Background The Compassionate Neighbours Programme, initiated by St Joseph’s Hospice, has expanded to 13 additional hospices across the UK over the past seven years. This network operates under a unified governance structure represented by a Programme Board that includes a diverse mix of executive, operational, and volunteer members from various hospices. This structure emphasizes community support and participation based on reciprocal and equal relationships.

Aim This abstract describes the governance framework of the Compassionate Neighbours Programme, highlighting how collaboration among staff at different levels and volunteers across multiple organizations enhances strategic direction, and operational efficiency, and preserves the autonomy of individual hospices.

Method The governance includes a Programme Board with the following members:

• Chair: Typically a hospice CEO.

• Executive–level representatives: Four senior leadership team members from different hospices.

• Operational representatives: Four individuals responsible for the day–to–day implementation of the programme.

• Volunteers: Four active Compassionate Neighbours.

The Board adopts a matrix structure to ensure diverse organizational representation and necessary expertise. It convenes quarterly and establishes specific task groups as needed.

Results

• Strategy Development: The Board collaborates on strategic initiatives that capture the core values of the programme, fostering innovation and adaptability.

• Volunteer Integration: Volunteers have equal influence in decision–making, ensuring that their experiences shape the programme’s strategic direction.

• Diverse Expertise: The Board’s composition allows access to a broad range of skills, enriching discussions and decisions.

• Development Opportunities: Involving operational staff in governance not only leverages their ground–level insights for better decision–making but also provides them with opportunities for professional growth.

Conclusion The governance model of the Compassionate Neighbours Programme is a pioneering approach in hospice care, promoting better community integration and support at the end of life. This framework offers a valuable model that other hospices can adopt to achieve similar benefits.