Network of Professional Associations

The Forum, established in 1990, exists to bring together the Chairmen of all charitable independent hospices to share their experrience and information, and provide mutual support, which it does in a number of ways.

The Forum holds one or two national daylong conferences each year. These involve a range of speakers with plenty of time for networking. The conferences are usually open to trustees, volunteers and employees of voluntary hospices. The topics include governance issues and issues relating to the hospice movement itself and palliative care.

In addition, meetings are held regularly in each of the Forum's 12 regions. These cover a wide range of topics, and provide the opportunity for Chairmen to discuss with their colleagues their problems and concerns, as well as sharing their various experiences. They are an excellent medium for those attending to discuss current issues, and receive feedback on national developments and matters of internal business. Members also find it valuable that the meetings are held at different hospices in their region, which allows them to see how others function and to network at a regional level.

Other activities of the Forum include:

publication of a newsletter, Forum News, twice yearly which provides information about Forum activities and events, articles on policy issues relating to palliative care and governance, and news stories about individual hospices.
publication of a directory of members
production of good practice guidelines on managing the relationship between trustees and managers
the Forum Chairman and the other Committee members offer advice over the telephone to Chairmen and chief executive Officers who are experiencing difficulties.
the Forum represents the independent hospice trustees on a range of bodies, including the National Council for Hospice and Specialist Palliative Care Services, the Independent Hospice Representative Committee and the Major Grants Committee of Help the Hospices.

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