When the Dignity in Care campaign began in November 2006, the aim was to inspire health & social care staff and local people to place dignity and compassion at the heart of care services, and in their communities.  Four years on and an army of over 25,000 Dignity Champions are all doing their bit to make a difference in peoples’ lives.

The first Dignity Action Day took place on 25 February 2010 and nobody could have foreseen what a truly memorable day it would turn out to be.  The idea really caught the imagination and the hearts of the public, inspiring many hundreds of them to demonstrate what being treated with dignity means to the more vulnerable members of our local communities.

Dignity Action Day is set to take place again on 25 February 2011. It is not necessarily a day for the ‘grand gesture’ but more about taking the time to do something, however small, for people who too often feel isolated and of little value to society.

Paul Burstow, Minister for Care Services, supports the work that people do to make a difference.

“Compassion, kindness and respect are the very essence of dignified care. We must make sure these principles are at the heart of everything we do.”

As a member of the public, you are likely to come into contact with health & social care services at some time in your life, be that personally or through a family member or friend. Please think about how people would like to be treated and dedicate 25^th February to supporting Dignity Action day.

Dignity Action Day is about:

• reminding society that dignity in care is everybody’s business;
• giving the opportunity to uphold peoples’ right to be treated with dignity;
• showing respect to staff in care settings as well as the people they care for;
• including activities which allow people, either in a care setting or in the community, to feel able to give something back

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