The last two years have been challenging for all. The pandemic increased the number of people who died in Northern Ireland. It disrupted the funerals of those who died from other causes and how we could grieve. It impacted how care could be offered. It created all sorts of losses big and small in people’s lives. It brought what really matters to people into sharp focus.
We are inviting communities to reflect on this. To use their creativity to show each other what matters and how we might keep that central in our lives and planning for our futures.
This new Seed Grant programme offers supports for creative responses from communities across Northern Ireland seeking to reflect on their experience of the pandemic, and plan ahead.
Advance Care Planning Seed Grants are to support creative projects which encourage people to start conversations about their future wishes, now, What is most important to us? How can those things most vital to us remain central to our lives?
The call out is designed to encourage as wide a group of people as possible to apply with a simple application process and lots of support.
What to do next:
- Talk to each other about what you might do.
- Fill in an application form.
- Get in your application form by 4th March 12 noon.
- Full details are on the Department of Health website.
Successful applicants will receive:
1) Up to £2000 Seed Grant.
2) Bespoke support to developing their initial idea by the end of March 2022
3) Peer support to enable your project to be delivered in 2022.
4) Opportunity to showcase your community and its idea.
Corrina Grimes Regional Advance Care Planning Lead said
“The pandemic has heightened our sense that personal situations can change quickly. While progressing the draft Policy on the Advance Care we often we heard where people had planned ahead, and how this had alleviated anxiety at end of life. Sadly there was also the experiences of people who hadn’t had conversations, that had extra distress in difficult times. The Seed Grants invite people and communities to explore how they might start planning now”
“People use creativity and the arts to make meaning, or make space where difficult things such as dying, death and bereavement can be explored. The potential of the arts and creativity to encourage meaningful conversation has been known for centuries. How can we use this now to help us plan ahead?” Dominic Campbell, Arts & Cultural Advisor.
Application Process;
Grants of up to £2,000 are available with up to 15 awards on offer.
Application form available here.
Please send any queries to saika.akram@hscni.net
The ambition is for people to find out more and normalise conversations about Advance Care Planning. Resources cannot be used to fund profit making initiatives or fundraisers. For details see https://www.health-ni.gov.uk/what-advance-care-planning
Examples from other seed grant programs;
Aligned with the Department’s consultation on Advance Care Planning this new initiative is informed by Irish Hospice Foundation’s Seeds programme which. supports 27 awardees reflecting an eclectic range of work, practice, medium, approach, abilities, and age groups. Awardees created books, places to talk, performance and music. They included acute hospitals, residential care homes, nursing homes, secondary schools, community groups, migrating populations and:
St Louis School leading a multi-discipline art and musical project enabling the school community to come to terms with their collective pandemic experience, with an exhibition of artwork and a series of concerts.
Glass Maker Michelle Collins invited her community to make Christmas tree decorations as memorials to loved ones.
‘Say It Feel It’ podcast was created by Chris Hayes. He wanted to give voice to those grieving and dying who could not have loved ones close.
Shoyna O’Gorman and the ladies of Newport Women’s Shed are creating a patchwork quilt of loss.
Key Dates:
Thursday 17 February – Application process opens.
Friday 4th March at 12 noon – Application process closes.
Monday 14th March - Successful applicants announced. All applicants notified.
Week of 21st March – Bespoke support.
Downloads
| Advance Care Planning Seed Funding Notes and Application Form Feb 2022.docx |