I am delighted to welcome Simon Betteridge on to survival of the kindest podcast Simon has been in healthcare chaplaincy since 2003. He worked as Chaplain at
University Hospitals Coventry & Warwickshire NHS Trust since 2004 and became lead
chaplain & Bereavement Service Manager in 2010. Over the last 7 years he has been involved with and led various new initiatives mainly within the community, more recently in Cornwall, where he is building a collaboration working towards a Compassionate Kernow. In 2017 he started a Compassionate Community project providing support for patients approaching the end of their life and their families, and bereavement support in the community.
In his own words, Simon describes his work.
“30 years ago I started out in youth and community work. My training had been excellent but it didn’t prepare me for what it meant to build the relationships that changed my world view in such a profound way. Since then within community development, healthcare, grassroots sport, prison, and in faith groups my passion has been to enable all people to have a voice, and experience life in all its fullness. I’ve had the privilege of seeing people of many different backgrounds flourish, overcoming inequities, prejudice, illness, isolation and much more.
While out for a walk a man stopped me and said “are you Simon?” He went on to thank me for saving his life 25 years ago. I had supported him through a brief sentence in a YOI and helped him build a different path for his life. He’d never been in trouble again and had a wonderful family. In a different context, an elderly lady living with COPD had not been out of her other than to visit hospital for 7 years. Along with others living with COPD she helped create a new community where those who had become isolated and experienced very poor wellbeing, to live again. The last two years of her life were transformed including going on holiday with her family.
Being given a voice that matters and the power to decide the “so what” is transformative, it enables reconciliation and restoration within families, local communities, and wider society. I’m now working on a new initiative in Cornwall aiming to build a new Compassionate Community partnering grassroots sport, the local church, business, and other VCSE groups.”