Mapping Financial Support for the Terminally Ill

This is the first study to explore this area and will scope what support exists and where gaps are, in terms of provision specifically for people with terminal illness. The investigators will also explore barriers and facilitators to providing and accessing financial support at different levels (individual, community, organisational, structural). This research will produce a point-in-time map of financial support services and a report of recommendations for how policy makers in England and Wales can address barriers and gaps in service provision. The focus will be on England and Wales as Scotland and Northern Ireland have devolved policies and infrastructure for provision of financial support, but our recommendations may have implications for these nations. Aim(s): The overall aim of this research is to understand the availability, suitability, and accessibility of voluntary sector and local government financial support schemes for people living with terminal illness, and their families, in England and Wales. This will be achieved through the following objectives, completed in two phases. Phase 1: Quantitative survey Objective 1. Mapping financial support services provided by voluntary organisations and local government that people with a terminal illness (and their families) are eligible to apply for across England and Wales. Objective 2. Comparing availability of, and access to, financial support for different population groups and by geographical areas, including regions with differing deprivation profiles. Phase 2: Qualitative interviews Objective 3. Understanding the experiences and perceptions of financial support from the perspective of a person living with terminal illness and their family, the referrer, and those providing financial support. Ethical approval has been granted through University ethics for objectives 1 and 2 (phase 1) of this research (UCL REC reference 26921.001), on the 19th of February 2024).