If you have a moment, take a listen to guests Julie and Fin on the award-winning Media Storm podcast here. They join at 24:50.
Among other things it’s a conversation about changing the way children’s palliative care is talked about in the media and thought about in public life.
When we think about children’s palliative care, most of us instinctively associate it with an impossibly sad situation – and the medical ‘easing of suffering’. This emotional response is reinforced by the ways high-profile cases are reported in the media.
In the podcast Fin and Julie talk about how much more there is to children’s palliative care. They’re both members of our Children’s Palliative Care network, a programme Heard set up to move public and media narratives forward around this important topic.
Because, we know the way people talk about these experiences can improve public understanding, and build support for the best standard of vital care for children and their families.
How does it work?
The project supports families and professionals with direct experience – to help make sure their stories and perspectives are heard, and understood. Inside our network that’s done with training, meet-ups and peer-to-peer support. There’s a deep focus on wellbeing.
We know that bringing families and professionals together with the media can have profound impact. These interactions – organised by us these are safe spaces to ask questions and exchange feedback – are an opportunity to create much deeper understanding.
We’ve also shared a Communications Toolkit with hundreds of people working in this space, helping them to communicate engagingly and effectively. The positive response we’ve seen shows there’s a huge appetite for better communication around this subject – and potential to reach lots more people with these resources.
Are you someone with direct experience interested in joining the network? Contact us.
If you work in this space and would like to learn more? Please get in touch.
Heard also runs programmes in areas such as domestic abuse and sexual violence, migration, poverty, transgender experiences and climate change.
