University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire (UHCW) NHS Trust has launched Compassionate Rugby, a community movement to help Rugby recover from Covid-19.

Many people live with feelings of loneliness and don’t feel they belong to a community but during the pandemic, there was a strong positive reaction from communities which has helped to bring people together with many reaching out to support each other, often connecting with their neighbours for the first time. 

Compassionate Rugby appeals to this same spirit and hopes to build a movement of compassion  to ensure that the Rugby community is able to continue supporting each other.  

Head of Compassionate Communities, Simon Betteridge Chaplain at UHCW, explained what the initiative will mean to the Rugby community: “Compassionate Rugby is a movement through which it is hoped that people of different ages and backgrounds will join together, learning more about each other, and creating new ways to support one another and celebrate what it means to be part of the community in Rugby."

Rugby Councillor, Jerry Roodhouse, added his support to the important campaign: “I welcome the introduction of the compassionate community's approach in Rugby.  

"The pandemic has highlighted and shone a light on how important developing this sort of approach will be enabling compassionate communities will bring support and help those in all our communities. I look forward to working with them and promoting the scheme in Rugby.”

Justine Richards, Chief Strategy Officer UHCW NHS Trust and Chair of Rugby Place Delivery Group added: “Compassionate Rugby is one way for all members of the communities that make up the community of Rugby to have their story heard and have their voice valued. Each person and community’s voice tells part of a wider story and what it means to be part of Rugby.”

The movement will start in June 2021 with Story Circles, where people are given a voice and an opportunity to share their experiences with others in their community. These Circles are a simple, powerful way to get to know each other better, and for everyone to be valued and heard.  Open to everyone – individuals, businesses, community groups, young and old. 

The Compassionate Rugby team are looking for volunteers to be community befrienders and help create circles of support around each other. The Circles help build a conversation about values, about solutions, that people take forward and act on together.   

Book a place on a Story Circle or arrange to run one, by getting in touch with Compassionate Rugby at: www.compassionaterugby.co.uk