Christmas, cost-of-living and cancer support

We appreciate that winter can be a difficult time if you are affected by cancer. The cost-of-living crisis can heighten this, adding worries over the cost of basic essentials such as heating and food to other cancer-related concerns.

If you, or someone you care about, is facing cancer this Christmas please know we are here for you, every step of the way.

Here are just some of the ways we can help you this winter.

Emotional support

Christmas can be a difficult time of year if you are affected by cancer. You might not want to tell family or friends about a diagnosis. You might not feel like celebratingthe festivities or you may even feel fatigued due to treatment or side effects.

However you’re feeling, the most important thing is you don’t face it alone. We’re here for you. You can talk to us about anything. Even just a listening ear can make a big difference.

Our free cancer support services are available both in person and remotely – the latter of which has been vital for so many people during the pandemic.

Our telephone helpline and online services helped us continue to be there, together at every step, during lockdowns. They continue to provide people with vital access to our support services today.

Our cancer specialist healthcare professionals can help you with concerns including:

- Concerns about symptoms or side effects

- Questions about caring for a loved one who is going through cancer

- Information about one-to-one or group cancer support

- How to tell people you've been diagnosed

Have an informal chat with our healthcare team by calling our Helpline.

Financial support

Our free, confidential support is here to help you manage financially this Christmas.

A cancer diagnosis can have a huge impact on your working pattern, your work life, your working hours and it could have a knock-on effect on your finances.

Our welfare appointments are available for anyone affected by cancer in our region. They provide the opportunity for you to see or speak to one of our cancer specialist welfare benefits advisors, in partnership with Citizens Advice Sheffield.

Your advisor will chat to you about your situation and explain what support is available to you. They will also help you through the process of applying for any benefits you may be entitled to, which may include:

- Personal Independence Payment (PIP)

- Attendance Allowance (AA)

- Employment Support Allowance (ESA)

- Universal Credit (US), Carers’Allowanace

- Concerns relating to your work such as taking unpaid leave, time off work, or working flexible or reduced hours.

Our hardship grants can also help. They are available if you are struggling to pay for basic essentials, such as:

- Household bills

- Childcare costs

- Mortgage payments

- Any travel costs associated with treatment.

Hardship grants are available to you if you are experiencing extreme financial hardship and live in South Yorkshire and Bassetlaw, even if you are not treated at Weston Park Cancer Centre.

They are also available for people who are Weston Park patients, even if you do not live in the region.

Practical support

Travel worries are among the primary concerns for people facing cancer during the cost-of-living crisis. That’s why our free transport operates twice daily between Barnsley, Rotherham and Chesterfield and Sheffield Teaching Hospitals.

“The free transport has been a lifeline” says Rusty, a recent passenger on our Barnsley service.

Rusty was among the thousands of people in South Yorkshire and Bassetlaw who were diagnosed with cancer this year. The Weston Park Cancer Charity transport service from Oakwell Stadium in Barnsley enabled him to access his treatment in Sheffield with ease.

The service also runs from St Helena Campus in Chesterfield and AESSEAL New York Stadium in Rotherham. It will operate an amended schedule during the festive period, with at least one run per day of each service.

Thanks to the generosity of our wonderful donors and supporters our services are free for you to use.

Christmas opening times

Wednesday 21 December
Weston Park Cancer Charity Hub, Weston Park Cancer Support and telephone Helpline – 9:00am-5:00pm

Thursday 22 December
Weston Park Cancer Charity Hub, Weston Park Cancer Support and telephone Helpline – 9:00am-5:00pm

Friday 23 December
Weston Park Cancer Charity Hub, Weston Park Cancer Support and telephone Helpline – 9:00am-12:30pm

Monday 26 December
Weston Park Cancer Charity Hub, Weston Park Cancer Support and telephone Helpline – closed

Tuesday 27 December
Weston Park Cancer Charity Hub, Weston Park Cancer Support and telephone Helpline – closed

Wednesday 28 December
Weston Park Cancer Charity Hub and telephone Helpline – 9:00am-3:00pm
Weston Park Cancer Support – closed

Thursday 29 December
Weston Park Cancer Charity Hub and telephone Helpline – 9:00am-3:00pm
Weston Park Cancer Support – closed

Friday 30 December
Weston Park Cancer Charity Hub and telephone Helpline – 9:00am-12:30pm
Weston Park Cancer Support – closed

Monday 2 January
Weston Park Cancer Charity Hub, Weston Park Cancer Support and telephone Helpline – closed

Tuesday 3 January
Weston Park Cancer Charity Hub, Weston Park Cancer Support and telephone Helpline – 9:00am-5:00pm

Transport service during Christmas

Wednesday 21 December
Chesterfield
9:30am and 1:30pm from St Helena Campus, Chesterfield
Barnsley
9:00am and 1:30pm from Oakwell Stadium, Barnsley
Rotherham
9:00am and 1:30pm from AESSEAL New York Stadium

Thursday 22 December
Chesterfield
9:30am & 1:30pm from St Helena Campus, Chesterfield
Barnsley
9:00am and 1:30pm from Oakwell Stadium, Barnsley
Rotherham
9:00am and 1:30pm from AESSEAL New York Stadium, Rotherham

Friday 23 December
Chesterfield
9:30am from St Helena Campus, Chesterfield – please note the return journey for this service will end at Tesco Extra Chesterfield, Lockoford Ln, Chesterfield S41 7JB
Barnsley
9:00am and 1:30pm from Oakwell Stadium, Barnsley
Rotherham
9:00am from AESSEAL New York Stadium, Rotherham

Monday 26 December – no service

Tuesday 27 December – no service

Wednesday 28 December
Chesterfield
9:30am from Tesco Extra Chesterfield, Lockoford Ln, Chesterfield S41 7JB
Barnsley
9:00am and 1:30pm from Oakwell Stadium, Barnsley
Rotherham
9:00am from AESSEAL New York Stadium, Rotherham

Thursday 29 December
Chesterfield
9:30am from Tesco Extra Chesterfield, Lockoford Ln, Chesterfield S41 7JB
Barnsley
9:00am and 1:30pm from Oakwell Stadium, Barnsley
Rotherham
9:00am from AESSEAL New York Stadium, Rotherham

Friday 30 December
Chesterfield
9:30am from Tesco Extra Chesterfield, Lockoford Ln, Chesterfield S41 7JB
Barnsley
9:00am and 1:30pm from Oakwell Stadium, Barnsley
Rotherham
9:00am from AESSEAL New York Stadium, Rotherham

Monday 2 January – no service

Tuesday 3 January
Chesterfield
9:30am and 1:30pm from Tesco Extra Chesterfield, Lockoford Ln, Chesterfield S41 7JB
Barnsley
9:00am and 1:30pm from Oakwell Stadium, Barnsley
Rotherham
9:00am and 1:30pm from AESSEAL New York Stadium, Rotherham

Wednesday 4 January

Chesterfield
9:30am and 1:30pm from Tesco Extra Chesterfield, Lockoford Ln, Chesterfield S41 7JB – please note the return journey for this service will end at St Helena Campus, Chesterfield
Barnsley
9:00am and 1:30pm from Oakwell Stadium, Barnsley
Rotherham
9:00am and 1:30pm from AESSEAL New York Stadium

Thursday 5 January – all services operate as normal
Chesterfield
9:30am and 1:30pm from St Helena Campus, Chesterfield
Barnsley
9:00am and 1:30pm from Oakwell Stadium, Barnsley
Rotherham
9:00am and 1:30pm from AESSEAL New York Stadium