Training application form

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Start your application
2
Role Selection
3
Personal Details
4
Experiences and Motivation
5
Values and Concerns
6
Commitments and Submission

Welcome to the Compassionate Companion Application Form

Thank you for your interest in joining the Compassionate Companion Service — a community-based initiative funded by the NHS.

This innovative and evolving service aims to support people in making decisions about their end of life care, helping to ensure these wishes are respected while avoiding unnecessary and distressing hospital admissions. It offers a space for compassion, clarity, and dignity at a crucial stage of life.

There are two ways you can take part:

  • 🫶 As a Volunteer Compassionate Companion, offering your time and presence to support someone in your community
  • 🩺 As a Representative from a Statutory Organisation, such as a care home, health service, or Integrated Neighbourhood Team

In the next steps, we’ll ask for some basic information and offer space to reflect on your motivation and comfort with the role.

👉 Once we receive your application:

  • Volunteers will be invited to a friendly Zoom chat with a team member to ask questions and get started
  • Representatives will receive confirmation of their training place and next steps

If you have any questions along the way, you’re very welcome to email Bill: bill.thompson1@nhs.net

Let’s begin…

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Training Session and Role Selection

Role Selection: Which Role are you applying for? *

Choose your preferred dates for the upcoming training

All training sessions take place over two days in person at Kesgrave Community Centre.
If you're applying as a Volunteer, you'll also attend a short online morning session for safeguarding and confidentiality.

Please choose your first and second choice of training sessions below.
If your first choice is already full, we’ll do our best to offer you your second choice.

September 2025 training session

Monday 22nd
& Tuesday 23rd September (in person)
+ Thursday 25th September (online session for Volunteers only)
Please select your preferred training dates. Mark your 1st choice *
Please select your preferred training dates. Mark your 2nd choice *
0.00
0.00
*Please fill required fields

Personal details

Full name *
Personal Email *
Personal Phone Number *
Home address *
Do you own a car and are you able to drive? *
Do you have access to internet? *
Do you have access to Zoom? *
Estimated time you can volunteer e.g. days and times you could be available (this is very flexible and can be anything from an occasional visit to one or two contacts a week and depends on availability of companion and client) *
Your Job Title *
Organisation Name *
Organisation Postcode *
Organisation Telephone Number *
Organisation Email Address *
Do you have any special requirements we should be aware of?
Do you agree to information sharing (required for communication and record keeping)? *
*Please fill required fields

Your Experiences and Motivation

Why would you like to take part in the Compassionate Companion programme? *
Have you volunteered before? If so, tell us about your experience. *
What life or work experience, knowledge or skills might you bring to this role? *
*Please fill required fields

Values and Concerns

A key part of this role is to be able to introduce sometimes difficult discussions, pick up cues and aid the person to make end of life decisions. How do you feel about this? *
What do you believe to be the purpose of this role? *
Tell us what you think is important to a person (and those close to them) at the end of life? *
What do you consider to be your key qualities that would make you a good Compassionate Companion? *
Is there anything about this role that concerns you or that you think might be a challenge? *
If you feel able, tell us about any personal experiences you have of supporting a person in any capacity.
Is there anything else you would like us to know about you that we haven’t asked or you haven’t told us?
*Please fill required fields

Commitments and Submission

An important part of this volunteering role is to attend peer support group meetings via zoom currently every 2 weeks. How comfortable are you using zoom? *
This is for peer support, governance and part of how we can evaluate the service to prove its effectiveness and therefore receive ongoing funding. 
For this reason we ask companions to be confident with zoom but we can provide some training as long as your internet connection is good. 
Zoom is surprisingly easy and simply a click on the meeting date will take you into the meeting 
This role includes an expectation that you will complete a short online survey (5–10 minutes) after each visit with your companion. Are you able to commit to this? *
These surveys help us evaluate the service and secure ongoing NHS funding. We’ll support you in using the system — you just need basic confidence with email and online forms.
This service includes a requirement to complete a short online evaluation (5–10 minutes) after each end-of-life conversation you facilitate. Are you able to commit to this, with the support of your line manager? *
This expectation is part of the NHS funding agreement. We’ll ensure you’re supported in the process.
Final Confirmation *

Start Your Journey as a Compassionate Companion!

Becoming a Companion 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.

Apply now

Read our FAQ to learn more about the process »

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