- Tamworth is now officially recognised as a compassionate town by PHPC UK and PHPC International.
- The five-year status reflects strong partnership working through the Tamworth Health and Wellbeing Partnership.
- The recognition reinforces the council’s commitment to community-led wellbeing.
Tamworth Borough Council is proud to announce that Tamworth has been formally recognised by Public Health Palliative Care (PHPC) UK and PHPC International, as a ‘Compassionate Town’, marking a significant milestone in the borough’s commitment to community wellbeing, compassion and partnership working.
The recognition follows the council’s ongoing work through the Tamworth Health and Wellbeing Partnership, which brings together health, care, voluntary and community sectors and local authority partners to improve outcomes for residents. This achievement reflects more than a year of collaboration, learning and self-assessment, supported by Compassionate Communities UK and rooted in Tamworth’s strong community foundations.
This milestone confirms Tamworth’s status as part of a growing international movement committed to compassionate, community-led approaches to wellbeing, end-of-life care and bereavement support. The status is valid for five years, with a 2.5-year review built in to ensure the work remains active, accountable and responsive to local need.
Tamworth’s approach is not new. During the COVID-19 pandemic, local residents and community groups came together quickly, often before national guidance was issued, to provide food deliveries, prescription collections, befriending services, online social activities, digital support, and practical help for those with complex health needs.
The borough is home to more than 200 voluntary organisations, forming a vital part of Tamworth’s social infrastructure. Evidence from Staffordshire’s State of the Sector report highlights the scale and importance of volunteering across the county, with at least 17,693 volunteers supporting voluntary and community organisations.
Alongside this, census data identifies approximately 7,500 unpaid carers in Tamworth who provide essential care and support to family members and loved ones. Strong community networks also exist around death, dying and bereavement, underpinned by close links with social prescribing services, healthcare providers and local hospices.
The Tamworth Health and Wellbeing Partnership provides the delivery framework for this work, ensuring compassion is not just celebrated but embedded across strategies, services and community action. This recognition symbolises the strength of the good practice and collaboration between partners who are walking step by step with local residents.
Sue Warmington, operational lead for Community Together CIC said: “Community Together CIC is proud to have played a role in helping secure this prestigious award for Tamworth, working alongside colleagues at Tamworth Borough Council and partners across the Wellbeing Partnership.
“Special thanks go to our representative on the Wellbeing Partnership, Lee Bates, who presented to the national executive, showcasing the incredible work taking place across Tamworth by our statutory, voluntary and community sector partners. This achievement is truly special. It reflects the strength of our collaboration and the shared commitment to improving wellbeing across our town.”
Commenting on this accolade, Stephen Gabriel, Chief Executive of Tamworth Borough Council, said: “Tamworth has always been a place with a big heart, and this recognition affirms what our residents already know, that compassion is part of who we are.
“Being recognised nationally and internationally gives us the platform to go further, together. This is a wonderful achievement and testament to the hard work and collaboration within the Health and Wellbeing Partnership.”
Over the coming years, the focus will remain on embedding compassion within local wellbeing strategies, maintaining and reviewing the Compassionate Town Plan, amplifying community voices, and strengthening support around end-of-life care and bereavement.