Tenovus expands cancer services thanks to Big Lottery Fund!
Thursday 17th June 2010
Tenovus, Wales’ leading cancer charity are expanding their services thanks to a Big Lottery Fund grant of £497,825. Monies from the grant will directly fund six new cancer specific Welfare Rights positions across Wales; helping more patients and families living with cancer. This will ensure that there is an equal provision of cancer specialist welfare support available to patients living throughout Wales.
The ‘Building a financial wellbeing for cancer patients across Wales’ grant will provide cancer specialist Welfare Rights Officers to support people in Swansea, Neath Port Talbot, Caerphilly, Blaenau Gwent, Powys, Wrexham and Flintshire where there is currently no cancer specific welfare support.
Tenovus Chief Executive, Claudia McVie commented;
“We are absolutely delighted with the grant from the Big Lottery Fund. This will help us develop our existing strategy by providing a more equitable service for patients and their families living with cancer across Wales.
The grant will further enhance our existing services by directly responding to the needs of patients and families living with cancer by delivering services in the heart of the community, where it is needed most.”
Hywel Jones, 50, of Llantwit Fardre was diagnosed with head and neck cancer in March 2007 and has directly benefited from the Welfare Rights support provided by Tenovus.
“Tenovus were very supportive throughout my treatment and explained what sort of help was available – including disability allowance which I wasn’t aware we would qualify for. I had never been ill before in my life and being faced with long term illness, you don’t know where to go to. Tenovus was very good – the team helped us fill in the forms and access the right support.
I am delighted that other patients living with cancer throughout Wales will now have access to the tremendous support from Tenovus’ Welfare Rights Officers. It’s nice to know that the support is out there to help cancer patients on a daily basis. The Tenovus team know how to get the right help and support in your area.”
Tenovus Cancer Support Team Manager, Sue Elford said;
“Coming to terms with a serious illness such as cancer can be difficult and stressful. This can bring financial worries or concerns to all those affected.
The new cancer specific Welfare Rights positions will offer advice on the benefits and entitlements that patients, families and carers may be able to receive at different stages in their cancer journey.”
Tenovus Welfare Rights Officers are experienced in helping patients and their families to identify what they are entitled to and also advise them on how to access the correct information.
In addition to these posts, the grant will allow Tenovus to recruit and train a hundred volunteers who will be an additional and integral part of the holistic cancer support service offered by the charity.
