In today’s post, Edna Oni of Barnet Macmillan Advocacy Service tells us about her role: This is a personal vocation for me and I really enjoy my job as an advocate and as a peer volunteer for the Barnet Macmillan Advocacy service. When I come across a client in difficulties, I cannot help but empathise, and giving them … Read more
This is why our Cancer Older People and Advocacy Programme matters so much: Our volunteer peer advocates have been supporting people like Ron: “When the letter came, it said I should take somebody with me. The problem is that I didn’t know anyone well enough to ask them to go with me. I should have realised that I was … Read more
Excellent report well worth a read for all of us engaged with offering health and social care support to all those who need it. VCSE Review Alex Fox is CEO of Shared Lives Plus and independent Chair of the Joint VCSE Review. Read the final report. The goal shared by everyone who delivers and organises … Read more
In today’s post our colleagues at Sandwell Cancer, Older People and Advocacy service tell us about their recent Local Cancer Champions Board visit: At the start of 2016 we decided to liven up our Local Cancer Champions Board meeting and we invited our members to each make a pledge to the project. This could have included … Read more
Every year in May, Dying Matters and its coalition members host an Awareness Week, which gives an unparalleled opportunity to place the importance of talking about dying, death and bereavement firmly on the national agenda. It’s Awareness Week this week and it runs from 9-15 May with the theme ‘The Big Conversation’. Did you know that research carried out … Read more
In today’s post John, one of our dedicated peer advocates tell us his story: I came to volunteering following my retirement. I wanted to use some of the skills I had acquired during my working life in hospitals and my own personal experience of cancer to support others. As a volunteer advocate for Age Connects … Read more
On Saturday 14th May 2016 Sandwell and West Birmingham NHS Trust are holding their fifth Cancer Well Being Fair, their first event at Aston Villa Football Ground.
Kathleen Gillett from Dorset Macmillan Advocacy looks at what an advocate can and will do to support an older person affected by cancer: When I explained to someone recently that peer volunteer advocates could accompany the person they are supporting to medical appointments they remarked ‘Like a befriender then?’ ‘Yes and no’, I replied. The … Read more