A Circle of Care

At the heart of the Park Ecovillage lies a simple truth: we thrive when we care for one another.

The Caring Community was born from this truth, a gentle network of friends and neighbours who reach out with kindness wherever it’s needed. Together, we weave the invisible threads of belonging that hold our community strong through times of change.

Mission

The Caring Community Circle at Park Ecovillage Trust fosters a compassionate, neighbourly culture where people thrive through connection, support, and shared humanity. Rooted in the belief that we flourish when we care for one another, our mission is to strengthen community wellbeing by offering non-medical support that reduces isolation, nurtures belonging, and enhances quality of life. We coordinate community members’ needs with volunteers to provide practical help, companionship, and guidance to individuals experiencing loneliness, life transitions, illness, or loss. Through friendly visits, signposting to services, assistance with everyday tasks, and shared educational opportunities, we weave a resilient web of care that honours dignity and mutual support. As a volunteer-led network, we complement and signpost formal care systems by nurturing relational presence and human connection. Our pledge is to uphold kindness, dignity, and neighbourly care, ensuring that no one in our community has to face life’s challenges alone.

What We Offer

We coordinate volunteers who offer practical help, companionship, and a listening ear to those who need community support.
The Caring Community Circle at Findhorn and Forres facilitates:

• Signposting and friendly visits for those experiencing isolation or loneliness;
• Addressing your needs to the available services. We will have soon placeholders to address several circumstances.
• Support with organising shopping, simple meals, or appointments;
• General friendly and neighbourhood support through illness, recovery, bereavement, or major life transitions;
• Access to wellness and wellbeing aid equipment through our shared tool library;
• Education and workshops responding to evolving community needs;

Every gesture of care, however small, nourishes the wellbeing of the whole;

What We Can Do

We offer community-centred, non-medical support, including:

• Companionship, conversation, and emotional presence;
• Social contact and community connection;
• Practical support with helping organising everyday tasks and errands;
• Organising or finding transport support to local, non-emergency appointments;
• Signposting to appropriate health, social care, and support services;

Our role is to reduce isolation and strengthen human connection, not to replace professional care.

What We Cannot Do

We are a volunteer-based community group, not a care or medical service.

We do not provide:

• Medical, clinical, or nursing care;
• Administration of medication or medical treatments;
• Personal care tasks requiring professional training (e.g. bathing, dressing, wound care);
• Clinical monitoring, emergency response, or decision-making responsibility;
• Professional counselling, therapy, or palliative care;
• Take medical decisions in your behalf or even suggesting those;

If needs go beyond what volunteers can safely offer, we will support people directing them to appropriate professional services.

Support During Serious Illness & Life Transitions

We accompany people through periods of serious illness, loss, and major life change by offering presence, listening, and community connection.

• This support is relational and non-medical.
• It is rooted in kindness, dignity, and neighbourly care, not in clinical or end-of-life care or treatment.