FAQ
About the Movement
What is Compassionate Communities Singapore (CoCoSG)?
What does a “compassionate community” mean in practice?
A compassionate community is one where people:
- Look out for one another during illness, caregiving, loss, and grief
- Feel comfortable having conversations about death, dying, and bereavement
- Know how to offer practical, emotional, or social support
- Work together across sectors to reduce isolation and stigma
Who leads CoCoSG and who are its stakeholders?
CoCoSG is led by the Singapore Hospice Council and supported by stakeholders across healthcare, social services, grassroots organisations, schools, workplaces, and faith-based groups.
A full list of stakeholders is available under Our Stakeholders on the CoCoSG website.
Joining the Movement
Who can join Compassionate Communities Singapore?
CoCoSG welcomes organisations from all sectors that share its vision and values, including healthcare institutions, social service agencies, community and grassroots groups, educational institutions, workplaces, and faith-based organisations.
There are no sector-specific quotas or uniform participation models.
Are there any formal requirements to join CoCoSG?
There are no strict entry requirements. Organisations are expected to:
- Align with CoCoSG’s vision and values
- Participate in ways that are meaningful and realistic for their context
- Develop a Charter that reflects their own priorities, strengths, and capacity
Each organisation retains full autonomy over how it participates.
Why should organisations join CoCoSG?
By joining CoCoSG, organisations can:
- Be part of a national movement promoting compassion and community care
- Strengthen existing work related to caregiving, illness, loss or bereavement
- Learn from and collaborate with like-minded organisations
- Access shared resources and learning opportunities
- Signal a commitment to people-centred and community-led care
How can an organisation join CoCoSG?
Interested organisations may:
- Visit the Join Us section on the CoCoSG website
- Email info@singaporehospice.org.sg
The SHC team will follow up to understand your organisation’s goals and discuss participation in a way that suits your needs.
Resources and Support
What resources are available to CoCoSG stakeholders?
CoCoSG stakeholders may access resources curated by SHC, including:
- SHC e-Library materials, such as:
- Toolkits and guides on caregiving, grief, and bereavement
- Educational resources on end-of-life conversations and community care
- Sector-relevant reference materials
- Learning opportunities, including:
- Workshops, talks, and training sessions by SHC or partners
- Communications support, such as:
- Use of CoCoSG logos to reflect participation
- Publicity support for suitable programmes or events
Use of resources is optional and based on each organisation’s needs.
How can stakeholders access and use the SHC e-Library and other resources?
Access is facilitated by SHC. Stakeholders may:
- Receive information on relevant e-Library materials after joining
- Provide links to the resources on its websites and social media platforms
- Request recommendations tailored to their sector or focus area
- Contact SHC for guidance on where to start at info@singaporehospice.org.sg.
What types of support does SHC provide beyond resources?
SHC provides non-prescriptive support, which may include:
- Advisory guidance on contextualising compassionate community principles
- Connections to other CoCoSG stakeholders
- Support in adapting existing programmes rather than creating new ones
All support is offered as guidance, not direction.
Are organisations required to use SHC resources or support?
No. Use of SHC resources and support is entirely optional.
That said, organisations may choose to use SHC resources because they are credible, evidence-informed, and carefully curated by palliative care, healthcare and legal professionals. These resources are designed to be practical, appropriate for community use, and aligned with local healthcare and legal contexts. Stakeholders decide how, when, and whether to use these resources based on their needs and comfort level
Is funding provided as part of CoCoSG?
No. CoCoSG does not provide direct funding or financial grants. Organisations are encouraged to leverage existing programmes, resources, and partnerships.
Charters, KPIs, and Autonomy
What is a CoCoSG Charter?
A CoCoSG Charter is a stakeholder-defined statement that outlines how an organisation intends to contribute to compassionate communities. It reflects the organisation’s mission, sector, priorities, and capacity, and serves as a guiding framework rather than a binding commitment.
Who decides what goes into the Charter?
Each stakeholder has full autonomy to decide:
- The focus areas of their Charter
- The activities or initiatives they wish to undertake
- The scale and pace of their involvement
SHC does not prescribe Charter content beyond broad guiding principles.
Are organisations required to set or report KPIs?
No. There are no mandatory KPIs, targets, or reporting timelines.
If organisations choose to define their own indicators of progress, these are:
- Self-determined
- Used for internal reflection and learning
- Not used for evaluation or comparison across stakeholders
How do Charters, KPIs and Autonomy relate?
- Charters: Express intended contributions in the organisation’s own words
- KPIs: Optional and self-defined, if useful to the organisation
- Autonomy: Organisations decide how and to what extent they participate
CoCoSG prioritises trust, flexibility, and context-sensitive participation.
Programmes and Impact
What types of activities or programmes can organisations plan?
There is no fixed list of required activities. Organisations are encouraged to:
- Build on existing programmes or community touchpoints
- Design activities that fit their audience and capacity
- Start small and evolve over time
Activities may be one-off, recurring, or embedded into ongoing work.
What are some simple examples of activities to start with?
Examples include:
- Community Conversations or Talks
Small-group discussions or talks on caregiving, grief, or supporting someone who is ill. These can be conducted in-person or online and supported by SHC e-Library materials. - Awareness or Capacity-Building Sessions
Short segments integrated into existing programmes, such as workplace lunch-and-learn sessions, volunteer briefings, school assemblies, or community events. - Community Support or Check-In Initiatives
Simple initiatives such as volunteer-led check-in calls, buddy systems, or neighbourhood-based support for seniors, caregivers, or isolated individuals.
Do activities need to be large-scale or long-term?
No. Activities can be small-scale, short-term, or pilot in nature.
Organisations decide the scope, duration, and frequency based on their priorities and resources.
What impact are organisations expected to achieve?
There are no prescribed impact outcomes.
Organisations may choose to aim for outcomes such as:
- Greater awareness of caregiving, grief, bereavement and end-of-life issues
- Increased community confidence in supporting one another
- Reduced social isolation
- Stronger relationships within communities
Each organisation defines impact in ways that are meaningful to them.
Can organisations share or showcase their work?
Yes. Stakeholders may voluntarily share stories, reflections, and learning from their initiatives. Selected contributions may be featured on:
- The CoCoSG website
- SHC platforms
- Other SHC communication channels
Sharing is encouraged but not mandatory.
For other enquiries, please email info@singaporehospice.org.sg.
