Opportunity details
Location Watford, Three Rivers, Oxhey, Abbots Langley, Hertsmere, Dacorum, Great Missenden
Team Community Engagement
Likely hours Flexible
Compassionate Communities volunteers help to provide a friendly and welcoming space for anyone who chooses to drop in for a chat at our Compassionate Cafes and Support Hubs. By sharing their knowledge & experiences the volunteer helps to facilitate peer to peer social and emotional support for people with a life-limiting illness or those experiencing the effects of a loss/bereavement in a group environment.
Compassionate Cafés are safe, informal spaces in the local community to come together for a friendly chat over a cuppa and meet others who understand. They are for anyone who has been affected by bereavement or any kind of loss.
Compassionate Support Hubs are drop-in sessions for people affected by the diagnosis of a life-limiting illness. As well as a friendly chat and a cuppa, they can take part in a wellbeing activity, get information, guidance and signposting to other services.
We are particularly looking for volunteers to support the following cafes:
- West Watford
- Great Missenden
- South Oxhey & Abbots Langley (launching in September)
- Bushey & Borehamwood
- Dacorum (launching in Hemel in December/January)
We are particularly looking for volunteers to support the following hubs:
- Abbots Langley (launching in September)
- Dacorum (launching in Hemel in December/January)
If you have a couple of hours to spare once a month to support people in your local community who need someone to talk to, please get in touch. Volunteer enquiry form – Rennie Grove Peace Hospice Care
Our 2024 training days:
| Date | Time | Location |
|---|---|---|
| Friday 20 September | 9.30am to 4.30pm | Peace Hospice, Watford WD17 3PH |
| Friday 18 October | 9.30am to 4.30pm | Peace Hospice, Watford WD17 3PH |
| Friday 15 November | 9.30am to 4.30pm | Grove House, St Albans AL3 5QX |
| Friday 24 January 2025 | 9.30am to 4.30pm | Peace Hospice, Watford WD17 3PH |
| Friday 7 March 2025 | 9.30am to 4.30pm | Grove House, St Albans AL3 5QX |
| Friday 25 April 2025 | 9.30am to 4.30pm | Grove House, St Albans AL3 5QX |
"I signed up as a volunteer as I have personally experienced different loss and bereavement and feel I can emphasize with others. Since joining I have found it rewarding and have met a genuinely lovely group of people"
“Compassionate Cafés offer a great opportunity for us as volunteers to be able to provide comforting and reassuring company in a friendly environment to those who are trying to build up the confidence to venture out, meet with people again and feel a sense of inclusion after suffering a loss”
“Being bereaved myself, I feel it is important to give back the help I received when I lost my husband. I like being part of the Compassionate Café where people can come to talk and get support from others who have experienced loss. I feel privileged to be involved and play a small part in supporting the people who attend, it gives me a sense of achievement”
“I feel so lucky being part of the café & Hubs and definitely think that I get as much back from people who attend as I give! We all need a little help with bereavement and illness at some time in our lives. Just being there to support and listen to someone is a privilege and it costs nothing”
Our Compassionate Neighbours Stories
Read our Compassionate Neighbours stories to find out more about what this rewarding role.
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Raj and Gizella’s Story
Raj has been a Compassionate Neighbour volunteer in Watford for Rennie Grove Peace since 2022, supporting Gizella.
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Mandy and Nigel’s story
Mandy has been a Compassionate Neighbour to Nigel since 2023. They tell their story in hope of encouraging others to sign up.
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Angela’s Story
Angela has been a Compassionate Neighbour volunteer since 2019. She shares her experience...
Learn more about volunteering with Rennie Grove Peace
Without the time our volunteers give to support all areas of our work, we couldn’t help all the families who need us. We have a wide range of volunteer roles with varying time commitments to suit people in different circumstances.
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Volunteering
Make a difference in your local community when you join the Rennie Grove Peace volunteering team
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Volunteer stories
Hear from some of our amazing Rennie Grove Peace volunteers
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Supporting us at work
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