University of York

Accessing spiritual care

One of the Trust’s most recent Religious grants for £60,000 was awarded in Summer 2024 to fund the development of a unique training programme on spiritual needs and care for staff working in paediatric palliative care and related specialisms. This funding fitted with the Trust’s interests and its history, bringing together both palliative care and spiritual needs.

The grant was awarded to researchers at the University of York who had recently completed the first national study of the spiritual needs of children and young people with life-threatening or life-shortening conditions, and their families. Their research found many health professionals had a poor understanding or were uncomfortable exploring and responding to spiritual needs and distress. This was one of the key barriers to children and families accessing the spiritual care (and, for some, religious support) they said they needed.

This funding will pay for the development and roll-out of a two-level training programme for NHS professionals and staff working in Childrens’ Hospices. The researchers will be working with a team of clinicians, chaplains, hospice staff and experts in children’s spirituality to develop the programme which, they hope, will help ensure the care of children and young people and parents is truly holistic.

“We were thrilled to hear that our application to the Sir Halley Stewart Trust had been successful. At the moment, there are no spiritual care training programmes for health professionals who care for and support children and young people living with life-threatening or life-shortening conditions. We know that this is something NHS and children’s hospice staff say they need. We are looking forward to working with them to develop a training programme that will make a real difference in children’s and families’ lives.”
Professor Bryony Beresford, University of York.