An NHS-supported service in Suffolk helping people plan their end-of-life care with trained volunteers and compassionate conversations.
Our volunteers are trained to provide compassionate, community-based, non-medical support for people and their loved-ones experiencing life-limiting conditions, including severe frailty and dementia.
Our service is dedicated to enabling end-of-life conversations and preparation through volunteer-driven support, ensuring individuals and their families understand the choices available, with the time, compassion and dignity we all deserve.
Our volunteers support conversations around the choices available at end of life.
Rather than being able to fix, we listen, empower and enable people to put things in place to be able to live their lives as fully as possible with peace of mind.
Volunteers are trained by a doctor-led team of clinicians and experienced volunteers.
Ongoing regular support and supervision by the clinical team is provided for everyone after training.
Our goal is to link organisations, community groups and individuals to connect, support and serve the wider community.
Care Choices Volunteers living within the community address the needs of a person, and their loved ones, in their last year of life.
“I feel my role as a companion can be a significant help and it is not always about the ‘doing’ aspect of compassion.”
“She seems genuinely and deeply to value my support over the last months”
“I was delighted that it resulted in completing the Respect form for both mum and dad and a discussion with the GP. Something I don’t think would have happened without the CC intervention.”
Training dates to become a Volunteer, Peer Group Meetings, Talks & Presentations and other Events – Here you’ll have a glimpse of what is happening soon.
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Join experts, local groups & healthcare professionals from across Ipswich & East Suffolk to celebrate the success of East Suffolk achieving accreditation as an official Compassionate Community – encouraging local communities to take a proactive role in supporting those facing death, dying, loss, and caregiving
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Care Choices Volunteers, with their skills and knowledge, provide the opportunity for a person in their last year of life to be involved in decisions around their care. We make them aware of the choices that exist, and how to put things in place.
No formal experience or qualifications are necessary other than wanting to harness your natural compassion The service is funded by the NHS and all training and support is completely free.
Training block dates and times:
Volunteers and Statutory workers: Mon/Tues 11th/12th May; 9am – 5pm – in-person at Kesgrave Community Centre, Twelve Acre Approach, Kesgrave, Ipswich Suffolk IP5 1JF.
Volunteers only: Thurs 14th May; 9.30am – 12.00 online via Zoom.
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Becoming a Care Choices Volunteer starts with our training program, where you’ll gain the skills to support individuals in their last year of life.
Complete the application form to take your first step.
