THIS Volunteers’ Week (1-7 June) St Clare Hospice is calling on more local people to sign up for their brand new volunteer-led project, Compassionate Neighbours.

More than 500 volunteers already support the work of the Hospice, volunteering in essential roles across the whole organisation.

The Compassionate Neighbours project is looking for more volunteers to join their first cohort of trained supporters who are helping to tackle loneliness and isolation across West Essex and East Herts.

Outlining the role of a Compassionate Neighbour, St Clare Hospice’s Compassionate Neighbours Project Manager Stacey Towler said:

“People living with a life-limiting illness often struggle with loneliness and social isolation. Compassionate Neighbours can really make a difference and offer some extra support. They are a network of trained volunteers who offer their time, companionship and a listening ear to people living in their community who are coping with illness or old age. Compassionate Neighbours help others by visiting regularly; offering companionship and emotional support; helping them to do the things they like doing; and helping them stay connected to the community as well as family and friends.”

St Clare Hospice is looking for people who live in Uttlesford District, Bishop’s Stortford, Sawbridgeworth, Harlow and Epping Forest, to become a Compassionate Neighbour.

Compassionate Neighbours will be provided with a full training programme, free of charge. The training courses are informal, fun and inspirational, giving volunteers the opportunity to explore how they can use their compassion to help others and give them the confidence to support people in their community. Please note that you must be over 18 to volunteer for this service. St Clare Hospice will carry out a relevant DBS check and you must be willing to give up your time on a regular basis.

St Clare Hospice aims to recruit a total of 50 Compassionate Neighbours in the first year of the project. They will be running more training throughout 2018.

To find out more about the St Clare Compassionate Neighbours project, including how to become a volunteer and how to refer a person who could benefit from the project, contact the Compassionate Neighbours Project Manager, Stacey Towler, on 01279 773279 or visit stclarehospice.org.uk/care/compassionate-neighbours/