TTVS awarded £148,574 by Macmillan Cancer Support to help improve care for people affected by cancer.
• TTVS has received a vital £148,574 grant from Macmillan Cancer Support to help improve local cancer care and support services
• The grant is part of a £7.4 million investment from Macmillan into community organisations across the UK who want to have a lasting impact on UK cancer care
• Macmillan Cancer Support is warning of a ‘hidden’ cancer crisis, with almost 2 million people struggling with the impact cancer is having on their day-to-day lives, and two in three of those affected desperately needing more support
• TTVS’s project aims to help tackle this crisis through a community-led cancer support programme providing practical, emotional, and peer support to people living with and beyond cancer in rural and underserved communities across Torridge, helping to reduce isolation, improve access to care, and tackle cancer inequalities.
TTVS has been awarded a £148,574 CARE grant from Macmillan Cancer Support to help deliver lasting improvements to local cancer care and support services.
Macmillan CARE grants are a new initiative by the national cancer charity, as they work to make cancer care better and fairer for everyone, no matter who they are or where they live.
The charity warns that the number of people living with cancer is on the rise, with as many as 5.4 million people expected to be living with cancer in the UK by 2045 - a 58 per cent rise on where we are today.
At the same time there is growing concern over how the UK cancer care system is not just struggling to cope, but also leaving people behind because of who they are, where they live, what they earn or how they communicate.
TTVS is one of 65 community organisations chosen from across the UK to help improve care and support for people living with cancer today, while also contributing to wider and long-lasting improvements in UK cancer care for the future.
The Connecting Communities project will be funded for 2 years to help people in rural and isolated communities get the support they need after a cancer diagnosis. Through trusted local staff, volunteers, and community partners, we will provide practical information, emotional support, and help people understand and access their treatment and care. The project will focus on reaching people who often face extra barriers, such as carers, rural residents, homeless people, and those experiencing social isolation, helping them stay connected to services, feel less alone, and achieve better health outcomes.
Macmillan says the need for such community-led action is clear, with more than 1.7 million people across the UK – at least half of all people currently living with cancer – struggling with the impact of their cancer diagnosis on their day-to-day lives , with support often being hard to find or too far away.
Previous research by the charity has also shown that two in three people with cancer who are struggling with ‘everyday’ needs (66%) urgently need more support to help them cope.
Macmillan CARE grants are being awarded to projects that can offer support and care where it is needed the most, and which are targeted at three main areas. This includes improving services for people with cancer and dementia, making sure people are offered a fuller say in decisions about their care, and improving support for those who all too often have poorer outcomes, such as people from ethnically diverse communities, people who are LGBTQ+, those with a disability or those living in the UK’s most economically vulnerable areas.
Heather McLean, Director of Communities & System Partnerships for Macmillan Cancer Support said:
“Cancer isn’t fair, but at Macmillan, we believe cancer care and support should be.
“Real change in cancer care starts with those who know the challenges they face the best, and that is communities themselves. That is why every local project we are supporting has been shaped by the views of people living with cancer and their loved ones.
“We are so excited to be working with TTVS, and community organisations right across the UK, to address some of the gaps we know exist, to deliver lasting change in local cancer care and to help make things just that little bit better for everyone affected by cancer. Together, we want to help make sure that people with cancer can get the personalised support they need, whoever and wherever they are.”
If you would like to know more about the project, please contact Simone Thompson on 01237 420130 or [email protected]
