St. Joseph's Hospice of London Bringing Award-Winning Advance Care Planning Program to Canada

By Amanda Brown

The landscape of palliative care is evolving, with a growing recognition of the need for more inclusive approaches that address the systematic barriers preventing equitable access to end-of-life services.

The No Barriers Here program offers a unique framework that combines art-based methods with advance care planning to foster meaningful conversations and dismantle barriers. No Barriers Here was co-founded by Gemma Allen (The Mary Stevens Hospice), Dr Jed Jerwood and Dudley Voices for Choice, in co-production with people with learning disabilities in 2019. It has since been recognized with multiple awards as and effective, inclusive, and innovative tool for advance care planning, in addition to a research method for understanding people’s experiences and barriers to accessing palliative care.

Claire Towns, CEO of The Mary Stevens Hospice in the UK says:

“This is a wonderful opportunity to be able to share on an international platform the unique No Barriers Here approach to advance care planning. As CEO I am proud of the positive impact that this work has had on so many people’s lives, by developing an arts-based approach to facilitate advance care planning it has afforded all persons to have a voice to make their needs heard.”

As we work towards more inclusive and compassionate approaches to end-of-life care, innovative programs like No Barriers Here are leading the way.

St. Joseph’s Hospice of London is thrilled to announce that No Barriers Here is making its debut in Canada this May!

At its core, No Barriers Here is about breaking down walls and fostering open dialogue. Through the power of art and creativity, participants are invited to explore their values, beliefs, and hopes for the future. It’s not just about filling out forms—it’s about creating something meaningful, something that truly reflects who you are and what matters most to you.

One of the most important aspects of No Barriers Here is its commitment to addressing the systemic barriers that stand in the way of equitable access to palliative care. By working together with under-served communities, the program creates a safe and inclusive space where everyone’s voice can be heard. Through art, we can transcend language, culture, and socioeconomic status, ensuring that no one is left behind.

Canada has long been a champion of diversity and social justice, making it the perfect setting for the launch of No Barriers Here. At St. Joseph’s Hospice of London, we are honoured to be bringing this program to Canada, offering facilitator training sessions to empower individuals and organizations not only across our local community but across the country. Now more than ever conversations, collaboration, and thinking creatively are all needed to ensure that everyone has equitable access to palliative care. Together, we can be the change we wish to see in the world of palliative care.

Change is never easy, but positive change is always worth it. With the launch of No Barriers Here in Canada, we have an opportunity open dialogue about palliative care and reach those who are experiencing inequity in accessing care.

Join Us:

Would you like to become a Facilitator in the No Barriers Here program? We would love to hear from you! Whether you are a health or social care professional, a community organizer, or simply someone who cares deeply about the future of end-of-life care, we invite you to join us. For more information and to register please visit https://www.sjhospicelondon.com/no-barriers-here, or you can contact Program Coordinator Amanda Brown directly at amanda.brown@sjhospicelondon.com or 519-931-3480.

For more information about No Barriers Here, please visit: