Our Compassionate Community
How we can help you to bring comfort and support to people in your neighbourhood who are approaching the end of life, caring for a loved one or grieving
Compassion is at the heart of all we do at St Luke’s, and we understand that it is often the smallest and simplest of things that make a big difference when someone is going through terminal illness or bereavement.
We are lucky and proud to be surrounded by kind-hearted local people who support the work and aims of the hospice in so many different ways. While the funds raised by generous individuals, groups and organisations are vital for St Luke’s to continue providing our specialist care for those who need it, the thoughtful, direct support people receive from friends, colleagues, neighbours and even strangers in the local community can be priceless.
Regular visits, offers of practical help, providing safe spaces to meet and talk with others who understand your situation, are all examples of how you can help others in times of terminal illness and loss. By reaching out in a personal way you can reduce their feelings of loneliness or isolation and help to meet their social and emotional needs close to home …
Our Community Development Team are there to encourage community-led initiatives and actions by caring individuals or community groups that help to support people in their own neighbourhoods.
The team give guidance and raise awareness through programmes like Compassionate Friends, Compassionate Schools and Death Positive Libraries, and they support local neighbourhoods to develop their own Compassionate Cafés. They also connect with the wider community by staging, attending and displaying at public events and conferences to increase awareness, working closely with our education, clinical and community fundraising teams.
The light-touch Community Development initiatives are separate from our St Luke’s volunteer programme which requires additional training, commitment and approval. You can read more about becoming an official St Luke’s volunteer here.
Together we can work towards creating a more compassionate, understanding and death literate society in Plymouth and surrounding areas of Devon and Cornwall.
