210504Help for Halton

21 May 2004

Help for Halton

Halton Cancer charity wins £89,694 Lottery grant.

Widnes and Runcorn Cancer Support Group are delighted to have received support in the form of a £89, 694 Lottery grant from the Community Fund. The grant will help to develop a project that provides a wide range of support to cancer patients, their carers and families from diagnosis onwards.

The support will take many forms and will include information and advice, access to qualified therapists to provide complimentary therapies, self-help groups and social activities.

A diagnosis of cancer is a most frightening and isolating experience. This project is focused on the needs of the people of Halton who are suffering the effects of cancer either as a patient or as a relative, friend or carer. It aims to increase social inclusion and avoid isolation in the community.

The project will reduce uncertainty, anxiety and depression by the provision of emotional and psychological support from diagnosis. Involvement of patients and carers in the self-help groups, where sharing of information and experiences reduce the feelings of isolation and fear associated with a cancer diagnosis is encouraged.

Issues such as loss of confidence, low self-esteem and damaged body image are addressed by provision of complementary therapies, beauty therapies, art therapies, relaxation techniques and social outings.

‘Our staff and volunteers see improvements in the body language and faces of those whose anxiety and depression has been lifted through the use of our services, said Dee Graal Development Coordinator and Co-founder of the charity. ‘We are delighted to have received this grant from the Community Fund, which will enable us to do so much more.’

Many people across the community will benefit from the funding and the majority will be over the age of 50. Older people and their carers are a priority group for the Community Fund and more applications are encouraged from this group.

‘I would encourage groups serving older people and their carers who are considering applying for a grant to contact us at an early stage with their application,’ said Angela Burrows, Regional Development Officer for the Community Fund. ‘We now offer a Project Review Service, where groups complete a short Outline Proposal Form about their project; we review this and provide feedback on likely chances of success. Where it is likely that a group’s project outcomes are ones that we are would want to support, we will tell the group what they need to do before they apply. If we think we are unlikely to fund their project outcomes, we will explain why.’

The grant will also enable the organisation to arrange and organise social outings, which help to restore lost confidence and provide a welcome diversion from the monotony of hospital visits and treatments. The outings are provided free or at a nominal fee to ensure that everyone can benefit regardless of their economic status.

Widnes and Runcorn Cancer Support Group can provide services to anyone in the Halton area who has been touched by cancer. To contact the group call 0151 4235730 or email [email protected]

Notes to Editors

Community Fund gives out money raised by the National Lottery to charities, voluntary and community groups. Out of every £1 spent on the National Lottery the Community Fund gets 4.7 pence.
Since 1995 Community Fund has awarded over 60,000 grants worth more than £2.7 billion to UK charities and voluntary groups.
The legal name of the Community Fund remains the National Lottery Charities Board. The National Lottery Charities Board was set up in 1994 and changed its operation name to Community Fund – Lottery money making a difference in April 2001.
A new organisation is currently being formed from the New Opportunities Fund and the Community Fund and will soon be distributing a major share of the good causes money raised through the National Lottery. This is an exciting opportunity for us to build on what both Funds have achieved so far and create an even more responsive and accessible organisation. The new distributor, The Big Lottery Fund, will be launched in June 2004. Current programmes, beneficiaries or applications will not be affected.
The New Opportunities Fund distributes National Lottery money to health, education and environment projects across the UK. We intend to support sustainable projects that will improve the quality of life of people throughout the UK, address the needs of those who are most disadvantaged in society, encourage community participation and complement relevant local and national strategies and programmes. (Funding for programmes is divided between England, Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales on the basis of population weighted to reflect levels of deprivation).

Media Enquiries: Claire Slinger, Communications Officer - 01925 626808
Mike Callon, Regional Development Officer - 01925 626805

	21 May 2004 Help for Halton
	Halton Cancer charity wins £89,694 Lottery grant. Widnes and Runcorn Cancer Support Group are delighted to have received support in the form of a £89, 694 Lottery grant from the Community Fund. The grant will help to develop a project that provides a wide range of support to cancer patients, their carers and families from diagnosis onwards. The support will take many forms and will include information and advice, access to qualified therapists to provide complimentary therapies, self-help groups and social activities. A diagnosis of cancer is a most frightening and isolating experience. This project is focused on the needs of the people of Halton who are suffering the effects of cancer either as a patient or as a relative, friend or carer. It aims to increase social inclusion and avoid isolation in the community. The project will reduce uncertainty, anxiety and depression by the provision of emotional and psychological support from diagnosis. Involvement of patients and carers in the self-help groups, where sharing of information and experiences reduce the feelings of isolation and fear associated with a cancer diagnosis is encouraged. Issues such as loss of confidence, low self-esteem and damaged body image are addressed by provision of complementary therapies, beauty therapies, art therapies, relaxation techniques and social outings. ‘Our staff and volunteers see improvements in the body language and faces of those whose anxiety and depression has been lifted through the use of our services, said Dee Graal Development Coordinator and Co-founder of the charity. ‘We are delighted to have received this grant from the Community Fund, which will enable us to do so much more.’ Many people across the community will benefit from the funding and the majority will be over the age of 50. Older people and their carers are a priority group for the Community Fund and more applications are encouraged from this group. ‘I would encourage groups serving older people and their carers who are considering applying for a grant to contact us at an early stage with their application,’ said Angela Burrows, Regional Development Officer for the Community Fund. ‘We now offer a Project Review Service, where groups complete a short Outline Proposal Form about their project; we review this and provide feedback on likely chances of success. Where it is likely that a group’s project outcomes are ones that we are would want to support, we will tell the group what they need to do before they apply. If we think we are unlikely to fund their project outcomes, we will explain why.’ The grant will also enable the organisation to arrange and organise social outings, which help to restore lost confidence and provide a welcome diversion from the monotony of hospital visits and treatments. The outings are provided free or at a nominal fee to ensure that everyone can benefit regardless of their economic status. Widnes and Runcorn Cancer Support Group can provide services to anyone in the Halton area who has been touched by cancer. To contact the group call 0151 4235730 or email [email protected] Notes to Editors Community Fund gives out money raised by the National Lottery to charities, voluntary and community groups. Out of every £1 spent on the National Lottery the Community Fund gets 4.7 pence. Since 1995 Community Fund has awarded over 60,000 grants worth more than £2.7 billion to UK charities and voluntary groups. The legal name of the Community Fund remains the National Lottery Charities Board. The National Lottery Charities Board was set up in 1994 and changed its operation name to Community Fund – Lottery money making a difference in April 2001. A new organisation is currently being formed from the New Opportunities Fund and the Community Fund and will soon be distributing a major share of the good causes money raised through the National Lottery. This is an exciting opportunity for us to build on what both Funds have achieved so far and create an even more responsive and accessible organisation. The new distributor, The Big Lottery Fund, will be launched in June 2004. Current programmes, beneficiaries or applications will not be affected. The New Opportunities Fund distributes National Lottery money to health, education and environment projects across the UK. We intend to support sustainable projects that will improve the quality of life of people throughout the UK, address the needs of those who are most disadvantaged in society, encourage community participation and complement relevant local and national strategies and programmes. (Funding for programmes is divided between England, Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales on the basis of population weighted to reflect levels of deprivation).		Media Enquiries: Claire Slinger, Communications Officer - 01925 626808 Mike Callon, Regional Development Officer - 01925 626805