Compassionate Communities

With training, you’ll better understand the care options that are available, and gain the confidence to have meaningful conversations with family, friends, colleagues or customers when needed.

• This free awareness training is aimed at helping people to talk with others experiencing death, dying or loss by giving them the skills and confidence to enable open, honest, and meaningful conversations.
• Delivered in-person by St Helena, these sessions are between 60 and 120 minutes in length and can be adapted based on needs.
• We require a minimum of six participants per session, which can be booked by organisations, groups or networks.

Book a session by emailing compassionatecommunities@sthelena.org.uk

This awareness training provides the practical tools and resources needed by organisations to help support their workforce during life’s most difficult moments. 

• Aimed especially for line managers but suitable for anyone, this training will help build staff confidence and competencies, while supporting better long term outcomes for businesses.
• Delivered in person by St Helena - these sessions are between two and three hours in length and can be adapted based on needs.
• We require a minimum of 10 participants per session, which can be booked by organisations, groups or networks. Charges vary depending on numbers and organisation needs.

Book a session by emailing compassionatecommunities@sthelena.org.uk

Everyone can be a Compassionate Community Ambassador by showing kindness and compassion to others, and helping people build friendships and connections. 

Ambassadors act as the glue for their own communities... family, friends, neighbours and colleagues, and are able to connect people in positive ways, when they need help the most. 

Regular Compassionate Community meet-ups are organised for ambassadors to come together and find out about local places, groups and services that can provide health and wellbeing support for people during the most difficult times of their lives.  

These are some of the other simple things that Compassionate Community Ambassadors do to support a compassionate community approach: 

• Put posters / flyers up in community hubs and shops that promote all the good things that are available locally, from peer support groups to local health and care providers.   

• Make Compassionate Community Champion nominations to recognise and celebrate local people, projects and places that are making a difference in the community. 

• Encourage other people, groups and organisations to attend a Compassionate Conversations awareness training session.  

• You may be able to help organise group activities or awareness raising events, or encourage schools or workplaces to join the Compassionate Community network. 

All of these will support stronger communities and will help make a difference to those facing dying, death or bereavement. 

> Become an ambassador [BROKEN LINK]

Compassionate Community Connectors is a new volunteer role that is being hosted by St Helena. It’s aimed at helping us grow a network of support that empowers people across north east Essex to access the health and care resources they need.  

In this role, you’ll share vital health and care information in public places such as cafes, libraries, and community hubs, creating opportunities for people to learn about the support available to them.  

As a trusted representative of the Compassionate Community network, you’ll provide friendly, approachable guidance and signpost individuals to services that can enhance their wellbeing and quality of life. 

This role is perfect for those who are passionate about building connections. You’ll work alongside a dynamic team, expanding your knowledge of local health and care services while fostering relationships with individuals and organizations in your area. By volunteering as a Community Connector, you’ll contribute to creating a more informed, supported, and connected community. 

If you’re interested in making a difference as a Compassionate Community Connector, please let us know by emailing us. compassionatecommunities@sthelena.org.uk

St Helena helps local people face incurable illness and bereavement, supporting them and their families, friends and carers. We could not do this without the incredible passion, dedication and individual experiences of volunteers, who come from all backgrounds and all walks of life.  

No matter their role, our volunteers all contribute towards making a huge difference to the lives of patients, their families and the general running of our organisation.

> Apply here 

The butterfly service works within the East Suffolk and North Essex Foundation Trust (ESNEFT) palliative and end of life care teams and is funded by Colchester and Ipswich Hospitals Charity. 

The butterfly bedside sitting service provides company and support to hospital patients in the last days and hours of their lives, as well as supporting their families and/or carers, ensuring that every person receives the compassion and comfort they wish for at the end of their life. 

> Find out more

Volunteers are at the heart of what Age Well East does, giving their time to people who need company or just a friend to talk to. 

Age Well East's popular community friendship services offer one-to-one volunteer friendship, pen friending, groups and activities.  

The emotional support services provide crucial wellness support for people living through loss, bereavement, mental health struggles and end of life care.  

And Age Well East's specialist team is available to guide people through a dementia diagnosis and provide ongoing support to people and their carers through specialist groups and services. 

> Find out more