We know that the current proposals from the Chair about the Listening Exercise and how your evidence will be treated has caused serious concern with many of you. By way of reminder, the current proposal is that your testimony will be gathered by an unknown private research company, without any assistance from your own representatives, and analysed and summarised by them for the Chair, although we understand that there may be some consideration of evidence from family members during modules. 

The current proposals also mean that pen portraits will not be included in the hearings in any capacity, and that accounts or statements of loss will only be included in a few instance where the Chair deems them to be relevant. Our concern is that only a select handful of bereaved family members will be able to give evidence. 

We therefore wanted to offer you the chance to share your thoughts on this proposal which we will use to make further submissions to the Chair on your behalf. Please fill in the short questionnaire and if you have any questions or concerns you can reach us freephone on 0808 296 5839, or email us on covidinquiry@broudiejacksoncanter.co.uk.

Case references start with a letter e.g. A123456.001

Pen portraits

A pen portrait is a memorial of your loved one. This is usually written, but can also be visual (a video, for example), showing who your loved one was in life. A pen portrait can include personal stories, your favourite memories, and contributions from those in their life that knew and loved them. 

Would you like the opportunity to share a pen portrait of the life of your loved one on the Inquiry website?
Would you like the assistance of your legal representatives in preparing and presenting a pen portrait? 

(There would of course be no cost to you)
 
Do you think it would be a good idea for a number of pen portraits to be heard by the Chair in hearings, as in other inquiries?

(This would be a limited number and would be entirely voluntary)
 
 

Accounts

An account is different to a pen portrait. An account is an official submission that outlines the circumstances of your loved one's death, and the impact their loss has had on you and your family. It has been proposed that accounts will be collected via the Listening Exercise by a research company to identify key themes which will then be summarised and anonymised in a report to the Chair. 


Based on what the Chair has proposed for the Listening Exercise, would you like to share an account?
If the only way you can share your account is via the proposed Listening Exercise, would that be adequate?
 
Would you like the assistance of your legal representatives in preparing and presenting an account for the Listening Exercise? 

(There would of course be no cost to you)
 
 

Giving evidence at the Inquiry

Giving evidence is entirely voluntary, but is something that many bereaved family members feel strongly about. Giving evidence allows you to share your story to the Inquiry and have it considered in the investigation.

Separate to the Listening Exercise, do you want to give evidence at the Inquiry in the Module that is most appropriate, regarding the circumstances surrounding your loved one’s death, or your own experiences as a bereaved family member?