical ways to help them both face the inevitable.
And the Band Played On
Matthew Modine stars in this medical thriller as a young doctor tracking a deadly epidemic halfway around the world and across two continents--and whose work is thwarted at every turn by fear, official indifference and bitter medical rivalries.
Advance Planning
Living will (advance decision)
A living will is a form which lets you refuse any medical treatments that you do not want to be given in the future.
Advance statement
An advance statement is a form that lets you record the care you want in the future.
Make, register or end a lasting power of attorney
How to make a lasting power of attorney (LPA): starting an application online, choosing an attorney, certifying a copy, changing an LPA.
Care Wishes
MyWishes: Free Will Writing, Digital Legacy, Advance Care Plan & Funeral Software
Make plans for the important people and possessions in your life for free
Making a will
How to make a will: making sure it’s valid, using a solicitor and changing it when your circumstances change
Register your decision
You can opt in or opt out of becoming an organ donor by registering on the NHS Organ Donor Register. Register in minutes!
Donating your body to medical science
Information on how you can donate your body to medical science.
Free resources for the general public and professionals - Digital Legacy Association
We have produced a range of free resources for the general public, healthcare and social care professionals. If you have any ideas or suggestions as to how they can be improved or would like to suggest a new resource please get in touch. Sorting out your Digital Assets and Digital Legacy Leaflets Digital Legacy Association … Free resources for the general public and professionals Read More »
Planning ahead
Not sure where to start? Try our simple guide to planning ahead to help you choose what’s right for you.
Resources to Help Conversation
Starting the conversation
Our helpful guide to get you confident talking about your wishes for end-of-life care with loved ones, doctors and nurses.
Dying Matters
Hospice UK’s Dying Matters campaign is working with you to create an open culture in which we’re comfortable talking about death, dying and grief.
Use our end of life cards to spark a meaningful conversation
Get the Talkabout end of life conversation cards: they feature poignant questions so you can play games while easing into deep and meaningful discussions.
Compassionate Communities - Online events - St Elizabeth Hospice
Attend online & in person events with Compassionate Communities Accessing support can help you connect with others and open up…
Additional Resources
Home - To Live With Dying
‘To Live With Dying’ is a website for residents in Suffolk and north east Essex. It is a portal to information and support around subjects related to death, dying and cherishing life. Death is a natural process and one that comes to us all, albeit in many different ways. It is part of life, yet [...]Read More…
What to do after someone dies
The steps you must take when someone dies - register a death, report a death with Tell Us Once, coroners, funerals and death abroad.
Choosing a funeral director - Funeral Guide
A guide to the services offered by funeral directors, including information on trade associations and advice on finding the right funeral director for you
Suffolk Good Neighbour Network - Community Action Suffolk
Good Neighbour Schemes are local voluntary groups who support those in need of help in their community. In 2017, Community […]
Home - St Elizabeth Hospice
Latest visitor information for the hospice and shops Click the link above to read the latest information on visiting rules…
Dying Matters
Hospice UK’s Dying Matters campaign is working with you to create an open culture in which we’re comfortable talking about death, dying and grief.
Compassionate Communities: A public health approach to palliative and end of life care
The Compassionate Communities project supported community development in line with NHS England’s Palliative and End of Life Care Ambition framework for local action that was updated and relaunched in May 2021. More specifically, the project addressed Ambition 6: ‘Each Community is Prepared to Help.’
Carers Trust
Carers Trust is a major charity for, with and about carers. We work to improve support, services and recognition for anyone living with the challenges of caring, unpaid, for a family member or friend who is ill, frail, disabled or has mental health or addiction problems.
End of life care
This guide contains information about what you can expect during end of life care and the things you may want to think about. These include how and where you want to be cared for, as well as financial issues.
Macmillan Support Line - Macmillan Cancer Support
The Macmillan Support Line is a free and confidential phone service for people living and affected by cancer. Please call us on 0808 808 00 00 (7 days a week, 8am-8pm).
Pets
Home for Life scheme - to protect your pet’s future | RSPCA - RSPCA - rspca.org.uk
Do you worry about what would happen to your pet in the event of your death? Home for Life will make sure we’re there if the worst were to happen.
Useful Telephone Numbers
St Elizabeth Hospice
OneCall - 0800 567 0111 (24hr advice - at times you may need to leave a message and someone will return your call)
St Helena’s Hospice, Colchester
SinglePoint - 01206 890360 (24hr advice - at times you may need to leave a message and someone will return your call)
St Nicholas Hospice, Bury St Edmunds
Advice line - 01284 766133 (24hr advice - at times you may need to leave a message and someone will return your call)
Books & articles
With the End in Mind - Kathryn Mannix
Being Mortal - Atul Gawande
When Breath Becomes Air - Paul Kalanithi