Rekha Vijayshankar

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Neighbourhood Networks of Support in Serious Illness and After

Building compassionate community support for serious illness and its aftermath.

Neighbourhood Networks of Support in Serious Illness and After is a social change initiative designed to strengthen social infrastructure within palliative care.


Led by Rekha Vijayshankar, an experienced facilitator, palliative care nurse, and care planning advocate, this movement empowers local communities to better understand palliative care systems, care planning, and self-care during serious illness and beyond.

How We Support Communities

 

We help facilitate local palliative and care planning aware, peer support networks to support individuals and families dealing with serious illness and its aftermath. Through those facilitated conversations and community-led discussions, we:

  • Raise awareness of palliative care symptoms and services
  • Encourage open conversations around care planning and self-care
  • Support the creation of peer-led support networks
  • Help individuals and families feel empowered to advocate for themselves and their neighbours
  • Foster local leadership in compassionate care Item

Celebrating Life Together

This public health model of building palliative care awareness, has been well received in London boroughs thus far. Called the Celebrating Life project, 185 participants engaged with the project. 

View/download the project brochure below.

View the Celebrating Life Brochure

Growing Local Partnerships

The Neighbourhood Networks of Support in serious illness and its aftermath is being academically evaluated by UCL and is currently being rolled out in Croydon.

Local charities like Dignitate, Croydon BME Forum are supporting the project as partners.

Bring to Your Community

We are looking to further scale our engagement in other boroughs and will be happy to discuss partnering with your community groups.

Book time with Rekha (Lead Facilitator) below to discuss how you may support building a palliative and care planning aware community around you. Or view/download project poster to find out more.

View Celebrating Life poster here

Community Feedback

“It was a very informative session, I’ve learnt a lot, the facilitator was very knowledgeable on the subject, I’m looking forward to the next session.”
“Rekha was a very good facilitator today. We discussed death, dying and palliative care, our wishes, what we would like to happen and your wishes after death and the type of care when dying. Good discussion, very stimulating and thought provoking.”
“It was very interesting and I learnt a lot because things I never knew, I know now. The session was very cool and I am looking forward to coming again, thank you.”
“The session has been very useful and informative. I learnt about palliative care and the pros and cons of it. More sessions would be great. I know a lot more about palliative care, more than just illness and medication.”
“I enjoyed the session. Rekha was able to explain clearly the topics that I need to revisit and share with my family. I am now more confident about having open discussions with my family about my wishes.”
“The session has been extremely informative and invaluable. I have learnt so much in such a short space of time. Rekha’s delivery has been clear, concise, practical, emotional and encouraging. Knowledge being the key, knowledge is power.”
“Very informative, just gets better and better. Rekha’s piece of research should be rolled out to everyone over the age of 18. Illness does not respect age. Many of us lack this knowledge and as a consequence cannot make an informed decision. This will enable me to make an informed decision. Would not have missed this session for the world.”
“I attended the session and it was really interesting and the whole session was very, very useful for my future knowledge and also for my friends, relatives and for my community to tell them about this. It was a very useful session.”
“The session was very informative and if it can be arranged should be open to more local community organisations. Rekha was very knowledgeable about her subject matter. She needs to clone her knowledge.”
“She was very confident in her session. We would like some more sessions with Rekha.”
“Brilliant session. Everything explained in layman’s terms. I feel I now know about palliative care. Also lots of topics were covered. More sessions like this are needed. Please continue the good work.”
“Rekha, your clarity of speech, practical lived experience and delivery of honest facts were very refreshing in a world full of compartmentalised knowledge. I would love to receive more sessions from the facilitator, Rekha, who was superb.”
“The facilitator was very helpful and caring. We would like more sessions with Rekha.”
“Really, really enjoyed the event. Most informative, delivered practically with injections of humour. This ‘tell it like it is’ approach is most needed. What an eye opener and food for thought.”

*The report from this research will be ready by the end of the year.

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Rekha Vijayshankar

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