Mayor of DCSDC encourages everyone to think of their future as she launches Plan Ahead Week 2024
11 March 2024
Derry City and Strabane District Council, in partnership with Compassionate Community NI, are encouraging people to think what is important to them and to plan their future as part of this year’s Plan Ahead Week.
The dedicated week, which runs from 11th-15th March, will see a series of events and workshops planned for across the Council area. The week-long programme will cover key areas including advanced care planning, personal, legal, clinical and financial planning.
Mayor of Derry City and Strabane District Council, Cllr Patricia Logue, said she was delighted to help launch Plan Ahead Week and encouraged everyone to get involved.
“This week is an opportunity for everyone to think about what is important to them and plan for their future, and also helps a person make known their wishes, feelings, beliefs and values to those around them. There are a number of ways in which we can plan for future care, by looking at personal, financial, clinical and legal wishes. It is important to review these plans as things change and most important to let those closes to you know of your plans.”
Alongside the launch, there will be an information session on planning for residential care, a financial well-being event and also a series of advanced care planning workshops help in communities throughout the Derry, Strabane and Newtownstewart areas. These events are planned to raise awareness of and encourage the importance of considering your options and wishes across different areas of your life.
Sharon Williams, Project Manager at Compassionate Communities NI outlined, “This is Compassionate Communities NI’s third year coordinating the Plan Ahead campaign. The week brings valuable information to communities and opens the conversation around future care needs. Talking to those closest to you about what you would like, and what you wouldn’t like, is the most important conversation you will ever have.
“To plan ahead helps us to focus on those things that are important to us. It raises questions about how we can make financial provisions for the care we need and how we can protect our wishes in law, while giving authority to those we trust should we become unable to make decisions or communicate for ourselves. This process of planning ahead helps us to assess what we want out of life and helps us all to live better.
“I would encourage people to come to the event on Tuesday, 12 March in the Guildhall. Starting at 10.30 a.m. people will have an opportunity to also hear from our partners from Dove House and Advice Space and everyone will receive an information pack on that will help them to start having the conversation.”
Plan Ahead Week 2024 has been funded by the Public Health Agency through the Age Friendly Programme, in partnership with Compassionate Communities NI and compliments the Department of Health’s regional Advance Care Planning Policy, launched in October 2022.
For further information, please visit www.derrystrabane.com/planahead or you can call the Council directly on 02871 253 253.