The Association for Children's Palliative Care (ACT)

Photo: Mother and daughter

ACT, the Association for Children's Palliative Care, aims to achieve the best possible quality of life and care for all children with a life-threatening or life-limiting condition. Its three main areas of activity are:

  • Campaigning for the development of integrated, equitable and sustainable children's palliative care services
  • Working with professionals to develop best practice and develop and disseminate the evidence base of what works best
  • Empowering and supporting families, including young people, to have a voice in the development of children's palliative care services and providing them with the information they need to access the best care and support

True Colours has made a number of grants to ACT, many in conjunction with Children's Hospices UK, to help build the sector, raise its profile and improve both the availability and quality of services available to children and young people. A central achievement in England has been the publication of Better Care, Better Lives by the Department of Health in 2008, the first government strategy for the development of the children's palliative care sector. The strategy recognises the need to develop and build on ACT's work in developing best practice, including promoting the use of ACT's Care Pathways, for children and for young people making the transition to adulthood, building a qualified workforce, supporting families in the most appropriate places and offering choices for children. Similar achievements have been made in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland with key government strategies now in place for children and young people with palliative care needs.

The majority of children with a life-limiting condition in the UK still do not receive the range and quality of services they require and deserve. ACT, in collaboration with its partners in the sector, is striving to build knowledge and skills, support the development of networks and partnership working and bring about change by raising awareness of the need for and value of a holistic approach to children's palliative care.

Further information on ACT can be found here.