'The more you give, the better it is for you. You know the reward is greater than the effort': the Compassionate Communities Connectors' experience.

Volunteering as a Connector has been a positive and feasible experience for fostering a sense of community among participants, developing relationships with other community members, seeing the difference that the Connector role makes in the lives of those involved in the enhanced network and fostering growth in Connectors' emotional capacity and compassion. The work is challenging but rewarding and differs in several respects from traditional volunteering, particularly in the agency Connectors can bring to their role. A public health approach based on a close partnership between health services and communities/civic institutions is the optimal practice model.