Brentor and Moor Compassionate Neighbours is a charitable group run by volunteers, and covers an area of West Devon within a radius of about ten miles of Tavistock.

We aim to offer support to those living with a life-limiting illness or approaching the end of life, while at the same time giving their spouse or carer a well-earned brief break from their responsibilities.

We work closely with the local primary care teams, as well as other voluntary and statutory agencies, with the aim of contributing to the integrated care of this vulnerable group of people, so that they may continue to be cared for in the comfort of their own home.

What are Compassionate Communities?

The Compassionate Communities model of community care has its roots in Kerala, India, where Dr Suresh Kumar established a “Neighbourhood Network in Palliative Care”. This was further developed by Professor Alan Kellehear, and in recent years has been adopted in several places around the UK.

The concept is a simple one: It is about local communities helping to “look after their own”. When a referral is received – usually from the hospice or one of the local health or social care teams – a volunteer is twinned with the individual, and visits on a regular and reliable basis, usually for a couple of hours or so.

Volunteers are not there to give personal care, to carry out domestic duties or to walk the dog; they are there to provide companionship, to chat over a cup of tea, to act as an advocate, to offer a shoulder to lean on (and perhaps cry on), and – importantly – to act as the eyes and ears of the other teams involved, whose services are often so stretched.