From January to March 2024, our Community Engagement team have continued to meet with groups and organisations in our local community and forming important connections and ways in which we can work together. The team have had over 70 meetings and events in this period and engaged with over 830 people to raise awareness of Hospice Care, volunteering and our Compassionate Communities projects.
The team works within the local community to provide support beyond patient palliative, end-of-life care and bereavement needs, by working inside the community we can reach more people earlier, supporting them every step of the way.
This community partnerships leads to:
- Stronger relationships and reach under-served communities
- Joint projects & initiatives, and share expertise & resources
- Grow referrals into and out of our patient services
- Challenge myths and improve knowledge about hospice care
- Encourage volunteering and promote fundraising activities
- Raise our profile in the community and the wider hospice sector
The types of events the team attended were as follows:
- Worked with the St Albans Old People’s Network to help with the launch of 5 new Compassionate Cafés
- Hosted Watford Interfaith Association’s AGM at Peace Hospice
- Had stands at Communities1st Wellbeing event in Borehamwood and the Saheli Women’s HAWA wellbeing event in St Albans
- Attended launch of Herts Pride, which we are looking forward to attending in late summer
- Attended Watford Rotary Club’s 100th year celebrations and linked with some key members
- Visited many community groups and events including St. Albans’ Community Pantry, Warm Spaces, Health Walks and lunch clubs, International Women’s Day celebrations and Watford Seniors’ Forum
- Delivered the Winter Social for Compassionate Communities volunteers and their Community members in January
- Launched Compassionate Cafés at Random Café and Great Missenden Library
