Heart of Kent Hospice is inviting people to come along to a new event being organised by the Compassionate Neighbours team from the Hospice.
The new Compassionate Café provides a warm welcoming space for members of the Maidstone community to come together when they have been affected by any type of loss or loneliness. The events are all about bringing people together to meet others and make new friends.
After receiving such positive feedback from those attending the first event in January, the Hospice will be running further events on 20 February, 20 March, 17 April and 15 May 2025.
Marie Smith, Compassionate Communities Lead at the Hospice said: “The listening ear of a stranger can really help when times are tough and when people come together it helps us feel connected, especially when we are facing the loss of a loved one or the challenges which come with caring for someone with a life limiting condition.
“At our first event, we welcomed members of the community who together were able to connect, chat, laugh and make new friends for a few hours while sharing experiences and feeling part of something, which for many of them wouldn’t be a daily occurrence.
“Research tells us what a positive impact this type of event can have on someone’s health and wellbeing.
“There is no need to book ahead and it will be lovely to welcome you at one of our events.”
Some of the attendees from the first event have shared their experiences below:
Lyn: “I found it really helpful. Such lovely people. There was a lot of warmth and compassion. It helped me get through my dark days. I lost my daughter, and my partner just a year ago and I get so lonely”.
Pam: “It was lovely to meet new people at the Compassionate Cafe. I live on my own and can go a week without speaking to another person! Increasing mobility problems mean I can’t get out as often as I would like, so it was a treat for me to see another human!”
Trevor: “It gets me out of the house. If I don’t leave the house, I don’t see anybody as my house is set away from the road so nobody walks past. I didn’t see anyone at all on Saturday and Sunday. It was nice to have a chat to people.”
Each event is hosted by trained Compassionate Neighbours who make each event a comfortable place to meet for a friendly chat with others.
The next session will take place on 20 February 2025 10.30 to 12 noon at Matestone Coffee and Tea House, High Street (opposite Pudding Lane), Maidstone, ME14 1TG.
If you would like more information, please contact our Compassionate Neighbours team by emailing cn@hokh.co.uk
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About Heart of Kent Hospice
Heart of Kent Hospice has been providing free, compassionate, end-of-life care to people living with a terminal illness and their loved ones in Maidstone, Aylesford, Tonbridge and Malling and the surrounding towns and villages for the past 34 years.
The Hospice has built an excellent reputation within the local community for the quality of its care, which has been further endorsed by the Care Quality Commission who awarded us with an overall rating of ‘Outstanding’ following an inspection in February 2017.
Our vision is for everyone living with a terminal illness in our community to achieve the best quality of life. We are committed to achieving this by enabling them to live in comfort, with independence and dignity to the end of their lives, and to support those closest to them.
Last year the Hospice cared for over 2,000 patients and their families in their own homes or at our Aylesford-based Hospice. Our charity needs to raise £6.6 million to deliver all the Hospices services, and we depend heavily on our loyal community of supporters, whose generous donations and fundraising activities raise money for us every year.
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There are lots of ways people can support Heart of Kent Hospice. Find out more here https://www.hokh.org/
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