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Chamber and committees

Recognising A Listening Ear and the No One Dies Alone Initiative in Dumfries and Galloway

  • Submitted by: Emma Harper, South Scotland, Scottish National Party.
  • Date lodged: Monday, 24 November 2025
  • Motion type: Standard Motion
  • Motion reference: S6M-19877

That the Parliament congratulates A Listening Ear, which is a registered befriending charity founded in Dumfries and Galloway in 2020 in response to the COVID-19 lockdown, for its outstanding contribution to supporting adults across the region; notes that the charity now has nearly 70 volunteers delivering services to almost 100 people through telephone befriending, care home befriending, group befriending, known as Friendly Cups, and end-of-life companionship through its No One Dies Alone initiative; commends the dedication of its volunteers, who provide compassionate presence in care homes, sitting with residents during the final days of life, ensuring that no one dies alone; recognises the positive feedback from care home managers, who report that residents are more relaxed and carers experience reduced stress and guilt knowing that their residents are supported; acknowledges that the next round of No One Dies Alone training is taking place on 29 November 2025 at the Holiday Inn Dumfries, and will be delivered by Alison Bunce, who is Scotland’s Nurse of the Year 2020 and founder of Compassionate Inverclyde; applauds A Listening Ear for its resilience, compassion and leadership in strengthening community values and providing dignity at the end of life, and wishes all a caring, compassionate and successful future.


Supported by: Jeremy Balfour, Colin Beattie, Miles Briggs, Stephanie Callaghan, Annabelle Ewing, Kenneth Gibson, Jamie Hepburn, Bill Kidd, Alexander Stewart, Paul Sweeney