News
New community development project to support "compassionate communities" in Scotland
Good Life Good Death Good Grief is embarking on a new project, funded by Macmillan Cancer Support. Taking a community development approach, the project aims to support communities who are interested in taking local action to improve people’s experiences of death, dying, loss and care. Like the rest of GLGDGG's work, the project is being hosted by the Scottish Partnership for Palliative Care (SPPC).
Later in 2019, GLGDGG will issue an invitation to community groups and organisations to express an interest in being part of the project. A number of communities will be short-listed, and supported to work up more detailed applications identifying local priorities and activities to improve death, dying, loss and care in their community.
Following the application process, up to four communities will be selected to be part of the project, and to receive dedicated support for their local project, for a period of two years.
The project will build on learning from the international Compassionate Communities movement, and its design has been particularly influenced by work by the Groundswell Project in Australia, where a National Compassionate Communities Practice Forum (NCCF) has been established, following a community development model.
The project also aims to support Scottish communities to learn from more local knowledge and experience, for example from the award-winning Compassionate Inverclyde programme where the community has taken action to become more "compassionate, helpful and neighbourly".
The SPPC is currently recruiting an experienced Community Development practitioner to help establish, shape and manage the project. More information about the job vacancy is available here. The closing date is Monday 4th February 2019.
Scottish Compassionate Communities Launch Event
The new Scottish Compassionate Communities Network is being launched on Mon 8 Oct at the Charteris Centre, Edinburgh.
The network is for people and organisations who want to get involved in practical work to build compassion in their own community, with a particular focus on improving people's experiences of deteriorating health, death, dying and bereavement.
The event will give network members a chance to meet each other, discuss the potential creation of a Scottish Compassionate Communities toolkit, and learn about community development approaches.
This event is only open to people who have signed up to be part of the Compassionate Communities Network. However, it is free to join the network and you can sign up here. Once you've signed up, you can book a place at the event here.
Ayr Town Hall hosts successful GLGDGG Day
The Rotary Clubs of South Ayrshire hosted a very successful Good Life, Good Death, Good Grief day at Ayr Town Hall on Friday 13 July.
A packed house heard presentations from Dr Kirsty Muirhead, formerly a palliative care consultant at the Ayrshire Hospice, who helped people consider what "Good Life", "Good Death" and "Good Grief" meant; Tara Cameron, an undertaker with Funeral Partners, Ayr, who helped break down some of the stereotypes and taboos about the funeral industry; and Nigel Martin, local family lawyer, who gave advice about end-of-life planning, wills and power of attorney.
Information stalls run by local groups and by Good Life, Good Death, Good Grief, allowed people to mingle and pick up information before and after the formal presentations. Tea and coffee was kindly provided by the local Salvation Army, and Royal Conservatoire organist gave a recital.
Despite the seriousness of the subject matter, the event was very convivial, with lots of ideas exchanged and knowledge gained. Barely any information leaflets were left at the end.
If you'd like to organise something similar in your area, please get in touch with our Development Manager, Robert Peacock, for support and assistance, or sign up to the new Scottish Compassionate Communities Network to link up with others in your area who'd like to be involved in something similar.
To Absent Friends Small Grant Scheme
A small grants fund has been set up to support organisations to participate in To Absent Friends, a people’s festival of storytelling and remembrance, running 1-7 November 2018.
We are particularly keen to support small organisations to undertake local activities that provide public opportunities for storytelling and/or remembrance of people who have died.
The range of ways in which organisations can participate is wide and varied. In previous years, events have included concerts, poetry nights, craft activities, memory sharing events, storytelling suppers, exhibitions and much more.
Some ideas of relevant activities members might wish to undertake are listed on the To Absent Friends website, but we also encourage creative and innovative ideas that are appropriate to local groups and communities.
Grants are available for up to £250.
The deadline for receipt of completed applications is Friday 24 August 2018. (We will aim to inform applicants of whether or not they have been successful by the end of August.)
A short grant application form and guidance notes for applicants are provided below.
South Ayrshire Death Day
The Rotary Clubs of South Ayrshire are hosting an event at Ayr Town Hall on Friday 13th July for people to find out more about how they can plan ahead for the end of life.
Guests at this informative and light-hearted event will hear from Dr Kirsty Muirhead, former Palliative Care Consultant at the Ayrshire Hospice; Tara Cameron, undertaker at Funeral Partners Ayr; and Nigel Martin, former Chairman of the Ayrshire Hospice and local family lawyer.
Royal Conservatoire of Scotland organist Matthew Hynes will provide entertainment on the Town Hall organ and refreshments will be available from the Salvation Army.
Good Life Good Death Good Grief will also be running a stall so come along and say hi!
Doors open at 12.30pm and the event starts 1.30pm. Admission is free, but attendees are asked to register in advance.
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