“For someone who naturally loves to chat, this past year has taught me that the real power of outreach lies in listening and giving people a calm, safe space to be heard.” 

No two days are ever the same in community outreach, but at the heart of my role is human connection. As part of the Inclusion Team at Princess Alice Hospice, my focus is building and fostering genuine relationships with local communities and partner organisations as well as helping break down barriers to accessing Hospice care across the London boroughs of Kingston and Richmond.  

With a background in medical anthropology, NHS communications, and supporting young people with special educational needs, I have always been deeply passionate about tackling health inequalities: I think everyone deserves access to compassionate, high-quality care, and meeting people where they are is where that journey begins.  

Shona at the Surbiton Farmers Market earlier this year

A typical day as a Community Outreach Coordinator

Depending on the day, I might be hot-desking at a co-working hub in Teddington, catching up with colleagues in the Compassionate Neighbours office at the Hospice, or heading straight out into the community.  

Mornings are usually spent planning for what’s ahead: if I am visiting an organisation supporting adults with learning disabilities, I will prepare Easy Read materials; if an event is coming up, I will coordinate with our fundraising, marketing, and volunteer teams around logistics, resources and activities to offer. And before heading out the door, I always pack my most reliable icebreaker: a supply of chocolate! It always works wonders for putting people at ease and sparking a friendly chat. 

Afternoons are usually spent on the move across Kingston and Richmond. A typical week might see me visiting Richmond Mencap, dropping into a food bank and community centre in New Malden, chatting with the team at Age UK Richmond’s Wellbeing Centre, or connecting with local Primary Care Networks.  

The conversations I have are as varied as the places I visit:sometimes it’s about personal experiences of illness, grief, and loss and other times, it’s about what hospice care actually means. Hospice care looks different for everyone, and it belongs to every part of our community. Opening the door to that conversation is the most rewarding part of my day! Recently, while working alongside learning disability peer advocates, I was reminded of the importance of involving people directly in conversations about their own care and simply asking them first about what matters to them.  

Before wrapping up the day with my Community Intelligence logs to record the insights we have gathered during the day, I often reflect on how many misconceptions still exist around Hospice care. For example, many people are surprised to learn that Princess Alice Hospice care is completely free and are often relieved to discover that our support reaches far beyond our building in Esher, including care in people’s own homes, inclusive multi-faith spiritual support, and dedicated support for families and carers.  

For someone who naturally loves to chat, this past year has taught me that the real power of outreach lies in listening and giving people a calm, safe space to be heard. 

If you have any questions about Shona’s work, please get in touch by emailing: [email protected]