Compassionate Neighbour

Volunteer role

Compassionate Neighbours is free community-led support for ‘community members’ who are peopleliving with or caring for a person with a serious, long-term or terminal illness in your local area.

Why we need your help

People living with a serious, long-term or terminalillness often struggle with loneliness and could dowith some extra support.Compassionate Neighbourscan really make a difference. They are a network oftrained volunteers who are willing to offer their time,companionship and support to people living in theircommunity who are coping with serious illness.

What time should you offer?

Flexible around your schedule, ideally we’d like roughly 1 – 2 hours per week but you will decide this with your community member and will be matched accordingly.

There are also monthly Practice Development Meetings, which we encourage all of our Neighbours to attend at least 5 per year.

Where will you be based?

You will be matched with someone, known as your community member, to visit in their own home in your local community, ideally within a walkable from where you live or work.

We are starting this project within the Crystal Palace and Gipsy Hill area – SE19 postcode – initially so will be recruiting neighbours in this area in the first instance.

What activities will you be involved in as part of this volunteer role?

  • Offering companionship, emotional supportand a listening ear
  • Providing practical support, such as makinga cup of tea
  • Helping your community member to stay connected to their friendsand the community
  • Directing your community member to important support services tohelp them get through this difficult time

What you can gain from volunteering in this role

  • Make a difference to people in the community who may be isolated due to long term/ terminal health conditions
  • Meet new people, and make new friends
  • Connect with and help others to connect with their local community
  • Learn new skills and have opportunities for further development
  • Be part of a wider network of Compassionate Neighbours
  • Join a growing social movement in your local community, empowering people at end of life

Training and support provided

  • We offer 2 days of training initially
  • Further training opportunities at our practice development meetings
  • Weekly coffee mornings and social events
  • Other training and workshops on offer at the hospice
  • Day to day support from the Compassionate Neighbours lead

What we are looking for

  • Willing to develop a new friendship
  • Good communicator including being an active listener
  • Has empathy for others and is non judgmental
  • Respects diversity and others’ opinions even if they don’t agree
  • Wants to make a difference in their local community
  • Willingness to represent St Christopher’s and our values positivity

Anything else you need to know

  • You must be 18 years old or over to do this role.
  • You’ll need to complete a DBS check and provide two references.