Part of our approach is to work in partnership with local communities to nurture and extend our services where possible. By working together, a Compassionate Community can help a dying person, and their family and friends get the support and care they need, helping them to deal with dying and death and the subsequent bereavement and loss of those left behind. We want to give people the skills and confidence to be the good neighbours they want to be. We also want to encouraging people to talk more openly about death, dying, grief and loss. Often not talking about these issues leave vulnerable people lonely and isolated. What would make your community a compassionate one?
At the heart of compassionate communities is connection. One way to feel more connected with the people who are important to us is to share stories and experiences – finding out new things and also understanding what we have in common. We’d like to encourage story sharing across the generations and would like to encourage young people to interview and record their older family members. In recording your family, not only will you find out more about each other – but you’ll have a recording you can keep for years to come.
Martha, aged 8, interviewed her Grandma and said that “it was fun to get to know more about her” and that she would recommend it to others “because you don’t usually ask your grandparents that much and it’s good to get to know them a bit more and their likes and dislikes”. It might be a bit daunting for to think about how you might record it or what questions you might ask so we’ve developed some guidelines. Questions can range from who was your best friend to why did you marry Grandma and what is on your bucket list.
If you’re keen to get involved but would like some support we have been working with Barbara Altounyan, Founder of Hospice Biographers, who can support you to develop your questions and also record the interview via a mobile to landline phone call. Barbara can be contacted via email at barbara@thehospicebiographers.com
We’d love to hear how you get on!
Compassionate Neighbours are trained volunteers offering friendship and a listening ear and providing regular emotional and social support to people in their local community who are lonely or socially isolated due to the effects of their own or a loved one’s long term or life limiting illness.
Contact 01372 461 862
