Campaign is coming to Bournemouth
A Bournemouth woman is throwing her weight behind the campaign for assisted dying and urging people across the city and beyond to join her.
Alicia Dickinson, 18, is encouraging local people to join a new group in support of a campaign to allow terminally ill people to die with dignity. The group meets for the first time on Thursday 6th April at 6pm at Bournemouth and anyone is welcome to attend.
Alicia, along with a group of local people, is supporting Dignity in Dying in calling for assisted dying to be legalised so that terminally ill people are given choice and control over their death. The group’s first meeting will involve hearing from a representative of Dignity in Dying and brainstorming ideas for campaigning in the local area.
Alicia, who is born and bred in Bournemouth and has recently started an apprenticeship in Business Administration, said:
“I believe everyone should have a choice over their death. It’s a no brainer. If you are terminally ill but mentally competent why shouldn’t you? If you feel you still have a quality of life then that’s great, but the choice of assisted dying should be there for people who feel otherwise. Letting nature take its course could be slow and painful – people deserve dignity.
“I would love to see as many local people at our meeting as possible. There’s nothing better than a room full of motivated individuals and that’s the only way we will be able to push for a change in the law. Motivation and perseverance! We will get there.”
Dignity in Dying campaigns for a change in the law to allow terminally ill, mentally competent adults with less than six months to live to have the option of a safe, legal assisted death. There are 22 local groups around the country, of which Bournemouth is one of the newest, covering around 100 constituencies across the UK. The largest ever poll on assisted dying found that 82% of the public were in support of a change in the law.
Fran Hall, Campaigner Support Officer at Dignity in Dying, said:
“We believe that everyone has the right to die with dignity and have choice and control at the end of life, but sadly this is not the case for terminally ill people in this country. If you agree that this is unacceptable, please join us and come along to our first local meeting on the 6th – anyone is welcome.”
When: Thursday 6th April at 6pm
Where: Bournemouth, 22 The Triangle, Bournemouth BH2 5RQ
RSVP: For more information or to RSVP please contact activism@dignityindying.org.uk
***ENDS***
For more information please contact Ellie Ball, Media and Campaigns Officer at Dignity in Dying at ellie.ball@dignityindying.org.uk or 0207 479 7732.
Notes to Editor
Dignity in Dying campaigns for greater choice, control and access to services at the end of life. It advocates providing terminally ill adults with the option of an assisted death, within strict legal safeguards, and for universal access to high quality end-of-life care.
