Charity seeks volunteers for cancer support services
A leading north-east cancer charity is holding a volunteer information afternoon to attract additional volunteers to support its North Aberdeenshire centre.
CLAN Cancer Support opened its cancer wellbeing and support centre within the Crimond Medical and Community Hub in 2018 and has seen increasing demand for its services.
The volunteer information evening will be held within the CLAN Crimond base on Monday, 16 March 2020 between 1pm and 4pm, and will give anyone interested in volunteering the opportunity to find out more about the charity, its work in the Peterhead and Fraserburgh areas as well as how volunteering can make a difference to local communities.
Lorraine Paterson has been a support and events volunteer with CLAN for two years. She said: “I aim to be a friendly face that people see when they first walk in and to give a little respite where needed. I also signpost people towards the different services CLAN offers which can be really helpful, including counselling and therapy. We are a friendly and supportive team and we use our own natural abilities as well as our training to support people in our community when they need it.”
Angie Howarth, CLAN Cancer Support’s Area Coordinator, said: “We are so proud of our volunteers at Crimond as they provide important support for people across North Aberdeenshire affected by cancer. Demand for our services has grown and we are also committed to expanding the range of services we offer but we cannot do this alone.
“The volunteer roles are varied and can be tailored to suit individual skills, interests and time commitments. I would urge anyone who has thought about volunteering before or anyone who is looking for a new challenge to come along to our open afternoon, to meet the team and find out more about CLAN and our volunteers.”
CLAN Crimond, which is currently open on Tuesday, Wednesday and Fridays from 10am to 4pm, has a large drop-in area where CLAN staff and volunteers will offer support and information without the need for appointment, along with three separate rooms which will provide space for one-to-one support.
Services include one-to-one counselling, dedicated support for children, teenagers and families, a library and information service and complementary therapies aimed at pain and stress relief. Cancer related support groups will also be developed, along with several wellbeing activities.
