Dear friend,,
As 2025 draws to a close, I want to thank you for being part of a transformative year for choice at the end of life. This has been a year when courage, compassion and persistence turned decades of advocacy into real, tangible progress across the UK and Crown Dependencies.
We’ve put together a short end-of-year video that shows what this progress has looked like in practice - and the impact your support has helped make possible.
In Westminster, the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill has made historic progress. Its endorsement by the House of Commons at Third Reading in June and at Second Reading in the House of Lords in September, have marked a critical shift in the political landscape. With overwhelming public support, confirmed yet again by a YouGov poll, lawmakers are now debating a Bill with a powerful public and political mandate.
In Scotland, the Assisted Dying for Terminally Ill Adults Bill completed Stage 2 in Holyrood in November, when it was scrutinised by the Health Committee. This process underlined how deeply it matters that MSPs look both to the evidence from around the world and to the lived experience of those directly affected by the current ban. This will be a focus for the campaign in the New Year, ahead of the expected final vote at Stage 3 in the Spring.
2025 also saw a landmark moment in March in the Isle of Man, which became the first part of the UK and Crown Dependencies to legalise assisted dying. Following public engagement and strong leadership by Dr Alex Allinson MHK, the Bill passed in Tynwald and now awaits Royal Assent. Additionally, in Jersey the lodging of the assisted dying Bill in September, following the Jersey States Assembly vote in May, marks another step toward law change. It reinforces the momentum we are seeing across these islands - each with their own path, but united by the same principles of dignity, safety and compassion for dying people. A final vote on the Jersey Bill is expected in the New Year.
This progress has been mirrored by increased awareness of the debate. Media stories, new research and the powerful voices of terminally ill people and families are powerfully cutting through. In a proud moment for us all, Dignity in Dying’s My Dying Wish campaign was recognised as Pagefield’s Digital Campaign of the Year, a tribute to the courageous storytellers whose lived experiences are shaping change.
None of this happens without you. Your actions: writing to representatives, sharing your stories, supporting our campaigns, speaking up for loved ones - are what drive our movement forward.
Thank you for everything you have done in 2025.
But we now enter the most crucial phase yet. Across Westminster, Scotland and Jersey, the coming year will bring decisive moments that could finally deliver safe, fair and compassionate assisted dying laws. We will need your voice and your determination once again.
I believe that, together, we can make 2026 the year the UK finally delivers true choice at the end of life.
With warmest wishes,
Sarah Wootton
Chief Executive
Dignity in Dying
