The ExtraCare Charitable Trust
The ExtraCare Charitable Trust is a registered charity established in 1988. Our vision is better lives for older people and our mission is creating sustainable communities that provide: homes older people want, lifestyles they can enjoy, and care if it’s needed. To deliver our vision and mission we essentially do three things: we develop new villages, we operate villages and schemes, and we support our villages, schemes and our ‘extra-care’ model through fundraising, advocacy and research.

Our work in suicide prevention
We support around 4,500 older people across our locations, many of whom face challenges such as dementia and common mental health conditions.
To help prevent suicide within our communities, we are developing a comprehensive Suicide Prevention, Response, and Support Strategy. This strategy aims to reduce barriers to discussing suicide, build confidence in supporting those experiencing suicidal thoughts, and provide practical training and intervention methods to help individuals stay safe.
We also offer support to residents and staff who have been bereaved by suicide, fostering a compassionate and informed community

Our current priorities
Our current priorities are to continue to train staff to identify residents who are at risk of suicide, and to be able to connect that person to a suicide intervention care giver.
To develop new safety plan and risk assessment formats which can be used specifically around the topic of suicide, with an aim to increase a person’s safety.

Our current challenges
As a housing with care setting, where many residents live independently, we face limitations in the level of support that we can provide to someone who is at risk.
We rely on external practitioners, particularly those in community mental health teams to support us in keeping our residents safe.
