The people of Colchester are coming together to help the city to become the first Compassionate City in the East region.

St Helena Hospice, Colchester City Council, Essex County Council, local champions, businesses, organisations, and charities, have all been working together to identify how we can all help make a difference to people’s lives at times of most need.

The introduction of a Compassionate Charter for Colchester in 2024 will help galvanise support and action, based on an Asset Based Community Development (ABCD) approach to care. ABCD aims to build on the assets that are found in the community and mobilize individuals, associations, and institutions to come together to realise and develop their strengths.

Head of Partnerships at St Helena Hospice, Greg Cooper, explained: 

“Compassionate City Colchester is all about people coming together to support one another during life’s most difficult moments, with compassion and kindness. People need people, and sometimes even the smallest gestures can make the biggest difference, but we don’t always feel able to help for all sorts of reasons. By celebrating compassion, demystifying taboos, and helping people build the confidence and skills to be able to help others, whether this is at work, school, social groups and clubs, neighbourhoods, or with family and friends, we can help improve people’s care and wellness, and reduce social issues such as loneliness and isolation."

“A Compassionate Community network has already formed in north east Essex, and we have been hosting regular Demystifying End Of Life Care workshops that are focussed on sharing and learning, that everyone is welcome to attend. Compassionate Communities is for everyone because everyone experiences death, dying and loss, and many other difficult moments during their lives."

Everyone is invited to be a part of Compassionate City Colchester and can offer something life-changing to the people who live and work here. For more information and to arrange an informal chat please contact us by using the form at the bottom of this page, email or call 01206 845566.