Compassionate communities scheme now fully operational

The recently-launched Brentor & Moor Compassionate Neighbours scheme, serving the rural area just north of Tavistock, is now established and working closely with St Luke’s Hospice and the statutory health sector, as part of an integrated approach to the support of individuals either living with a serious long-term condition, suffering from a life-limiting illness, or approaching the end of life. The scheme is run entirely by volunteers and receives no funding from the public purse. Its aim is to help this vulnerable group of people remain in their own homes with trained volunteers offering company as well as reporting any concerns or changes in the individual’s condition or needs. If the right care can continue to be delivered in the community, unnecessary hospital admissions can be avoided towards the end of life, enabling the person to spending their last precious days in their own home.

Individuals can be referred to the service by their local GP, other health/social care professional, voluntary agencies (such as TASS), or indeed by a friend or family member- obviously with the individual’s permission. The only criteria is that he/she is suffering from a serious or life-threatening illness and/or may be nearing the end of life, and is living within a radius of about eight miles of Brentor, including Mary Tavy, Lamerton, Lifton, Lydford, Lewdown and Chillaton.

The project, whose Patron is the famous south-west based explorer Sir Ranulph Fiennes OBE, will shortly be training its second cohort of volunteers. If you feel able to contribute two or three hours a week to a worthwhile and rewarding local cause, and have experience in health or social care - or indeed some other relevant life experience – please contact the BMCN co-ordinator, Mark Alderson.

For more information or to make a donation go to www.bmcneighbours.org, email information@bmcneighbours@gmail.com or phone 01822 860799.