We are a nationwide charity that trains and mentors specialist volunteers to record the biographies and life stories of those with life limiting conditions. We work across the UK and are currently recording remotely, capturing memories and recording heart-warming conversations for friends and family to enjoy for generations to come.

How I Became…Robert Peston

Robert Peston

Our huge thanks to Robert Peston and Dorothy Byrne who on 5th May helped us to celebrate our history as The Hospice Biographers with the launch of our new expanded service as Stories for Life (storiesforlife.co.uk).

Our grateful thanks too, to our audience for supporting the event and for participating in such a heart warming evening. Particularly Shelagh Musoke who movingly remembered her mother who was recently recorded by one of our biographers.

Dorothy took questions from our audience to discover more about Robert’s life story and how he became one of Britain’s foremost political journalists of today. We were delighted to have Ed Balls, former politician, pose some questions and to be joined by some of our biographers, supporters and donors who have enabled our charity to train in hospices throughout the UK. We are now determined to raise more funds to expand our service and record many more men and women in the last chapter of their lives in care homes, hospitals and under community care.

Stories for Life Plus

As an important part of our extended fundraising activities our Founder Barbara Altounyan, a highly experienced journalist and broadcaster herself, can record your life story for a commercial fee.

This is a bespoke service open to anyone who would like to have their life story recorded. Taking place over several hours Barbara will record your story and tailor it to your request, decade by decade.

The fee we charge goes directly to the charity and helps us in our aim to record those in the last chapter of their life.


At a time when so many people feel lonely and isolated, Life Stories is a wonderful way of connecting with those we love.

Contact info@thehospicebiographers.com to organise a recording or click on Life Stories to learn more.

National Recognition for The Hospice Biographers

It’s been a very busy start to 2020 and already the government has recognised our work!

https://www.pointsoflight.gov.uk/the-hospice-biographers/

Uploaded by The Hospice Biographers on 2020-02-10.

This is what our patients say about our work…

This is what our ambassadors say about our work…

Uploaded by The Hospice Biographers on 2020-02-10.

 

What family members say about the services our charity offers…

 
Testimonials

“These life stories are mementos of love and of joyous moments preserved on memory stick in a cherished box, which when opened, banishes that awful lonely silence left behind by a loved one that is no longer here.”

“I felt honoured that the gentleman whose biography I was recording was willing and wanted to share his life story with me”

“It has been a positive experience for the patient so that feels good for me” as biographer

“The patient would have recorded all day - a genuinely wonderful experience though”

“Revisited the day when her granddaughter arrived and she became more animated. A beautiful conversation captured”

“Can’t begin to tell how thrilled and delighted I am to have this precious gift to hand to them. I had, as part of my preparation for end of life, written letters for them but nothing compares to the gift of hearing my voice. I found the process incredibly therapeutic and I know it will be the same for every last one of them.”

“The further you go into things the easier it gets”

“I found it an emotional experience and difficult to express feelings. It was however a good experience”

“I’m pleased people will know about my life story”

“It’s good that I have left the biography for my daughters so they can play it and listen to my voice after I have passed on”

“It made me reflect on my life and made me realise that I had done quite a lot in my 61 years. I experienced both happy and sad feelings”

“Very empowering, great to tell the story of a joyful event”

“It has left me feeling a lot happier than just leaving a letter”

“Definitely - it’s a good thing. How else can you explain to your children about what went on in your life”

“I felt happy at sharing my experience and feelings, in fact I felt elated”

“I felt I was saying things I have never been able to say before”

“It feels special to leave behind messages you have spoken personally”

“I felt very emotional but my spirit felt lifted whilst recording my audio-biography, I enjoyed it.”

Everyone at the Hospice is committed to giving our patients the highest possible standard of holistic care. Working with them to create audio biographies allows us to broaden and deepen the emotional, psychological and spiritual care we can give to our patients, their families and loved ones. We are very happy to have the opportunity to work in partnership with the Hospice Biographers charity to do this. 

David Dickson - Chair of the Board of Trustees, St Leonards Hospice, York.