Birmingham recognised as UK’s first Compassionate City
Birmingham has been crowned the UK’s first Compassionate City for the way it supports people who are grieving, living with a serious illness and caregivers.
The Compassionate City title was awarded to Birmingham for the way the council and its partners supported those going through difficult times.
The Compassionate City title is part of an international movement with the participation of cities worldwide. The purpose is to build compassion as a major value of life across all sectors of civic society, putting kindness at the heart of health and care strategies in all parts of society.
Birmingham is already recognised as a Healthy City. However, community leaders sought to secure the Compassionate City title to bolster its commitment towards people who are grieving, living with a serious illness and caregivers.
Councillor John Cotton, Cabinet Member for Social Inclusion, Community Safety and Equalities, said: ‘Birmingham is a city that offers a warm welcome to all and one where we want everyone to thrive.
‘Our commitment to the Compassionate City Charter is a great way to recognise the kindness and compassion across our communities and build on work that’s already taken place and ensure all of our services, schools, employers and citizens can feel confident supporting people living with a serious illness or who are grieving.’
Dr Julian Abel, Director of Compassionate Communities UK, said: ‘Death, dying, loss and caregiving affects us all. We care for people close to us many times in our lives and we also face our own death. How we die, how we grieve, is affected deeply by the people around us. This is why it is important to understand that everyone can contribute and help, whether this be in our schools, our workplaces, our places of worship, our neighbourhoods and all of the other civic parts of lives.
“This accreditation is more important now than ever before as people are still recovering from a global pandemic. Nothing shows more support than the community coming together to combat loneliness and ensuring that people know they are not isolated, especially during the difficult moments of death, dying, loss and caregiving.’
In related news, Birmingham City Council will launch an online portal where women experiencing domestic abuse can find advice and information on support services as part of a new campaign.
Photo by Emilio Georgiou