Could you be a Compassionate Neighbour?

Compassionate Neighbours is a social movement which helps to tackle the loneliness and isolation that many people towards the end of life due to age or illness face.

Compassionate Neighbours are trained local people who offer their companionship, time, and support to people through 1-to-1 visits or group activities. Through this project we hope that a real life, reciprocal friendships grow which enriches the lives of all involved.

Compassionate Neighbours at Royal Trinity Hospice represent all ages, backgrounds, genders and experiences. This role can fit around your other commitments and we aim to match you with someone who not only lives close to where you live or work, but whose interests or preferences for a match align with yours. 

The difference you will make as a Compassionate Neighbour

• 100% of the Compassionate Neighbours matched for over six months would recommend the project to others
• 100% of the people we have matched with a Compassionate Neighbour say that participation in the project has been a positive experience
• 100% of the Compassionate Neighbours we speak to after six months say that they have had a positive experience or the project
• 100% of people matched with a Compassionate Neighbour feel less lonely after six months
• People who are matched tell us they appreciate the opportunity to talk to and be listened to and that they have a sense of connection and understanding.

Find out more about the compassionate neighbours project

Compassionate Neighbours can help others by:

• visiting community members regularly
• offering friendship, emotional support, and a listening ear
• helping members stay connected to the local community as well as family and friends
• using their own skills and interests to create community initiatives and activities

What the role can offer you:

• a rewarding friendship with someone in your local community
• increased confidence
• training in communication skills
• on-going learning and training sessions
• competence in speaking about issues surrounding death, dying and loss
• a network of other Compassionate Neighbours in your local area

 What we expect from you:

• No previous experience necessary
• A desire to help others
• A good listener
• Reliable, trustworthy, and flexible
• Compassionate and empathic
• Patient and caring
• Ability to understand and commit to the boundaries and guidance of the Community Engagement team
• To be aged 18 or over
• To have respect for Trinity’s policies – the role will require you to role model Trinity’s policies at all times
• To be respectful of others regardless of their background – the role will require you to be committed to fairness, respect, equality, diversity, inclusion, and engagement as outlined in Trinity’s FREDIE policy
• To treat with confidentiality any information which is personal, private, or sensitive – the role may require you to handle sensitive data, such as financial information

Training

To train to be a Compassionate Neighbour, you will need to attend three sessions - two short online sessions and a full-day session at the hospice (sometimes this session is held elsewhere and you will be given full notice of this). On the application form, you will be asked to specify which of the available sessions you would like to attend. Please make sure you are available on all of the dates listed from the option you select. 

The date of our next Compassionate Neighbours training sessions is:

• Tuesday 24 September (7-9pm online), Thursday 26 September (7-9pm online),
• Friday 4 October (11am-4pm in person, at Royal Trinity Hospice)

For residents of Putney and the surrounding area:

• Tuesday 10 & Thursday 12 September (7-9pm online)
• Saturday 21 September (11-4pm at Regenerate RISE in Putney)

Apply to become a Compassionate Neighbour

If you are interested in becoming a Compassionate Neighbour but are unable to attend any of the dates above, please fill in our expression of interest form instead and we will contact you when further dates are announced. 

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Or, view our other Volunteer roles

If you have any questions about your Compassionate Neighbours application, please get in touch with our Community Engagement team: [email protected] 

For further information about how we use and share your personal data, please take a look at our Privacy Notice.

Each appropriate applicant will be asked to attend a short informal interview, which is usually online and lasts about 30 minutes. If successful, we will then take up two references, complete a DBS check, and you will be invited to attend the Compassionate Neighbours training (a mixture of online and in-person). We do not want you to be out of pocket through volunteering. We will reimburse reasonable travel expenses where relevant.