What We Do

Death for some people is a peaceful experience, spent in the presence of loved ones. For many others, the last days of life are spent in a hospital bed, frightened and alone.

Only 3% of people would choose to die in hospital, yet nearly 50% actually do. We are 8 times more likely to die in a hospital than in a hospice.

Our Vision is to work with NHS hospitals across the country to help them set up ‘Butterfly Volunteer’ teams – that support patients who are dying in hospital, many of whom have no other visitors at all.

Butterfly Volunteers have time:

Time to sit with patients who have no visitors
Time to read, listen to music, or simply sit quietly
Time to support family or friends who are struggling to come to terms with the imminent death of a loved one
Time to take over the bedside vigil whilst family or friends take a break
Time to make hot drinks and provide a listening ear
Time to liaise with nursing staff on behalf of the patient, their family members of friends
Time to make sure that nursing staff know that their patients are not alone in their last days and hours