We have a responsibility to tackle inequalities in all areas of our work. In 2025, we launched Thames Together, an initiative at the very heart of our organisation where we work to ensure every patient, volunteer, and colleague feels welcomed, safe, and valued.
At Thames Hospice, our vision is ’Quality of life to the end of life, for everyone.’ Our Board of Trustees are committed to making equality, equity, diversity, and inclusion (EEDI) central to who we are and how we serve. We believe an inclusive culture where everyone feels respected, valued, and heard is vital to delivering compassionate, high-quality palliative and end-of-life care for all.
We lead by example, embedding EEDI in our governance, strategy and daily practice, and we hold ourselves accountable through meaningful action that reflects and supports the communities that we serve.
Our ambition is simple: to create a place where everyone belongs. We’ve begun by listening, understanding what doesn’t feel right, why some may hesitate to work with us, and how we can make our services accessible to the entire community we serve.
Through staff surveys, patient insights, and volunteer feedback, we recognise the need for bold, ongoing change. As we strengthen our financial stability, we create the foundations needed to invest in improvements that matter, while nurturing a supportive culture where people feel safe, valued, and empowered to contribute.
Our work continues into next year, as we take the insights we’ve gathered and turn our strategy into a robust, actionable plan. By listening, learning, and responding, we are committed to extending our reach, bringing inclusive, high-quality services to more of the communities we serve and ensuring everyone feels welcomed and valued.
This is an ongoing journey, and with each step, we move closer to creating a community that truly reflects the inclusivity and care we strive for every day.
As we move forward with this organisation-wide initiative, we are guided by the insight from Arthur Chan, a leading EEDI strategist, who maintains that while diversity already exists within our communities, equity and inclusion are achieved only through deliberate action. His perspective reminds us that creating meaningful change is a collective responsibility, one that requires intention, consistency, and courage. By committing to these principles, we lay the foundation for a workplace where everyone within our Thames Hospice community feels valued, supported, and truly belongs.
