'Open hearts and minds' - Oldham temple partners with hospice to challenge stigma around end-of-life care

The partnership was launched during the temple’s Diwali celebrations on Wednesday, 22 October with the temple, a longstanding centre of social and spiritual life for Oldham’s Hindu community, continuing its history of combining worship with community work, including food drives and mental health workshops.

The collaboration focuses on the low uptake of hospice care among South Asian families in the UK, where caring for relatives at home is often viewed as both a duty and a source of pride. While those traditions are respected, they can also lead to misunderstandings about hospice services.

Temple committee member Anil Kara said: “At Shree Swaminarayan Mandir, we believe caring for our elders and vulnerable is sacred, just like a lot of people within the South Asian community of all faiths do. But we also recognise that hospice care can offer invaluable support at times families feel most vulnerable.

“Our aim is to open hearts and minds and show our community that support does not replace love and duty, it enhances it.”

The temple has previously supported local causes, including a partnership last year with Manchester charity Saheli to collect essentials for BAME women affected by domestic abuse. The appeal gathered more than 176kg of food, clothing, toys and appliances within weeks.

As part of the new partnership, the temple and hospice will run educational workshops, awareness sessions, and fundraising events to encourage open discussion about end-of-life care. Families will also have opportunities to meet hospice staff informally at the temple.

Lindsey Harper, Director of Clinical Services at Dr Kershaw’s Hospice, said: “It is a privilege to partner with the temple to reach communities where hospice care can often be misunderstood. Together, we strive to ensure that families know the hospice is a compassionate partner in care and not something to be feared.

“As a hospice, our values include inclusiveness, compassion, dignity, and respect. We are honoured to care for people of all religions and walks of life. Dr Kershaw’s is committed to ensuring that end-of-life care aligns with the values and beliefs of each person we care for.”

For some temple members, the benefits of hospice care are already personal. Vilas Bhudia, whose son Sanjay spent his final weeks at Dr Kershaw’s, said: “Our family always believed it was our duty to look after Sanjay at home, and we did everything we could. But when they needed specialist care, the hospice staff treated him like family.

“They gave him dignity, comfort and love, and they supported us too. The help they gave him and myself I cannot describe in words.”

During this year’s Diwali celebrations, more than 1,500 people visited the temple with over £2,000 donated on partnership launch day. Manisha Kalyan, a lead member of the events and charity committee, said there were ‘a number of local and international events and activities planned to raise further funds and raise awareness around the amazing work the charity does.’

Both organisations hope the initiative will help bridge the gap between cultural traditions and professional care, emphasising that seeking help is not a sign of neglect but of love.