Strathcarron Hospice – Compassionate Communities

Supporting the Hospice’s regular activities, the Compassionate Communities project aims to reduce isolation and improve the quality of life for people affected by long-term conditions. Each community will develop its own ways of supporting its own members, with Compassionate Community Builders working locally to build networks of trained volunteers.

Volunteers support people to live as well as they can, within their own community, up to the end of life.  All activities focus on what people can do and want to do, and Strathcarron Hospice view volunteers as being key to the project.

Their Community Advice and Listening Line (CALL) is open to anyone across Forth Valley & North Lanarkshire who would like to talk to a friendly volunteer, perhaps about their experience of shielding and isolating, or about caring for someone else.  There is no need to have a connection with the hospice to call.

CALL volunteers are available 7 days a week, 9am – 7pm, by phone: 01324 827383.

The team is offering telephone befriending to anyone who is feeling lonely or isolated, or who could benefit from a regular chat with the same person around once a week; they aim to ensure people who call are matched with someone who lives close by, where possible.

They have also created an online booklet, “Inspiring Compassionate Communities: Connecting With Your Neighbours”, which provides creative and fun ideas to safely connect with others in your street or neighbourhood during COVID-19, as well as examples of how people in other local communities have done this effectively.