Compassion – Care for others – Care for self – Connection – Community

Do you have enough of these in your life, in your team and in your organisation?

All too often, those who give care don’t receive the care they need, often through no fault of their own. How can you look after yourself and your colleagues? For us, a big part of the answer is to work together to close this ‘Compassion Gap’. But how? If you are asking these questions, you have come to the right place.

The Compassion Practices shared here have been used by tens of thousands of people in health and social care across the UK and internationally. Some have been endorsed and promoted by NHS England and NHS Improvement, and Public Health Wales.

These structured compassion practices are all about reconnecting people to purpose, humanity, self, and each other, in a way that feels accessible, simple, and straightforward to implement. We believe that they can also help in the sometimes challenging work of inclusion, and finding our common humanity.

This site:

1

Shares the practices so that you can use them easily

2

Offers opportunities to connect with others who are using the practices

3

Links you to events such as Q&A sessions where you can learn more

The Compassion Practices

For Groups and Teams:

The 60-minute Compassion Circle is the original practice as developed by Andy Bradley and colleagues. So, if you can make an hour, this is probably the place to start. It includes an exploration into enabling and inhibiting factors.

20-minute Care Space was developed for people who are pressed for time. It offers an opportunity to explore what is happening right now.

10-minute Pause Space was designed as a short practice for small groups when time is challenging, and it offers a more ‘beginner’ opportunity to explore self-care.

For Individuals and Pairs:

The 5-minute Me Space is further distilled for use by people when by themselves, or working in a pair.

Each of the other practices addresses specific needs, so feel free to explore!

Compassion Circle (60 minutes)

The original! This practice provides a spacious opportunity for people across your organisation to listen, connect, think and commit to self-care and embedding compassion within our systems and communities.

Find out more and download the practice here...

20-minute Care Space

For groups of people from across your organisation to meet, listen to each other and commit to self care. It is a great way to give people a space to cope with the stresses of a complex and pressured work environment.

Find out more and download the practice here...

20-minute Team Space

This short practice provides your team with a quick way to stop, re-connect and re-energise in the midst of a busy schedule. It is focused, fun and effective.

Find out more and download the practice here...

60-minute Team Space

This longer team practice is for when you can invest a little more time in your team's cohesiveness, systems and care for each other. It will produce insights, bonding and motivation.

Find out more and download the practice here...

10-minute Pause Space

This 10-minute practice is for a small group of people to help each other find the space to re-set, recharge and re-commit to self care. It can be used by anyone, in any setting, and was designed to be useful when time is at a premium, or in challenging times.

Find out more and download the practice here...

5-minute Me Space

This practice gives you 5 peaceful minutes by yourself to help you unwind, re-connect to yourself and commit to self care. It can also be used with a colleague or friend, if you prefer. There is an audio guidance if you would like to use it.

Find out more and download the practice here...

Why Compassion Practices?

Compassion practices enable safety, trust and cooperation. They help to create the system conditions for compassion and care for all.

Evaluation suggests these practices improve self-care and team functioning and are highly valued by those who have experienced them.

At this time of unprecedented complexity, challenge and stress, individuals are at risk of burning out, teams are at risk of losing cohesion, and this leaves health and social care organisations and the system vulnerable, just when we need it most.

These practices can help to re-balance:

  • The focus on the technical aspects of caring for others with the ability to give care with humanity
  • The opportunity for the givers of care themselves to receive care
  • The responsibility of the system not only for patient care but also for staff wellbeing

Find out more about the Principles, or why not have a look at the Practices?

Discover more about the Compassion Practices

Help and Guidance

Through this page you will find what you need to use the Compassion Practices well.

Read more…

The Story So Far

Where did these practices come from? Here we tell their story.

Read more…

Building the Movement

These inspiring practices are building into a global movement. See how and find out how you can help.

Read more…

Please join our mailing list so we can keep you up to date with occasional news about Compassion Practices. We promise not to bombard you with email; around once per month should be our norm unless something really exciting is going on!

“Why do we so often hear about a lack of compassion for patients,but so little about compassion for the people whose job it is to serve them.”

Andy Bradley, creator of Compassion Circles