8 - Compassionate Communities
Compassionate Communities are
committed to improving end-of-life
care and bereavement support for
the whole community.
Bringing local residents, schools, businesses,
groups and healthcare services together,
Compassionate Communities is a network
to promote and support kindness, friendship
and a collaborative approach to caring for
one another at times of health crisis and
personal loss.
As part of Compassionate Communities, we
provide resources and guidance to enable
the public to feel more confident in having
conversations surrounding the topics of
bereavement, death and dying.
This guidance can be seen in the hosting
of Compassionate Conversation and
Compassionate Workplace workshops, as
well as a range of other in-person and online
events which aim to improve end-of-life care
and bereavement support for the whole
community, through enhancing understanding
and support.
Before I Die Wall
To mark Dying Matters Awareness
Week 2023, our Compassionate
Communities team unveiled its 'Before
I Die' art wall on Ipswich Waterfront.
The thought-provoking installation
encouraged the local community to
write, in chalk provided, their ambitions
for what they wish to do before they
die, in a 'bucket list' style piece of art.
Hugh McElhinney, Compassionate
Communities lead, said: "We were
so pleased to bring the 'Before I Die'
wall initiative to Ipswich and we were
thrilled by the fantastic public response
to this very unique idea.
"Thank you to Ipswich Borough
Council and Art Eat Events for their
support with making this possible and
a special 'thank you' to all the hospice
volunteers who helped with the
painting of the Before I Die wall."
Did you know? Compassionate Communities has:
Facilitated 8 bereavement bookcases in Suffolk. Since May, these books have been checked out over 500 times.
Hosted over 70 Compassionate Conversation and Compassionate Workplace workshops since 2021.
Held Compassionate Communities' training sessions for 1,200 people since 2021.
Find out more by visiting:
www.stelizabethhospice.org.uk/compassion
Hugh McElhinney
Hugh McElhinney