Marie Curie launches ‘End of Life Salon’ to thank UK’s unpaid end of life carers

East Midlands local and former carer Ellen Goodwin and EastEnders’ Molly Rainford have teamed up with Marie Curie and Superdrug to launch the first ever ‘End of Life Salon’, gifting free manicures to anyone caring for a loved one at the end of life.

The temporary pop-up comes ahead of a rollout of End of Life Salons across one weekend in January, when Superdrug’s Beauty Studios in selected stores up and down the UK will be giving away free gel manicures to carers who are looking after someone at the end of life. The Salons aim to demonstrate gratitude and draw attention to the plight of the UK’s 762,000* unpaid carers who are supporting a loved one in their final months, weeks or days.

According to Marie Curie’s Better End of Life: Time to Care report**, most end of life carers feel unprepared and lack the knowledge and skills needed. Yet they are left to plug the gaps that exist in care, with 78% caring for over 50 hours a week – something the charity recognises and is striving to improve through its services.

In recognition of this ongoing support, Marie Curie and Superdrug are inviting anyone caring for a loved one at the end of life to be pampered with a free manicure in the new year. Tickets are available on a first come first served basis from today, and winners will be able to claim it at their local participating Superdrug Beauty Studio.

Former carer Ellen Goodwin, who has experience caring for both her mother and father at end of life, was first to be gifted a series of beauty treatments at the End of Life Salon in Hayes. When she was 23, her father was diagnosed with neuroendocrine cancer and looked after by Marie Curie soon after, while her mother received an oesophageal cancer diagnosis just over a year later.

Ellen met Molly Rainford who also recently lost a loved one when her nan died last year, to chat about their shared experiences as they were treated to a manicure.

In a short video of the session, Ellen explains how supporting both her parents at the end of their lives was such a difficult time for her family, though rewarding. Something special she shared with her mum – who was a hairdresser and had always done her hair – was treating her to pamper sessions when she was ill; doing her nails, hair and eyebrows even in her final days.

Actor and singer Molly Rainford said: “I know and have seen the worry that comes with looking after someone you love and giving your all to ensure they are as comfortable and pain-free as possible. Marie Curie’s work is invaluable, taking this work off people so they can get back to being themselves and with their loved one outside of a caring capacity, and I’m so proud to be supporting them as part of this initiative. It was an honour to speak to Ellen and find out how much she gave to her mum and dad to care for him in his time of need.”

Rachel Warren, Senior Policy Manager for Care and Bereavement at Marie Curie, said: “Unpaid carers—mainly family and friends—are increasingly stepping in to fill gaps in end of life care, often feeling unprepared and lacking the necessary knowledge and skills to provide the best support at such a critical time. Around 750,000 people find themselves taking on these responsibilities. Caring can be deeply rewarding but is also incredibly demanding.

“We want to highlight this significant issue and urge anyone in need to contact us, so we can help where it’s most needed. Support may come via our free national Support Line or our companion volunteers, who support carers and those they care for—whether at home, in hospital, or by phone.

“Our nurses and healthcare assistants work through the night, enabling carers to get a full night’s sleep and helping their loved ones with daily needs, so both can return to being a family—whether father and daughter, husband and wife, or anything else.

Carers deserve our heartfelt thanks, so I am delighted that, with Superdrug’s backing, we can give something back to those who offer so much.”

Simon Comins, Chief Operating officer at Superdrug said: “We are proud to support this initiative, which highlights the often-overlooked challenges faced by carers – particularly during the festive season, when responsibilities can feel more challenging.

“Through our Beauty Services, we aim to offer more than self-care. We strive to create meaningful moments of connection and comfort for our customers, and our longstanding partnership with Marie Curie reflects this. Now spanning 12 years, we’ve raised over £15 million to help fund vital end of life care and support for those who need it most.”

Carers can get their free manicure by visiting Eventbrite. The winners will be chosen on a first come first served basis by Friday 12th December, and will receive a free gel manicure to claim in a Superdrug Beauty Studio from the list of participating stores nationwide in January.

For more information on caring for a loved one visit mariecurie.org.uk/support or call the Marie Curie Support Line on 0800 090 2309.

*762,000 – data from Health Survey for England (HSE) this estimate rises to between 686,000-762,000 EOL carers in the UK annually.

**Marie Curie’s Better End of Life Report - marie-curie-parliamentary-briefing-better-end-of-life-2024

Giveaway and T&Cs can be found at https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/marie-curie-x-superdrug-end-of-life-salon-weekend-tickets-1907530498069

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Marie Curie launches ‘End of Life Salon’ to thank UK’s unpaid end of life carers

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