Looking at the impact of volunteers in child palliative care for the True Colours Trust

The Royal Foundation and True Colours Trust have jointly developed a programme which uses volunteers to support the families of children with life limiting and life threatening conditions. Its primary aim is to enable palliative care service providers to increase the support they can give families by establishing partnerships between a national volunteering agency and established palliative care service providers. 

Pro Bono Economics was asked to consider if the available data can help The Royal Foundation and True Colours Trust to answer a number of questions about the service. This information will be used to assess whether it is feasible to scale up the pilot so that more families can benefit from this type of support in other locations.  It will also inform discussions with potential funders, volunteering agencies and palliative care providers.

Pro Bono Economics matched economist Tanya Surendra, an advisor at The Payments Council, with the True Colours Trust to produce a scoping report to consider questions posed by The Royal Foundation and True Colours Trust. Tanya found that a monetary value can be placed on the benefits to volunteers of taking part in this programme.  The acquisition of new skills, education, the wellbeing from feeling more a part of society and the reduction in illness and mental health issues are just some of the benefits experienced by volunteers. The Royal Foundation and True Colours Trust will undertake evaluation work to look into the impact of the programme on volunteers, and also on service users: children and families.