Council to become LOROS 'Compassionate Workplace'

The Council’s Cabinet agreed on 7 June 2021 that it would support the scheme which aims to develop a network of compassionate friends, neighbours and workplaces.

The scheme is being driven by LOROS Hospice, and Market Harborough and the Bowdens Charity, to promote how support and compassion can positively impact the lives of so many in the community.

There are two ways both individuals and workplaces can make a difference; through becoming a compassionate friend or a compassionate neighbour. A Compassionate Friend makes a pledge to provide support to others in their local area, and to attend one of LOROS’s Compassionate Friend awareness sessions. Compassionate neighbours are trained volunteers who provide support to patients and their families in the local area for a few hours each week, with activities such as keeping a patient company whilst their carer takes a break, chatting over lunch in a local café, or perhaps just having a phone call.

Compassionate workplaces are asked to encourage staff to become compassionate friends, and to promote the scheme to others.

Cllr Simon Whelband (pictured), Harborough District Council’s Cabinet lead for communities and wellbeing, is one of the first people in the district to agree to become a compassionate friend.

He said: “We are very proud and excited that we are set to become the first workplace in the region to have this status and hope it inspires others. The last year has shown that we can all make a real difference in very simple, human ways, just by being there for people when they need it, whether that is providing support to someone facing terminal illness, picking up a neighbour’s prescription, or simply asking a stranger if they’re ok.”

The Council is now set to create a dedicated LOROS Compassionate Communities web page, and is planting sunflowers in the district to promote the scheme.