Outreach support hits the road with Lottery funding!

We are thrilled to be taking our cancer support services out to people and communities across Sheffield, with help from The National Lottery Community Fund after securing £270,000. This new funding will help to address health inequalities and take outreach support to Sheffield’s most deprived wards.

The funding will take our outreach work to communities across Sheffield via a cancer support bus, which will help us provide information and advice to up to 3,000 people over three years. The aim is to raise awareness of the signs and symptoms of cancer, and to be there, at every step, from the moment people are diagnosed. This includes free practical, financial and emotional support for people in high-risk communities who are currently least likely to seek support.

The free services available are expected to include:

• One-to-one emotional and practical support
• Benefits advice
• Positive About Life courses
• Bereavement courses
• Peer Support Groups
• Complementary therapies

According to Public Health*, people from minority communities and those living in deprivation in Sheffield are more likely to die early from cancer. Those from these high-risk communities are currently the least likely to be accessing support from the group’s dedicated centre, and the new funding will look to address this issue.

National Lottery players raise over £30 million a week for good causes across the UK. The National Lottery Community Fund distributes a share of this to projects to support people and communities to prosper and thrive.

Emma Clarke, CEO of Weston Park Cancer Charity, said: “Thanks to National Lottery players, the National Lottery Community Fund and our wonderful partners and supporters, this grant means that we can create a better life for everyone in our region who is affected by cancer.

“At Weston Park Cancer Charity, we strive to be there from the moment people are diagnosed, with them every step of the way. But today, as one in two of us will develop cancer we know we need to do more.

“We’re planning to expand and take our cancer support services out into communities across Sheffield and the wider region, beyond our current service provision at Weston Park.

“This will give people better access to our free support services which are often described as a ‘life-line’ for people facing cancer and their families. It means better access to mental health and wellbeing services and better support for those facing financial difficulty because of their cancer diagnosis.

Of course, we can only be there for everyone facing cancer because of the generosity of people like the National Lottery players. We wholeheartedly thank the National Lottery Community Fund for giving us this transformational opportunity to make a real difference in the communities which need us most.”

Joe Dobson, Head of Funding for Yorkshire & Humber at The National Lottery Community Fund, said: “Thanks to National Lottery players and the hard work and dedication of local projects, like Weston Park Cancer Charity, this funding will make a big difference to people’s lives across South Yorkshire. We’re delighted that our funding is being used to strengthen communities and provide people with the tools and support they need to prosper and thrive.”

The expansion in cancer support services is welcomed by partner organisations including, South Yorkshire and Bassetlaw Integrated Care System Cancer Alliance and Westfield Health. With their additional support, we hope to take the service beyond Sheffield so that everyone affected by cancer, in our region, has access to the very best cancer support services.

Dr Patricia Fisher, Clinical Director of the South Yorkshire and Bassetlaw Integrated Care System Cancer Alliance and Weston Park Cancer Charity Trustee, said:

“Expanding Weston Park Cancer Charity’s support is a huge step forwards in addressing health inequalities in our region.

“Ward level data shows people in some Sheffield communities are three times more likely to die early from cancer than some others. People living in deprivation and those from minority communities overwhelmingly live in the worst affected wards but are currently least likely to access our cancer support services.

“By bringing the charity’s support to them, more people will get the help they need, when and where they need it.”

Dave Capper, CEO at Westfield Health, said: “We’re all incredibly excited to see the impact this initiative has.

“The Westfield One movement is all about impact, scale, and transferability to improve quality of life.

“We hope that any financial donation we make can leverage outcomes that exceed what we can achieve on our own, which is why we are proud to work alongside Weston Park Cancer Charity.

“Its support services make a real difference to people going through cancer every day, and as cancer affects so many of us – one in two people will face a diagnosis in their lifetime –projects like this will change lives across our region.

“We’re delighted to be playing our part in ensuring that those services reach more people just when they need support most.”

We will also be working in partnership with fantastic community organisations including Manor & Castle Development Trust, SOAR, Shipshape and Darnall Wellbeing.

A huge thank you to everyone who has, and will continue to contribute, to getting this wonderful project on the road!

To find out more visit www.TNLCommunityFund.org.uk