Together for Short Lives

General information

49,000 children and young people are living in the UK with health conditions that are life-shortening or life-threatening—and the number is rising. That’s one in every 270 children—the equivalent of one in every school.

Hearing the news that your child has a life-shortening condition and is likely to die young is devastating. It’s an incredibly distressing and confusing time. These children have very complex and unpredictable conditions and often need round the clock care, seven days a week.
Families have to cope with the knowledge that their child will die before them, and daily life for the whole family can become challenging. Although there are many excellent services helping them, these families still have to fight to get the care and support they need.

Together for Short Lives is here for every one of these children and their families, being a companion to parents on their journey so they know where to go for support and have the information to help them make the right choices about their child’s care. We are here to help children and their families to access specialist children’s palliative care services, day and night, seven days a week—when and where they need it.

Together for Short Lives also supports all the professionals, children’s palliative care services and children’s hospices that deliver lifeline care to children and families across the UK. By working together with professionals and organisations we provide a strong and unified voice, and help services deliver the best quality care and support tailored to each family’s needs.