Compassionate Community across Dorset

The aim of the compassionate community within Dorset is to develop greater understanding of the role community plays where end of life is concerned. It will allow the concept of death, dying and bereavement to be seen and heard within the community across Dorset, rather than being hidden and seen as a taboo.

A compassionate community gives ordinary people the skills to be able to address the issues raised by the end of life and other losses. People often define themselves by the communities in which they belong. This may be a wide definition – British or European – but more often seeks to define our difference from others – perhaps by religion, sexual identity or ethnic group. The group might be one that links us to others with a common interest – motor cars or travel.

Most of us would include our geographical community in any definition. Where we live, who we work with, our voluntary activities, our family and friends – all these form part of the community we belong to.

As a society, in general we need to feel more comfortable to initiate conversations around our wishes and desires about what would happen after our death, but unless this is discussed with family, friends and health professionals, often wishes are not met. It also seeks to promote choice and control for individuals needing support.

Developing the compassionate community for Dorset has brought together a variety of professionals and people from a number of organisations

• health
• social care
• hospices, charities
• funeral directors
• solicitors
• coroners
• police
• ambulance
• fire services

along with service users, with the aim to improve the quality of life for dying people and their families across Dorset.

This can be achieved by raising awareness of support services that people of Dorset can be sign posted to for care and support throughout their illness and or their bereavement.

The compassionate community will identify and support the development of a wider education programme across Dorset to support people with end of life, death, dying or bereavement issues; by recognising that different cultures, faiths and religious beliefs are respected and supported. 

The compassionate community within Dorset will be signed up to the national dying matters coalition www.dyingmatters.org