I have been passionate about improving the provision of palliative care in the UK since I qualified as a social worker in 2022. After gaining professional experience at Princess Alice Hospice in Surrey, I was awarded a PhD studentship to research trauma-informed palliative care at Lancaster University.

Through my practice and studies, I have become increasingly aware of the psychological complexities of end of life, including the desires we express about where we want to die. Research suggests that most people would prefer to die at home, yet fear and lack of resources often prevents this. Many practitioners and policymakers have advocated for creating 'compassionate communities' to help address these gaps, but more momentum is needed.

In Taipei, Taiwan, palliative care specialists have recently rolled out a successful compassionate communities programme involving intergenerational initiatives. This will give me fresh perspectives on how the UK can harness existing social networks, enable collaborative leadership and employ creative ways of working to improve the end-of-life experience for all.